A gym that does not judge is a gym for every body
Jodi Davis
| 3 min read
I have been listening to countless individuals in my neck of the woods inform me recently that they are having a great time at a place where they never expected.
These people are feeling absolutely wonderful and are losing weight. How? They have joined a new gym in our area. This gym allows them to workout daily with complete commitment, both physically and mentally. Friends are motivating friends to work out at this new gym. Coworkers are challenging other coworkers to attend. It’s becoming a game in our community; more so a competition to see who gets there first and who works out the longest.
One of the most common comments is that the members of this gym do not feel they are being judged. A friend of mine told me that she can work out in a t-shirt, baggy sweats with her hair up in a ponytail and no makeup. She works in a professional office and normally never leaves the house without the proper work attire, yet she feels comfortable at this new facility.
Sure, there are a few individuals at this same gym who will wear the matching work-out gear and coordinated athletic shoes along with the electronic devices with several wires strewn across their bodies in order to listen to their favorite tunes and calculate calories burned but that’s fine too. It’s a gym for everybody. Every BODY shape and every BODY size.
I’m just going to say it like it is: I know that going to the gym for the first time can be a humiliating experience, especially when the person is overweight or morbidly obese. I’ve been there, I know. This is the main reason why so many people with severe weight issues will not take the first step. It feels as if people are judging you and it doesn’t make the situation any better when you notice other women (or men), who are in perfect physical condition, strutting past you with a confident smile on their face. This is really when your mental commitment needs to be strong.
You should not worry about others or any alleged opinions that you assume they have about your body anyway. You can not allow any of those negative thoughts to stop you from becoming a better and healthier you! Sure, there are people who are at the gym in good physical condition who may have a confident smile on their face… but that’s a good thing, be happy for them! Most likely there’s a story behind that smile; I smile when I’m at the gym due to the fact I don’t carry around 162 extra pounds on my body any longer. It’s truly something for me to smile about. And I smile because I am confident knowing that I was and I still am committed both physically and mentally to live a healthy life. But I smile the most when I see YOU at the gym … because you matter to me and I want you to be the best you can be, mentally and physically!
Photo credit: Oberazzi
