Too soon to join a gym?

[redbeard]

Hi,

I'm currently 5' 11” 125kg, and I'm keen to join a gym to continue my weight loss.

The closest gym to work happens to be known as a body-building gym – apparently successful in national competitions etc – and given some of the comments I've read here I'm wondering whether I'd should put off joining until I'm down to 100kg or so.

I've seen comments which seem to have a tone of amused disgust when it comes to fat people.

While I kind of understand where they're coming from – after all, it is my fault that I let myself get this way – I'd definitely prefer to avoid being treated as a joke when I first join a gym.

Does anyone have any thoughts? Am I being needlessly paranoid here or should I lose weight before signing up?

PS: Currently losing weight through cutting calories and an hour of cardio five times a week – interested in body-building but guess I need to get rid of a fair bit of fat first.

[vracula]

Hi,

I'm currently 5' 11” 125kg, and I'm keen to join a gym to continue my weight loss.

The closest gym to work happens to be known as a body-building gym – apparently successful in national competitions etc – and given some of the comments I've read here I'm wondering whether I'd should put off joining until I'm down to 100kg or so.

I've seen comments which seem to have a tone of amused disgust when it comes to fat people.

While I kind of understand where they're coming from – after all, it is my fault that I let myself get this way – I'd definitely prefer to avoid being treated as a joke when I first join a gym.

Does anyone have any thoughts? Am I being needlessly paranoid here or should I lose weight before signing up?

PS: Currently losing weight through cutting calories and an hour of cardio five times a week – interested in body-building but guess I need to get rid of a fair bit of fat first.

Gym's are full of people whp are tryiong to achieve what u are trying to achieve regardless of weight ,Dont see why anybody should make fun of you at a gym?Infact u might probably meet a trainer that can teach you how to optimize your workouts.I'd recommend it ,dont freak out bro.

[The Legend Killer]

Hey dude-definitely join up, ASAP. Weight-training, cardio and a healthy diet is the best combination for burning fat there is-well, that's legal anyway.

If you're obese and in the gym, people will see that you're obviously doing something about it, and they'll respect you for that.

Don't let the comments from some of the people here put you off.

Good luck, dude.

[Dubble_D]

Everyone starts somewhere mate!

If your putting in 110% effort into it, then I can not see how people can criticize!

[FellowshipOfTheRon]

hey man do what you gotta do and screw the people who are judging you. these bastards will always talk behind your back whether you are 125kg at 30% bodyfat or ripped up sick bodybuilder 125kg at only 6%. they are found at every gym. simply put, haters gonna hate.

also i completely disagree that it is too soon. if you acknowledge that you have let things go too far and are already making the changes in your diet then if anything, you are cheating yourself by not joining - so go join.

as for the 'bodybuilder gym', think on the plus side, it's probably well equipped to help you through your journey.

and one last thing, yeah i know that paranoia you feel - i felt it too at the start but you'll forget it after a while of going for the gym.. you have to know to just go for yourself & not for others, you don't need their approval

[Phedder]

Hey dude-definitely join up, ASAP. Weight-training, cardio and a healthy diet is the best combination for burning fat there is-well, that's legal anyway.

If you're obese and in the gym, people will see that you're obviously doing something about it, and they'll respect you for that.

This. Effort and Attitude count for so much, if you're clearly putting in a good effort and have the right attitude, you should get nothing but respect, encouragement, and quite possibly extra help. Bodybuilders aren't that scary, some are even very friendly and helpful; we have many of the latter on this forum.

Join the gym. It's best equipped to help you on your journey. Watching others train might help inspire and motivate you to train harder, and you might also feel more accountable to be making good progress with others around you noticing the changes.

It could be worth mentioning what gym it is? There may even be someone reading this who goes to the same gym and would be happy to help you out and get you started :think:

[M.T]

Hey dude-definitely join up, ASAP. Weight-training, cardio and a healthy diet is the best combination for burning fat there is-well, that's legal anyway.

