I have mixed feelings. When I went to the gym at my university it was always packed so I was just another person working out, but now that I'm in a small apartment complex with a gym it's sometimes me and only one other person. Usually when that happens I feel really self-conscious, especially on the weight machines since I'm kind of a weakling, and I tend to cut out that part of my workout and do it at home.

I'm okay with the idea of jogging/walking, but I prefer working out in private rather than public. I really hate going to gyms, partially because I don't want to feel self conscious while exercising, but also because many people tend to frequent gyms to meet people, and I dislike the attention.

i don't mind working out in public so much until i go to the weight room. i get a little self conscious whenever i have to lower the weights from 100lb to like 5lb... :-\

I don't pay attention to others when I exercise, and I assume the others will not pay attention to me either. Having said that, I agree with tlsgirl. I normally exercise in YMCA, and it is always packed with people, no one really pay attention to me. However, when I was on business trip, there's only a few people using the gym, I felt like I am being checked by every people who enter the gym.

I used to be self conscious (especially when i was 35lbs heavier). I figured people were judging me for being overweight, and i figured i looked pretty ridiculous in my workout gear. And i was CERTAIN that i looked ridiculous doing the moves in class or lifting on the weight lifting floor.

I don't feel that way anymore. I'm still 35lbs heavier than i plan to be, but i think of it in a new way. If someone is judging me for the way i look when i'm working out, at least i'm busy burning some calories and getting into shape. The gawkers are just standing around judging people. I'd rather look silly working out than look awful being out of shape!

I feel self conscious if it's crowded at my gym. That's why I always pick times to go when it won't be so crowded, but if my schedule doesn't go my way, I just suck it up and go. I totally zone out when I'm working out anyway, and hope that other people aren't paying attention to me when I don't know how to use a machine correctly. Lol. Nothing will get in the way of my health!!

No.

I'm with Fit, I won't do some "compromising" exercises in the middle of the weight room, but I have no qualms about others being around. I'm usually so "in the zone" that I tone everyone else out.

Spincycle - "I'd rather look silly working out than look awful being out of shape!" I love that... so true!!!

I'm okay with it as long as I have a plan going in. If not, I feel like I'm wandering aimlessly from machine to machine and that makes me self-conscious.

I'd would much rather work out in private than in public. But if my only option is to work out in public or not at all then I'll go for it. I really don't like when I have to do yoga in gym though! A-W-K-W-A-R-D!

hippiecowgirl=i'm the same way! I always go through my routine before I step inside the gym.

I would rather be alone. If I'm in the stretching room doing push ups or something, I'll usually cut it short. My gym has suddenly gotten this influx of loud rude people, so I don't like being there as much as I used to. Like 2 girls came in to the stretching room (which is NOT big) after a spinning class and were literally laughing and screaming and cussing. It was beyond rude. Other then that I usually don't care. I'll do my cardio no problem, although I think I'd like to buy an elliptical for our house soon. Half the time my not going to the gym is because I don't want to drive there

I LOVE working out in the gym.. it gives me more motivation when I see someone who's in slightly better shape then me! But on another note, when I do the 'butt blaster' or the hip abductor and adductor (open and close your legs WIDE for inner and outer thighs) I always get annoyed when a man stares at me.. ughh

I have the same problem. Deep down I know people are too preoccupied with their own work out to notice anyone else, but sometimes I do get self conscious at the gym. I don't mind it when I go out running - if I feel like people are staring at me for being out of breath it often spurs me on and makes me run a bit faster to get away from them!

i just started taking zumba at the gym and the class takes place on the basketball court - but it is completely open to the rest of the gym. on two sides of the court we have walls of mirrors. the back side of the court is open to the racquetball courts; and there is a walkway above where people walk by and watch.

i really dislike when people walk by and look at us (there is typically 20+ in the class) but 10 minutes into the workout i forget about the "observers" b/c i am so focused on the workout.

There's a women's only portion of my gym that I LOVE using, men at the gyms I'm a member of can really make me feel uncomfortable (not all men are like that though). But I love being the only one working out though. What I don't like is when I'm the only one in an entire row of cardio machines and then someone comes in and uses the machine RIGHT next to me...it's happened. I mean seriously, out of the ENTIRE ROW they had to use the one right next to me. They did not respect the "Buffer Zone" rule

i love working out at the gym surrounded by people, we're all there for the same purpose, to get healthy and be in shape, and i know it may sound mean but it motivates me to stay longer when i see people bigger than me cause it lights a fuse under my ass and i tell myself i don't want to get that big.

however, public as in running outside, no. I don't like to do that, passing cars, the stares, the honking, the self-consciousness of people just staring at my boobs...no, do not like that.

