Anonymous wrote:I am 36 year old male and have tried starting a working out program at the gym several times. I just feel goofy and like I don’t belong. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

See my advice above. No one cares, really. And if they do care then they’re not nice people and not worth thinking about. Seriously, who judges people when they’re exercising?!

I am 36 year old male and have tried starting a working out program at the gym several times. I just feel goofy and like I don’t belong. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First, find something you WANT to do.
Second, possibly first, is realize that no one cares what you look like when you exercise. Don’t wear makeup, wear clothes from old navy, sweat a lot...no one cares.

Barre?
Yoga?
Run?
Spinning?

If you don’t have the extra budget, give couch to 5K a try.

If you have the money, join a gym and hire a trainer for a while to guide you.

Thanks. Your point about being self-conscious is really helpful/relevant.

PP here. I realize that being self conscious about working out was keeping me fat. I stopped caring. That said, I found a GREAT exercise group with women like me: messy and in old navy clothes. Other places were not a good fit for me; everyone was too put together!

I also REALLY like bikram yoga. I sweat a lot when I work out, so working out with people who were drenched with sweat made me not stand out! I also found that no one wore designer yoga clothes. It was a heck of a workout and I got in really good shape, really fast.

I'll 5'11 and 190, so not slim and slender either.

What is it you like to do?
You like to do things inside or outside? Structured or non-structured? If inside, then sign up for a class of your choice if you need instructions or the gym. If outside, there is endless of stuff you can do.

For me, I opt for the free stuff and less structure. In my 20s-30s, I would gather a group of friends or just one other person and go hiking. In our 40s, we still do this but drag the kids along. If the word hiking sounds like a lot, just say, go walking and check out some paths. Go to the popular Great Falls and start there. That place is not isolated so you are not alone. Don't get anywhere that is so isolated since you are new to it. Walk and chat, bring a bottle of water and a granola bar (I always bring 2 bottles and extra snacks-you never know if your friend is prepared or not and they always appreciate it). Find a day, time and meeting spot. Give yourself about 2 hours to walk and get back to car before it gets dark (but morning before lunch is usually the best time. That way, you can still go out to lunch with your friends afterwards). So, it's more of a social than exercise thing.