If you're obese and in the gym, people will see that you're obviously doing something about it, and they'll respect you for that.

This. Effort and Attitude count for so much, if you're clearly putting in a good effort and have the right attitude, you should get nothing but respect, encouragement, and quite possibly extra help. Bodybuilders aren't that scary, some are even very friendly and helpful; we have many of the latter on this forum.

Join the gym. It's best equipped to help you on your journey. Watching others train might help inspire and motivate you to train harder, and you might also feel more accountable to be making good progress with others around you noticing the changes.

It could be worth mentioning what gym it is? There may even be someone reading this who goes to the same gym and would be happy to help you out and get you started :think:

Agree with everyone here attitude speaks much louder than anything else and i'd doubt you'd be ridiculed for trying unless it's GLOBO gym or something like that I would never look down at a larger person who is at the gym so what you had a bit of fun and let go a bit the main thing is getting back in there and doing something about it. It's the larger people that sit at Mc Donalds drive throughs that I would not think too highly of at all. As Phed said drop a name and you may have someone currently going there that will help you or atleast introduce you to others I know I would.

More than anything else this should be a lifestyle choice for you and feel comforatble about doing it. All the best with the weight loss maybe chuck a log up so people and follow your progress.

[mrsym0r]

Hi,

I'm currently 5' 11” 125kg, and I'm keen to join a gym to continue my weight loss.

The closest gym to work happens to be known as a body-building gym – apparently successful in national competitions etc – and given some of the comments I've read here I'm wondering whether I'd should put off joining until I'm down to 100kg or so.

I've seen comments which seem to have a tone of amused disgust when it comes to fat people.

While I kind of understand where they're coming from – after all, it is my fault that I let myself get this way – I'd definitely prefer to avoid being treated as a joke when I first join a gym.

Does anyone have any thoughts? Am I being needlessly paranoid here or should I lose weight before signing up?

PS: Currently losing weight through cutting calories and an hour of cardio five times a week – interested in body-building but guess I need to get rid of a fair bit of fat first.

I can assure you, nobody will give you shit for going to the gym, for the following reasons:

1. most people are too busy looking at themselves in the mirror to pay any attention to others

2. The majority of the population aren't mean people and wouldn't dare be so rude

3. those that ARE mean don't really have a leg to stand on - "hey fatty, go to the gym and lose some weight! Oh hang on, you're here doing that.."

My best mate is 120kg and 5 foot 9; he had similar concerns before joining a gym, he now gets encouragement from the amateur bodybuilders who yell at him to push out one more rep

[vracula]

here is on forum memeber who made it from 147 to awesomeness

viewtopic.php?f=9&t=10212

[redbeard]

Thanks to everyone for your replies... you've made me feel a lot better.

For what it's worth, the gym I'm looking at is Sky Fitness in Dunedin - very handy to work.

Will join next week when I get back to Dunedin (on holiday at the moment).

Cheers

[NZhredder]

f*ck that man. join up and go hard, like everyone said

with a good attitude i can almost gaurentee you'll get ridiculous amounts of help, motivation and advice from everyone in there..

[Ronin]

Thanks to everyone for your replies... you've made me feel a lot better.

For what it's worth, the gym I'm looking at is Sky Fitness in Dunedin - very handy to work.

Will join next week when I get back to Dunedin (on holiday at the moment).

Cheers

Mate, I've been a member at Sky for a couple of years, and can tell you straight up you have nothing to fear. I started out about 110kg at 5'7, and the crew at Sky have been nothing but supportive. It's a family-owned gym, rather than part of a chain, and Phil the owner seems to know every member there by name, and always has a positive comment for ya. Shane, the main PT, knows his shit and is another great source of inspiration and motivation.

Yes Sky is building a great reputation for bodybuilders and powerlifters, but the members there range all the way from complete noobs to national-level competitors. I guarantee you will find plenty of helpful advice and encouragement, hell if you time it right you might even get to run into our helpful mod Phedder, who is joining the fold soon. And if u see a bald guy with a tattoo that looks like my pic over there <--- , come up and say hi.

