Such an odd reply. I say people would benefit from working out and your response is simply excuses?
"are you going to finance that?"
I pay $18 a month for my gym membership.
"are you going to make sure other people at the gym don't make fun of me?"
I suspect this is the main concern. No one at the gym gives a damn about you friend. We don't care if you are big, small, or in between. Just don't stand in front of the dumbbell rack blocking my access (get your weight and take a couple steps back so people can get theirs) or do curls in the squat rack and you will be fine. Wear normal gym clothes without any political messaging on them, make sure you are clean and wear deodorant. Ensure your gym clothes are washed before you wear them again.
Pre-plan your workout the first few times. I am going to do upper body today so I will do some sort of bench press, some sort of shoulder press, some bicep curls and some triceps extensions.
Start small. Use machines while you learn the layout and get comfortable. If someone is on the machine you were going to use, roll with it, just find something else you are just starting, it doesn't matter. As you get more comfortable move to free weights but machines are really fine for most things.
Honestly I know people are intimidated by the gym but there really is no reason to be. Most people just put on their headphones and tune out. If you see someone looking at you I promise they don't really care, you are just passing through their vision. If you are stuck or feel bad, find one of the biggest dudes in the gym (the ones that look like they eat steroids for breakfast) and ask for help in a friendly manner. They are always the most helpful, friendly and least judgmental. Don't take all of their time but a quick, hey would you mind showing me how this works is going to make their day.
Life is not going to change for you, you actually have to make the effort.
"are you going to finance that?" I pay $18 a month for my gym membership.
"are you going to make sure other people at the gym don't make fun of me?" I suspect this is the main concern. No one at the gym gives a damn about you friend. We don't care if you are big, small, or in between. Just don't stand in front of the dumbbell rack blocking my access (get your weight and take a couple steps back so people can get theirs) or do curls in the squat rack and you will be fine. Wear normal gym clothes without any political messaging on them, make sure you are clean and wear deodorant. Ensure your gym clothes are washed before you wear them again.
Pre-plan your workout the first few times. I am going to do upper body today so I will do some sort of bench press, some sort of shoulder press, some bicep curls and some triceps extensions. Start small. Use machines while you learn the layout and get comfortable. If someone is on the machine you were going to use, roll with it, just find something else you are just starting, it doesn't matter. As you get more comfortable move to free weights but machines are really fine for most things.
Honestly I know people are intimidated by the gym but there really is no reason to be. Most people just put on their headphones and tune out. If you see someone looking at you I promise they don't really care, you are just passing through their vision. If you are stuck or feel bad, find one of the biggest dudes in the gym (the ones that look like they eat steroids for breakfast) and ask for help in a friendly manner. They are always the most helpful, friendly and least judgmental. Don't take all of their time but a quick, hey would you mind showing me how this works is going to make their day.
Life is not going to change for you, you actually have to make the effort.
You've got this friend, I truly believe in you.