FORUMS > General Fitness Discussion Forum Rules

I have never seen this going on but always hear stories. Is it just something in people's minds? Or a real problem? Discuss...

i've never experienced this or witnessed it before. i think if anything, people are supportive at the gym since those who go all share something in common.

if anyone feels like they're being made fun of, more likely than not its all in their mind and they're just projecting their insecurities.

Never seen/experienced it. Most big guys are fine and can be helpful. As well as appreciate the effort someone is putting in their wo as they know what it's all about. Mostly everyone goes about getting their workout done. You will notice that the bigger guys are serious about working out. Noobs and weekend or occasional gym warriors not so much.

Occasionally there will be a bunch of young friends working out and they might behave like asses. But they are there to hang with friends more than seriously workout. The disappear after a few days/weeks. So it might also depend on the clientele of the gym.

I have not been made fun of nor have I ever witnessed anyone being made fun of. Everyone at my gym is pretty nice and supportive whether you're scrawny (like I was when I started) or overweight... but a few weeks ago this girl who always talks to me was bitching about another girl who was at the gym... the girl she was bitching about was following her boyfriend around like a little puppy dog and sitting on the equipment/not working out. Then she and her bf would kiss in between his sets. After she pointed it out I said something not-so-nice and said it too loud cuz the girl turned around and looked right at me and gave me the evil eye. Whoops

I'm sure I have been on several different occasions for those moments when I turn around and theres a pole in my face or go to sit down on a machine and then miss the seat.

I actually do get made fun of a lot at the gym, but not in a deragatory sense.

Some of the things I do at the gym are apparently odd. To warm up I do Tai Chi to instrumental songs. I've had some people laugh when they see some of the starting poses, but then kinda stare dumbfounded when I am doing some of the things at the 6-8 min mark of the form.

In addition, between each set I strum out the music I am listening to, normally on the appropriate instrument. Sometimes that means I am playing an imaginary cello. Again, I get those "You look like a goofball" kind of statements.

But... everyone who has ever said anything about it always spots me when I ask them to. And most have had me spot for them. So it is more playful talking than anything else.

Now, a few have been insulting, but those people don't come to the gym often apparently. I have not seen a single person who has said anything insulting to me a second time.

I don't know about made fun of, but I've had my share of idiot moments where I've tripped over a bench or hit my knee on something that I'm sure made people chuckle

Never seen it before, never experienced it

Had one guy in my yoga class, straight and definitely a "Type A" kind of person, who would always chirp me about being thin. Let it slide, but then he started going on about my thinning hair.

Told him that he's lucky, because when he gets to be my age, science will have figured out how to harvest the hair on his ass to and transplant to his head. Of course I said in a crowded room...he never had another mean word to say to me.

Olandew saidI actually do get made fun of a lot at the gym, but not in a deragatory sense.

Some of the things I do at the gym are apparently odd. To warm up I do Tai Chi to instrumental songs. I've had some people laugh when they see some of the starting poses, but then kinda stare dumbfounded when I am doing some of the things at the 6-8 min mark of the form.

In addition, between each set I strum out the music I am listening to, normally on the appropriate instrument. Sometimes that means I am playing an imaginary cello. Again, I get those "You look like a goofball" kind of statements.

But... everyone who has ever said anything about it always spots me when I ask them to. And most have had me spot for them. So it is more playful talking than anything else.

Now, a few have been insulting, but those people don't come to the gym often apparently. I have not seen a single person who has said anything insulting to me a second time.

Do you play your music loud enough were everyone around you can hear? If so that is kinda rude. I would give you a weird look too...

Years and years ago (more than 20), I was working out and began to notice three or four of "my Black brothers" a little ways away from me were talking real loud in my direction, doing typical lisping "gay" voices. The only thing I distinctly remember was, "I thought men was supposed to work out here, not girls." They never assaulted me physically or even approached me; nor, apparently, did it occur to them that they were the ones acting like (mean) girls.

Have never seen it or been subjected to it. Every so often I let out a roar on accident when finishing a particularly difficult set and I'll get some looks, but that's about it.

My workout buddy and I always bitch at each other.. People laugh at us constantly. We laugh half the time cause of all the nicknames we have for much of the gym goers.

I'm not sure "made fun of" is the right term, but the only ostracizing or mocking I have witnessed at the gym was toward a guy who had VERY bad B.O. To the point where people openly commented about it when he walked by.
Does that count?

Once at my college gym this man and this woman got into a huge argument over a treadmill. Campus security had to come and intervene. It was awesome!

Been made fun of almost everywhere throughout my life. Really turns off my "Care/Giver" switch fast. I've realized only a few family members have the ability to get through my walls and tare me down easily; my closest friends who've never ever done me wrong like that; and only long term boyfriends-to-partners, 1 year plus. Nowadays, random people try to bug me, but its all for not; as you've read, either you matter to me enough to hurt me, or you don't.

No; fortunately not (as far as i'm aware).

Albeit, I certainly always make sure to mercilessly and audibly ridicule others at the gym. I've a tentative theory that this may booster their self-hate motivation; either way, it certainly makes working-out significantly more rewarding.

No, I probably wouldn't know though because I always have my music on.

Overall though, not just in the gym, I feel that whenever people look at me that there's something wrong with me.

when I first started (when I was over 270lbs - and not in a muscley way).

Now most people get out of my way. Probably because I look like I'm going to eat their babies if they interrupt me. I will stop and help someone if they're doing something wrong. I'm a nice guy, I swear, hah.

Maybe, but I hardley pay attention to my surroundings when I'm working out so I wouldn't know.

Never personally.

But I remember when I lived in Sacramento, I was at the Gold's Gym in Natomas. This couple, decent shape, but nothing anyone has ever stopped and stared at, were working out together. This overweight girl comes out of the locker room area, and the couple looks at her and they both just start giggling…ongoing for a few minutes. I almost went up to them and had a few words, but I, regretfully, chose to leave it be.

In college while at the gym this guy went up to the mirrors and started flexing..at the same time he was making these grunting sounds...He finished and walked past me...I tried to hold it in but when he passed I laughed my ass off...LOUD...This started a chain reaction with others in the gym laughing too....

I've always preferred hard core gyms with guys who seriously are into their routines. I've never seen anyone make fun of another guy. Weirdest thing I ever saw was this wimpy mama's boy being led around the gym from machine to machine. Mama was telling her boy how to use each machine. The boy's thoughts were elsewhere. He couldn't have cared less about working out. He was pathetic in his brand new matching outfit with color coordinated shoes. Gee, I do hope he didn't get any dirt or sweat on his new outfit that day.

I've never seen it, then again, I play basketball with all the older guys so I somewhat know them, everyone at my gym is friendly. And I know, for me at least, when I see someone who's very overweight working out or on a treadmill I feel proud of them for wanting to get healthier and it makes me realize I shouldn't have the right to make excuses for myself. I never look down on them and in a way they kind of motivate me to work harder

PittBull_21 saidAnd I know, for me at least, when I see someone who's very overweight working out or on a treadmill I feel proud of them for wanting to get healthier and it makes me realize I shouldn't have the right to make excuses for myself. I never look down on them and in a way they kind of motivate me to work harder

I can only imagine how hard it must be for them and how self-conscious they must feel while they are there. Anyone worth anything at all would never make fun of someone trying hard at the gym regardless of the shape they're in.