Fat Girl at the Gym

[Anonymous]

You are not a joke - you are an inspiration. Everyone has to start someplace. Keep up the good work!

[Anonymous]

As far as noticing the "fat girl" at the gym. I used to believe that too, that no one would notice but now that I am no longer the fat girl well I can at least be honest and say that yeah I do notice and friends make a lot of snide remarks about them to me now that I am no longer fat so it's just not me that notices.

I've been a regular at the gym since high school. I'm 45 now and a trainer. I have never heard anyone say an unkind thing about an overweight person at the gym. Not one time. The people you see regularly at the gym know how important fitness is. Many of them were overweight themselves. We are thrilled you are working out with us. Keep it up and ignore people like the above poster. She is a rarity. And probably won't even keep up with her fitness plan. Mean girls are typically the first to quit.

Proud of you!!!!!!

[Anonymous]

No matter how slow you feel you're going, you're still lapping the person on the couch. Keep at it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

As far as noticing the "fat girl" at the gym. I used to believe that too, that no one would notice but now that I am no longer the fat girl well I can at least be honest and say that yeah I do notice and friends make a lot of snide remarks about them to me now that I am no longer fat so it's just not me that notices.

I've been a regular at the gym since high school. I'm 45 now and a trainer. I have never heard anyone say an unkind thing about an overweight person at the gym. Not one time. The people you see regularly at the gym know how important fitness is. Many of them were overweight themselves. We are thrilled you are working out with us. Keep it up and ignore people like the above poster. She is a rarity. And probably won't even keep up with her fitness plan. Mean girls are typically the first to quit.

Proud of you!!!!!!

As a fat person this is so nice to hear. Thank you, PP. I think it's definitely true. I lost 50+ pounds several years ago through serious dieting and regular workouts at the gym and outdoors. I never heard a single mean comment while at the gym but, I hate to say it, heard a lot of brutal stuff yelled at me through car windows by jerks who were driving by. In a way, the gym is the more supportive environment, because everyone there at least has a sense of how seriously one must commit to fitness.

OP, I hope you have been inspired by this thread, we're all rooting for you!! I'm also trying to lose my extra weight again. It's such a battle but I believe we can do it!

[Anonymous]

You might consider adding some weight training. A regimen of pure cardio will build some muscle, it's true (your walking/running/stair-climing muscles), and will improve your aerobic fitness level, but as a calorie-burning activity, it burns calories only while you're doing it. If you build new muscle through resistance training, though, that new muscle tissue burns calories 24 hours a day, whether you're using it or not. It can really accelerate your loss.

Good for you, and keep it up!

[Anonymous]

OP, I think a good rule of thumb is that there should always be a element of your workout that you find challenging. If you find your pace and incline to b e challenging, it is a good workout. In six months, if you could do it in your sleep, then it's no longer a good workout.

When I started working out seriously, I was in awful shape. I couldn't run, jump, I even had to do modified low-impact "jacks" where I just stuck one arm and leg out at a time and kept the other one on the floor. Slowly but surely, I lost about 50 pounds. The thing about working out is that you learn to really respect your body. There were times when my weight loss stalled and I didn't really worry too much because I saw how much my fitness was improving. It also helped me learn to respect my body, and treat it will - eating good food and taking the time to exercise and make my body a priority. Also, I have arthritis and couldn't walk more than a couple blocks without pain. I can now comfortably run for 3-4 miles. I do box jumps, burpees, squats, lunges, etc. (i am still considered overweight, btw) My arthritis seems to have disappeared, in large part due to dedication to muscle building and flexibility. The people who say exercise is pointless are idiots and don't understand much about human physiology.

Also - I find myfitnesspal to be a terrific resource!

[Anonymous]

I think you are awesome. I wanted to add a post I just read for inspiration. http://theantijared.com/2013/04/are-you-training-for-the-boston-marathon-next-week.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm the fat girl. 240 pounds. Been to the gym 8 times in the last two weeks. Feeling good about it.

But now, I'm wondering if what I'm doing is enough.

I'm starting with cardio.

I've worked up to 3.5 MPH on the treadmill at 3.5 grade.

Is it a joke to those around me?

It's so hard to stay motivated when everyone is jogging away and I'm proud I made it 2 miles.

I'm currently making it my goal to see how far I can go in 30 minutes (which is all the time I have right now). I'm doing 30-45 seconds jogging, then 60 seconds walking. Today I made it 2.4 miles in that 30 minutes. Probably no big deal to most.

[Anonymous]

Go go go and keep at it. Fitness is a journey to get to know and respect your body, and to keep it healthy. It's a lifelong thing! I've been up and down in my weight and feel I look and feel my best now in my mid-40s. When I see heavier people at the gym I always send supportive energy. Ignore the jerks.

[Anonymous]

Another "Fat Girl" here, and rooting you and all the rest of us on. For me, the gym is a consistently available opportunity to help myself feel better, physiologically and psychologically. Recently my weight has increased following an injury, job loss, new job starting, what have you. There is absolutely no way in this universe that I could get back down on eating changes alone. After a work out, or yoga or Zumba, or what have you, I feel good about my body and I want to treat it well. Only at the gym do you get a boost when a fellow Zumba class attendee says that she likes standing in your vicinity because you're so "light on your feet." Just do it. Really. You go, girl.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm the fat girl. 240 pounds. Been to the gym 8 times in the last two weeks. Feeling good about it.

But now, I'm wondering if what I'm doing is enough.

I'm starting with cardio.

I've worked up to 3.5 MPH on the treadmill at 3.5 grade.

Is it a joke to those around me?

It's so hard to stay motivated when everyone is jogging away and I'm proud I made it 2 miles.

Would you possibly be looking for a workout buddy. I'm also a fat girl around 245 trying to lose weight. If interested I'm in Montgomery County. You can email me [e-mail]

[Anonymous]

Most people don't do crap. If you stick to it and show up , you will greatly improve your life. It gives confidence over time 99% of success is just showing up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most people don't do crap. If you stick to it and show up , you will greatly improve your life. It gives confidence over time 99% of success is just showing up.

Also when you get up and out of the house you meet people, find out about things and get invited to do things. You find out about jobs and opportunities and make friends.