Will everyone be looking at me?

This is a very, very common thought among people who are just beginning (or re-beginning) to work out. We have ALL suffered from it at some point or another. We imagine that we will make such a spectacle of ourselves as we huff and puff, and have to take a break midway through an exercise, and sweat and just generally look awful. I'm going to let you in on a little secret...

90% of everyone else is thinking the same thing!!! They're imagining YOU are looking at THEM, and they're so wrapped up in their own thoughts of how do I do this, oh my goodness I must look like an idiot, etc. etc. that they aren't even bothering to look at you. You aren't their concern, they are! It's not going to be high school gym class; there will be no last people picked for teams or people pointing and laughing. Everyone is so busy with themselves that they don't have time to think negative thoughts about someone else!

At our gym, really, we are just happy you are working out. I don't care if you can't do a pushup. Or a situp. I care that you are trying to. I care that you got off the couch, got into your sneakers, and showed up to do your best! In Crossfit, which is our other program, we have a saying: DFL>DNF>DNS. Dead Freaking Last beats Did Not Finish beats Did Not Start. You're never in last place if you actually got yourself to the gym. All those people at home are! ;)