Does anyone with AvPD go the Gym?

Hi, I am male 21 and trying hard to go to the Gym. My care co-ordinator said to do it in steps, so today I took a plunge, ventured out of my house and walked to my local gym, I went inside for a look around 'I had no intention of working out today' just wanted to see the place. When I stood outside of the gym I felt moderate anxiety and the closer I got the actual workout room the more my anxiety went up. I was a nervous wreck by the time I got into the main gym and I left after a few minutes later.
My next task is to actually work out in the gym, I just don't see how this is possible after panicking so much from just being in their.

The worker in the gym said 'have you ever worked out before'? I was stuttering and said 'only a little' but he could clearly see I am scrawny wimp who is not used to it much.
Being skinny already makes it hard for me but with AvPD it is even harder to go. Everyone in the gym was everything I am not, confident, busy lifestyle and glowing, I just felt like a really big anomaly in there.

I told my care worker the only way I am going to conquer my AvPD is if I can feel better about myself, and the gym and martial arts holds the key for me. How am I supposed to regularly go the gym with such menacing anxiety? Any else been in the same situation?

Do everything to overcome your fear, it helped me a lot at the gym! 2 years ago my weight was at 160kg (should be 320 pounds) or in other words: I was fat as hell. I went to the gym but couldn't go in, I saw all those well trained people and hadn't the confidence to do it.
So I started a diet for myself, eating less and healthier things - people around me laughed and said "haha you won't make it" etc. bla bla. This fuc**** me up so hard and made me really angry and for the first time in my life I ignored those people and did what I wanted to do. After 9-10 months I was at 120kg (~240 pounds) and people couldn't believe that I lost so much weight and it made me proud, seeing how they realized that they were so wrong. It also gave me the confidence to walk straight into the fitness center and when a trainer asked me what I want to do I could say: I lost so much weight, I want to lose even more and start building up some muscles!
I feared that the trainer would laugh or sth. but he showed that he was impressed, told me how hard it was for himself to lose only 15 pounds and helped me with my training.
Today I know how stupid my fear was, most people there know how hard it is to start something new, nobody will think "oh look at this loser". Today I'm < 100kg (<200 pounds) and when I met old "so called friends" they can't bevlieve that this is me and I can be proud of that.

It gave me really a boost in confidence, things I could not do 2 years before are now easy. It's up to you, just start it, don't look back, it's really worth it.

About a month ago I took swimming lessons for 4 consecutive Wednesdays at the YMCA. I went from a non swimmer to a bad swimmer. I consider it worthwhile overall.

I lift weights twice a week in a shop behind my house. I suppose it would be nice to be around people, but with the added difficulties of driving to the gym and social interaction, I probably wouldn't be nearly as consistent with the exercise, so lifting by myself is the best option at this point.

I took karate for 3 years in college and enjoyed it for the most part. I've thought about getting into it again, but I feel uncomfortable asking my parents for money. Karate would cost money over an indefinite period of time, unlike swimming which was a one time fee.

The money element is probably the biggest complication for me, much more so than the social interaction.

No way. I have some weights at home - lucky I live in a house. I have an exercise bike too. If I was going to join a gym it would be one of those 24 hour places and I would go at 2 am when no one else was there.

I used to work in an office complex that had a little gym. I would go if there were only 2 or 3 other people there. If it was crowded I would usually just leave.

Third-eye,

I suffer from severe panic attacks. I decided to join a gym to help with my mood and anxiety. This is how I did it-

I drove 3 times passed a gym and couldn't even get out of the car to go in there- i was too anxious. I finally got the courage to do it, and went in and signed up. It was scary as hell being in a new place with unfamiliar people who were much much fitter than I am.

The first month I could barely workout at all because I was so anxious. I made it a goal to just go there and spend at least 10 mins, then 15 mins and build it up. There were times I did barely any exercise at all- I would just sit on an exercise bike, slowly spinning the wheels, scared that anxiety would take over.

Several months down the track,I honestly love going there. I enjoy my workouts and have no fear attending. Zero panic attacks but I still have some minimal social anxiety.

I say go for it!! break it down into small steps like i did if you have to. It's worth it if you can afford it. It is definitely a confidence booster. And do not worry yourself with what other people are doing or thinking- they are mostly self-absorbed.

Also, as Parador suggested about going at 2am ... you might want to start going at non-peak times if you have some social anxiety.

Third-Eye wrote:Hi, I am male 21 and trying hard to go to the Gym. My care co-ordinator said to do it in steps, so today I took a plunge, ventured out of my house and walked to my local gym, I went inside for a look around 'I had no intention of working out today' just wanted to see the place. When I stood outside of the gym I felt moderate anxiety and the closer I got the actual workout room the more my anxiety went up. I was a nervous wreck by the time I got into the main gym and I left after a few minutes later.
My next task is to actually work out in the gym, I just don't see how this is possible after panicking so much from just being in their.

I did the same thing when I first started going to the gym. I needed to do a dry run and see the layout of the place. There's nothing wrong with that. The problem is if it's one of those gyms that require total expensive commitment, where you go in and some buff trainer starts the hard sell to get you to sign a 2-year contract or whatever, like signing your soul to Satan. I avoid those places like a bird-flu ward. My sister tried to get me to go to a gym like that: they let me work out for free as a guest of my sister, but by the next day they started freakin' calling me at home. AT HOME. Talk about threatening!

My suggestion is to try a public fitness center, like a rec center, if you have one in your area. Oftentimes you don't even have to sign up for anything. You can go work out whenever you feel like it and simply pay a fairly low daily admission fee. At my public fitness center it's $8, and I can stay all day and work out or take as many classes as I like. No commitments, no hard sells, no 2-year unbreakable contracts. It's a much better arrangement.

As for worrying about buff, hardbodied people looking at you and judging you there...trust me, people don't. On the outside, I could pass for one of those people myself, but on the inside, my confidence is low. Maybe it's because I'm a shy virgin or maybe it's just a normal female thing, but I see the gym as a place to get healthier, not a meat market where one intentionally goes on display.

good for you dude! thats something i totally dont llike the idea of. but its gonna make you feel better for sure. exercising is great!

Parador wrote:No way. I have some weights at home - lucky I live in a house. I have an exercise bike too. If I was going to join a gym it would be one of those 24 hour places and I would go at 2 am when no one else was there. .

I have gone to the gym but... I do find that my AvPD makes me leave earlier and quit earlier. Even when I go to an all woman gym. I mean if I don't know how to use the equipment I feel foolish fiddling with it. I don't feel comfortable sitting after someone who sweats up a storm.

Also, some of the places are total meet markets (my brother and SIL met at the gym I go to) and I never feel like I have the proper clothing etc.

ok i was a gym goer like 2 years ago and got to say its fine knobody really watches or cares about you, tho i only went like 3 times and was in a drunken.weed stupour (i was very depressed at the time) i had put on 2 stones in a month and had flat out tits (im male) and still knowbody really cared they just looked at me weired coz i was blatanly trying to hide my body.
i stopped going because im lazy, and didnt like the thought of the showers having so many bodys(hygiene), but keep on meaning to go back(last 2 years)
guys the feeling you have after a wrkout amazing please try to go

I agree the benefits are significant. It always feels like an accomplishment afterwards for several reasons......you conquered your social fear and went, you feel good about improving your body and the natural endorphins do their part to lift your mood as well.
I am lucky because there is a gym downstairs in my bldg otherwise I likely wouldn't go much if at all. As it is I won't go in unless it is empty which it often is.