HELP!
8Jul2010 Filed under: Health and Beauty Author: AkirahWyattFriends, I need you.
And I need to get into shape. I want to get into shape. After one of my kids asked me if I was pregnant, I couldn’t help but wonder how I let myself go. Now I understand I work with special needs kids and their comments can’t always be taken seriously. But even so, I REALLY want to get this flab situation under control.
So I bought some running shoes. And I told myself that if I let the money I spent on these shoes go to waste, I deserve to have special needs kids tell me I look pregnant.
Besides, the shoes are cute. And pink!
Anyway, I went to the gym to do some running and strength training and gradually felt more and more stupid with each passing moment. I can’t really describe it, but I feel like I look stupid!
And I hate looking stupid.
So friends, if you have any words of encouragement or can share any tips, I’d greatly appreciate it. I know that when you first start doing something, it’s natural to feel little awkward. But I also know that I CAN do this. I mean, I used to be extremely overweight in high school and with a lot of hard work, I lost over seventy pounds.
I got this.
I just don’t want to look stupid.
Like this guy.
HELP!
Jolene
July 8th, 2010 at 3:54 PM
Aww!! you are NOT FAT!!! Kids are so mean. As for getting into a groove at the gym, it’ll come, I promise. and hey, it’s summer, so maybe you can do some stuff outside, like running (when it’s not uber hot out!) or bootcamp at the beach
Good luck!!!
Mindy
July 8th, 2010 at 3:55 PM
I’m sure you feel much more stupid than you look. Honest. And once you become a regular at the gym, you’ll feel more like you belong and won’t feel so singled out.
They are cute shoes, indeed, so you better get your money’s worth!
nora
July 8th, 2010 at 4:00 PM
Does your gym offer an orientation session? Sometimes you get pick their brains for free for 30 minutes, they will show you how to work the machines and etc! If not, my biggest advice? put on your workout clothes when you get home so that you will wind up going to the gym (or feeling really bad if you don’t go). Take it slow. Don’t hurt yourself! Consider signing up for the free classes (if your gym has them) as they are a great motivator and excellent for cardio. You can do this!
(and i’m sure you don’t look pregnant! or stupid, for that matter)
Summer Fades
July 8th, 2010 at 4:37 PM
Hey, I’m with you lady, I feel so stupid and awkward when I would go to the gym. I wasted a lot of money on a year long membership when I first moved to SF and eventually I just couldn’t do it anymore.
I like my workout DVDs. They’re not ideal, obviously, but I believe that they keep me active enough that with the right diet, I can look just as good as those girls who spend time at the gym.
I fully believe in Jillian Michaels’ 30 Days Shred; I saw it work for myself last year. I just bought a couple of new ones that were recommend to me – Jillian Michaels No More Trouble Zones, Jillian Michaels Yoga Meltdown and Women’s Healthy Train for Your Body Type.
I’m also starting the South Beach Diet, because I’ve had several friends swear by it and once you get into the lifestyle, it’s easy to keep extra weight off.
It’s time to take care of ourselves! Our metabolisms are only slowing down from here – we can’t keep eating/drinking/doing what we’ve done in our younger days…
I hate growing up. :-p
Jessica
July 8th, 2010 at 9:00 PM
Does your gym offer a free personal training session as part of joining? If so, take advantage of it and just absorb what they teach you. And don’t worry about how you look at the gym. No one else is paying attention and some look even more ridiculous than you think you do. Just focus on the workout and the rest will come together. Also, I’ve met you, you’re not fat.
Martina
July 9th, 2010 at 6:30 AM
Everyone feels they look stupid at the gym.
I’m with everyone else: see if you can get a training session; if not – grab a treadmill/bike by the circut and watch other people do whatever machine you’re interested in first.
I’m with SummerFades though – I hate the gym no matter what I do, so I walk/run in my neighbourhood/take a cardio class during the winter, and do workout DVDs at home.
imerika
July 9th, 2010 at 12:12 PM
Akirah, I LOVE the pink shoes!!!
there is NO WAY you can look as silly as that guy. I agree you should do the running but I would also switch it up so you don’t get bored. I used to dread running outside. I always said it wasn’t for me. I like to know how many calories I burn, how far I ran, how fast I’m going, etc, etc. But now I prefer running outside. It took me a LONG time to try it but i did it. Some says I do elliptical, other days I do running outside, some days I just walk (if I really REALLY don’t feel like working out). As long as I get some exercise done.
oh and also, join weigh-in wednesday!!! tabitha does it (http://probablytabitha.com/) and i find it encouraging seeing how everyone else’s weight loss progresss is going… we have up and down weeks…
but bottom line, good for you! it’s hard to get to that point where you want to lose weight, so yay for taking the first step.
E.P.
July 11th, 2010 at 11:41 PM
You’re going to be fine, lady, and your shoes are awesome looking! I have had a lot of luck taking classes at my gym, and I totally recommend it. It’s a lot of fun, and the good thing about group classes is that you focus so much on yourself and your movements that you don’t pay attention to anyone else. And they don’t pay attention to you, either.
thatShortChick
July 12th, 2010 at 12:28 PM
great sneakers! and I know what you mean about feeling stupid (I felt more uncomfortable when I first started going to a gym) but once you realize that every one else is there trying to get themselves in shape and are not worried how they look doing it.
also, it might help if you changed the time you go to the gym (if possible) during a less busy hour during the week or on a sunday morning.
Carolyn E.
July 14th, 2010 at 9:22 PM
You got it Akirah!! I know exactly what you’re talking about — feeling awkward or stupid when you start doing something new…. especially working out for the first time in awhile!! But don’t let that stop you! You’re doing this for you, not anyone else, and certainly not anyone around you at the gym! I’m sure you don’t look stupid, even if you … See Morethink you do… So ignore those voices in your head. If you want to go running or even just a good hike or walk together sometime let me know! I’d be happy to join u
Paulette
July 16th, 2010 at 3:14 PM
Weight watchers always works for me.
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