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10 Thoughts All Anxious People Have At The Gym

Do I really have to go?

Kelly Carpenter

Feb 06, 2018

Orlando, Florida

191

10 Thoughts All Anxious People Have At The Gym

Jose Chavez via Unsplash

If you're a generally all-around-anxious type of person, like myself, you probably feel like any situation where you have to leave your house is a chore. Especially leaving your house to go to the gym. You want to be fit, but you don't want to be seen when you're red as a tomato and producing more sweat than you even knew possible. So you gather up the (mental) strength and decide to head to your local gym, and it goes a little something like this...

While you're driving you think about how your clothes have been a little tight lately...

Which leads you to be extra motivated and ready to smash out a super intense workout. So you get all ready with your workout gear and start to think about what you're actually going to do while you're here.

1. Maybe I should do one of the group classes for cardio?

You think about how much fun it could be to enter into a room full of people you don't know and start pedaling as fast as you can, all while trying to keep up with the instructor and pretend you're having the time of your life. Then reality hits and you realize that doesn't sound like fun for an overtly socially anxious person. At all. Moving on to...

2. I could just do a killer cardio routine by myself.

Oh yes. Let me listen to my own playlist which, let's be honest, is just a random mix of all of your favorite songs from every genre known to man. The tempo will change with every song and you'll go from pedaling as fast as the speed of light to some random rap beat that you don't even know how to cycle to. And there are SO many people here. Next.

3. Maybe I'll try running instead.

Ooooh or do those cool moves I see the #fitspo people do on Instagram. Okay... so how do I... maybe if I... okay never mind we're just going to walk to avoid any chance of failure and public embarrassment.

4. How about some weights?

I feel very wimpy with my 5-pound weights and the fact that it actually BURNS to lift these things more than 10 times in a row. Hopefully, no one around me can see how much I'm struggling. Oh, that guy is definitely looking at me. Definitely judging. So rude. One day I'll be the one lifting 40-pound dumbbells like it's nothing. They'll be sorry then. Just wait.

5. Oh there's my friend! Let me ask them for help!

Okay, now my friend is here showing me the proper form. Great. Wait, why are they getting the 20-pound weights? Come on this makes me look terrible. Aaaand they're totally trying not to judge my 5 pounds but at least they're attempting to be discreet.

6. So they're trying to get me to try heavier weights. Great.

This is going just fabulously. I look like an idiot. But hey, at least I'm working towards those #gains. I'll be a new and improved (but still anxious) person in no time. Thanks, pal.

7. And now it's time for the cardio I was trying to avoid.

I could say I have somewhere else to be an leave. I really can't stand any embarrassment right now. Oh. We're just going to walk. Ok, this is nice. I can do this. Walking along, no problems here. Just keep on walking'.

8. FINALLY, time to go home.

I have never felt so drained in my entire life. When will this sweat stop?! At least I get to go home now and be by myself, away from all those people. After I lie to my friend about how we "sooo have to do this more often!" I feel calmer already.

9. I can now lay down and never move again.

I will lay here in my sweat and feel proud of myself until I can muster the energy to shower. I am so healthy. The sweat is glistening. I look like a goddess. So proud.

10. Maybe I should do this more often.

I want to feel this majestic every day. I want to eat, breathe, sleep the #fitlife. Tomorrow we go again! Unless I am completely sore, in which case we go again in another month.. or, realistically, never.

It may be extremely intimidating for anyone with any type of anxiety to set foot in a gym, but don't let the fear stop you from working towards your goals. If you want to be shredded with insta-worthy abs then go for it! Even if the gym is too overwhelming at first, try some at-home workouts until you're more confident. You can find them anywhere from Youtube to Pinterest to Facebook. Best of luck, #fitfam.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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10 Thoughts All Anxious People Have At The Gym

Do I really have to go?

1. Maybe I should do one of the group classes for cardio?

2. I could just do a killer cardio routine by myself.

3. Maybe I'll try running instead.

4. How about some weights?

5. Oh there's my friend! Let me ask them for help!

6. So they're trying to get me to try heavier weights. Great.

7. And now it's time for the cardio I was trying to avoid.

8. FINALLY, time to go home.

9. I can now lay down and never move again.

10. Maybe I should do this more often.

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The struggles of having an RBF are all too real

1. People asking if you're mad at them.

2. Those people who hand out flyers don't always try to stop you.

3. Creepy guys telling you to smile.

4. "I thought you were a bitch when I first met you."

5. People telling you you'd be "so much prettier if you smiled."

6. Doing your makeup and looking great, which somehow intensifies the bitch face.

7. Regularly explaining "it's just my face."

We all go through certain stages when we have a crush, Tina just explains it better.

That moment that someone you never looked twice at suddenly makes you do a double take out of no where.

But you can't have a crush, that's outrageous. It's all in your head.

Because you don't have a crush, there's no reason to tell anyone about anything. Right?

But then they do something irresistible and you start to lose it.

Now accepting the fact you have a crush, you have to keep it under control.

Then there's the part where you tell your friends who will claim they called it.

They'll be excited and cheer you on. That's until they realize that your crush is all you'll be talking about.

Your obsession has become so bad, that your Facebook stalking is getting out of control.

But your friends will try and help move things along any way they can. That doesn't mean it will be any helpful though.

As time goes on, you start having fantasies about the two of you and it's starting to scare you a little.

You can't focus on anything because all your attention is on them and everything they do.

Anybody who comes near your crush is now an enemy, and you are willing to fight for your crush.

When you see them, you act like an idiot. Trying to hide your feelings may not be as discrete as you think.

Keeping your feelings inside will start to be harder and harder until you can't keep it inside anymore.

Who knows, maybe it will work out? Take a chance.

Everybody hurts sometimes.

May the odds be ever in your favor.

What about those of us who don't do it all in four years?

1. You feel like an elder.

2. You may feel lonely.

3. Senioritis is more real than ever.

4. You may feel a little down sometimes.

5. Fear of missing out won't be as real.

6. You are a college pro.

7. You'll have more free time.

8. You're happy you're still in school.

9. You feel like a guru.

10. You continue to grow.

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