I've finally joined the gym ... its not cheap so I guess I am going to have to make the most of it.

The thing is, I've not used a gym since I was at university. That isn't to say I havent worked out since then - I did martial arts for 5 years as well as running and weight lifting at home. When I think about how fit I used to be I wonder where it all went wrong

Anyhow, going to the gym for the first time is going to be a bit daunting - I generally dont like gyms but I really have no other alternative at the moment but to join a gym if I want to work out.

What was it like the first time you went to the gym after deciding you needed to lose weight?

Intimidating as hell.

I was 379 pounds, walking into a Bally's Total Fitness where these guys were built like bricks. It's very intimidating.

But remember why you're there. You're there for you, and there's plenty of other people there just like you.

You're halfway there. You made the commitment, and now you have to go, because you're right. They're NOT cheap

I was just where you are a week ago today. I went in to the gym (gag) for my first workout. Man, did I dread it.

But I got in, jumped on an eliptical and set it for a small goal - 15 minutes. When that 15 mintues was up and I wasn't ready to keel over, I thought, ok, not so bad. I got on a bike for another 10. I do that (sometimes change the order) every time I go. I'm working on getting my knees into shape to bump the bike up to 15, also, then increase some, maybe, from there.

It did make me feel better, though, to look around while I worked out and see people who made me look absolutely skinny. If they could get in there in spandex (not recommended! LOL), so could I.

I also found it helped to kill some cardio time to join one of the classes. I hate areobics (sp?). I really do. But they have a "Cowboy Boogie" class once a week that was fun! It was a half hour class and it really didn't seem that long. This gym also has tv's set up that you can tune your walkman to and watch Dr. Phil while you sweat! LOL.

It's very intimidating. There's super fit people there that lift more and run further. You'll be ok once you get into a rhythm.

bite the bullet and do it anyway. Within 2 or three months when you earn their respect they will start doing the nodding aquantanc thing as you walk in.

I like to think of it like this---these people who look all fit and fabulous were probably in my situation not to long ago and have really really worked to get where they are.

Besides, most people couldn't care less about other people these days so there probably not even paying attention as to who's there or not. Mean to think that people are so self-absorbed but really it's true.

So how did your first day go?

I didn't go to the gym until I had lot most of my weight - I exercised at home and by running/walking. Not that I wouldnt recommend that people join a gym at the start of losing weight - I would, but I was a late starter. Never having had a healthy lifestyle before, I had never been in a gym in my life until six months ago.

Once I did join - my first thoughts were "why didn't I do this years ago?" I did feel intimidated by all those young muscle bound lads in the freeweights area, but it no way stopped me from going. Instead, I threw my lot in with them, and now I'm one of the regulars on the weights. Most of them turned out to be really nice people!

Whenever I see anyone in the gym tackling their weight on the cardio machines, I feel enormous respect for them. Weight losers are the fighters who are taking control of their lives.

I was a bit on the nervous side going into the gym for the first time -I wasn't so large that I'd stand out on the street or anything but I knew that there would be fit and healthy people in the gym... which there were. But there were also people bigger and more out of shape than me, too.

I still feel myself sighing if I walk in and find myself surrounded by fit, slim looking people especially if they are all my age or quite young. But a lot of the time there are plenty of older, larger people there. And I've made myself snap out of it and stop caring what others there think anyway -I'm there for me not them, and if they are thinking how gross I am thats all the more reason to work hard.

But in reality... nobody cares. They aren't any more interested in you than you are in the people around you they are just concentrating on their own weight-loss/body-building, so thats the thing to keep in mind.

Good luck. It will get easier once you've been a few times and familiarised yourself with the equipment and surroundings.

Hi There

Well, the answer to that is for one reason or another I haven't gone yet.

With everything building up to Christmas things have been busy and stressful. Still, its no real excuse - If I really wanted to, I probably could have already gone by now. Eventually I will get fed up of my laziness and actually go, but I doubt this will be before the new year now.

And youre all right, it doesn't matter what other people think - you're there for yourself. And the truth is most will be too busy concentrating on what they're doing to really give a damn ... being paranoid is so easy sometimes!


I will go, and when I do, I'll make considerable progress, but it's always the first steps that are the hardest.