I feel you, Halie, but I've been guilty of that before...silly as it sounds, i have this one particular treadmill that i'm most comfortable on and if it's free, i have to be on it!

To answer the question, working out in a gym has helped me get into better shape, because:
a) i'm competitive by nature and i create mini-competitions with people on the treadmills next to me (in my head, of course, not in reality)
b) i learn new exercises (esp free weight moves) by watching others (not gawking, i promise!)
c) i see people with the body i would like to achieve, so it makes me work harder
d) being so close to the sofa or my bed makes me want to slack off

the only thing i am self-conscious about is running in public on the treadmill or on the track. I definitely don't have small boobs and I cannot get myself to jog with them bouncing up and down

I used to be self conscious, but now that I've been working out for a while and have gotten stronger, I feel much better about going to the gym.

Halie - I totally agree! Why not use one of the other machines?

The other people working out aren't so much the issue as the huge windows. Almost every gym I've been to in the city has these huge windows looking out on the street and I feel very silly running (I'm quite chubby so there is some serious jiggling going on as well) while all these people on the street are walking by. Its like all the tiny people on the street are staring are judging, which sounds a little insane, but oh well.

Agreed, tis, about it being weird to work out in hotels. I hate it when there's only one other person with you. So awkward.

I have to admit, when I see very overweight people at the gym, I don't judge them, I think they're doing a good thing, but I do always wonder what the bigger picture is. Is this their first time? Have they lost 100 ponds already and this is actually being in good shape for them? Do they come every day and still look the same? I just wonder. I feel badly about it, but I wonder.

I just an exercise bike for my house, though, and I love it. I never thought I put much thought into my gym clothes, but now I can work out in these leggings I have that are kind of high waters that I would not wear in public. Or, I have, like, this polo shirt that has a stain on it that I can wear to work out in. It doesn't look athletic, I used to wear it to work, and I would feel weird wearing a collared shirt in the gym, but no one cares at home. Plus I can get up and go get water or do whatever without losing my machine. I can watch any tv show or dvd or anything. It is so great!

well i'd prefer working out in private.

my husband and i usually go to the gym when its not so busy.

I HATE working out when there are a lot of people around. My workouts are pretty intense and I usually end up soaking wet five miles into my run and I lift weights heavier than most guys...I hate the contrast between me (I probably smell bad and I definitely don't look good) and the other girls in their stylish workout gear that's pretty, fresh, and color-coded who are reading magazines on the ellipticals. It makes me feel like a mutant.

I don't mind it when there are fewer people around, though because I feel more comfortable when I can put more space between me and the person next to me.

I prefer doing strength training at home, but mostly because it's free and I'm more motivated because there's no travelling-to-the-gym-time to put me off.

I'll take my cardio anywhere.

a tip:

If you wear glasses....take them off while on the treadmill....the anxiety will disappear. It's like...you can't see them..they can't see you...

at least it works for me=)

quarterjappy, you beat me to this! Taking off my glasses works for me as well!

I have weights and a power rack in my garage for this very reason.

I like working out in the gym. Sometimes I do get self conscious about trying new exercises because I don't want to look stupid. What I really don't like is running outside. People always stare at you from their cars and guys always honk and yell. Yuck.

I'm afraid of going outside running because I can't run (like, I could do maybe 50 feet before being a lame wad out of breath or something, I don't know), and then with trying to do brisk walking instead outside, I feel like people are judging me for not running.

I hate the gym with a passion. I do all my running outside. You actually burn more calories since the incline is always changing. I also do walking lunges and jump rope outside. I do biking sometimes. I save my push ups and kettlebells swings for my yard but I always do my pull ups at a public area since I don't own a pull up bar.

Stop being so scared and go work out outside when weather permits. Our presence in public is a good influence. The fact that you are ashamed to be seen exercising...not good role-model for our children.

I will work out in public and private. When I had gym memberships, I would do my thing. I didn't care, I was in a zone. Now, I do workouts at home because I have a workout room with plenty of equipment. I also run three days a week, ride a bike and do raquetball in my neighborhood.

I like to work out in the privacy of my den!

No self-consciousness here. In fact, I like working out in public because the team spirit motivates me to work out well and not skip moves, slow down etc.

My gym at home with all the suburban Moms? Not an issue.
The school gym here at uni, though, feels like it's overrun with sorority girls with perfect bodies who are walking on the elliptical while talking on their phones. It's just discouraging, because there I am, all red and sweating like a pig while they're not really doing anything and get to be size 2s.

This is definitely something that keeps me from working out and I wish it wasn't.

well i don't like to work out when people are watching me cause i feel like they are looking at my fat or they are watching how i do things knowing that i don't do them right...

i usually go to the gym when it's less busy actually which actually lets me have a better work out. i don't have to be self conscious and i can usually work out longer and harder and have a good time.