[teamfatboy]

:ditto: what they said...

I walked into the gym for the first time at 137 kg - but one of the changes I made, was instead of worrying about what people thought, people I didn't even KNOW, was.. I decided I was here for me, I'd paid to be here, and damn it, I was gonna BE HERE...

If you want to be a bodybuilder (and there are guys on here who know exactly how to get there from where you are), then start now. Those same haters have no right to stop you from making that choice either.

Besides, the sooner you start down the path of training to build muscle, the more muscle you'll have The more lean muscle you have, the more you can lift; the more you can lift, the more calories you can burn... and so on - so go hard, and good luck !

[vracula]

The most hurtful people are people u actually know already rather than strangers.They will tell u shit like "i dont see any change are u really working out?" or they will pick your weakest part and ask u why u dont work out that specefic part. f*ck THEM! Few months down the line they will be aecretly checking your progress with envious eyes and then the jokes will stop.

[FellowshipOfTheRon]

The most hurtful people are people u actually know already rather than strangers.They will tell u shit like "i dont see any change are u really working out?" or they will pick your weakest part and ask u why u dont work out that specefic part. f*ck THEM! Few months down the line they will be aecretly checking your progress with envious eyes and then the jokes will stop.

lolol sad but true, especially the freaking females. "oh you workout? umm wheres your abs?....."

[Phedder]

Thanks to everyone for your replies... you've made me feel a lot better.

For what it's worth, the gym I'm looking at is Sky Fitness in Dunedin - very handy to work.

Will join next week when I get back to Dunedin (on holiday at the moment).

Cheers

Hah! What are the odds aye.

As Ronin has just said, the staff are all very friendly and genuine. I've heard and experienced nothing but good things about the facilities and staff, which is exactly why I've decided to join up instead of using the university gym for free this year.

I'd be happy to help you get started and talk training, might be worth waiting a week or two so I can find my own way around the place first though :pfft: But seriously, just shoot me a PM if you need any help/want a chat. My bet is as soon as you get in there you'll be well taken care of from the get-go anyway :nod:

[hhhh1]

they've banned chalk at the new unipol phedder...you probably made a good decision

[Phedder]

they've banned chalk at the new unipol phedder...you probably made a good decision

Are you serious!? That's ridiculous, they used to supply it themselves for christ's sake.

I don't think I could hold onto anything over 180kg without chalk. How are you going to cope, you're repping 220 or so now?

[hhhh1]

they've banned chalk at the new unipol phedder...you probably made a good decision

Are you serious!? That's ridiculous, they used to supply it themselves for christ's sake.

I don't think I could hold onto anything over 180kg without chalk. How are you going to cope, you're repping 220 or so now?

apparantly it will damage the floor and machines or some shit...more like they just want to keep it flash/tidy looking for a while

umm nah im weak as f*ck at deads now compared to where i should be. was getting 7 reps of 200, now only 4.

i ripped one of their blue sponges in half and used it as a grip. didnt work great. wrapped toilet paper round the bar, was ok. might have to get straps.

after being at 3 other gyms over summer i have to say their dumbells are also shit, although apparantly they are getting new ones partway through the year.

how much is sky costing you?

[Phedder]

Damage the floor! Haha, dropping weights because there's no grip without chalk is going to damage the floor a whole lot more.

They had a deal going when I enquired last year for 14.50 a week, and Phil also offered me 9 months for $475 which is really good too. Just need to see what the finances will be like once I'm back down and settled whether I can do 1 lump sum or pay weekly. Being 150m walk from my new flat doesn't hurt either. Screw walking all the way to Unipol and then not be able to use chalk, even if it's free.

[Gym rat]

At the gym that work at few of my co workers have clients wanting to lose weight and I think good them on them for making that move which will help lower the risk of major health problems later on in life.And for the gym that I go when I see a overweight person at the gym I think good on them on making the right move.