S2, Ep20: Gym Fear

Season 2, Episode 20 – Gym Fear

Weight There's More - Get the Skinny with Sue & Kim:
Sue and Kim tackle a fear so many women know all too well — the fear of stepping into the gym. In this episode of Weight There’s More – Get the Skinny with Sue & Kim, they open up about intimidation, insecurity, and the self-doubt that can make the gym feel overwhelming. Through honest conversation and personal experience, they remind women that confidence is built one step at a time, and that the gym does not have to feel so scary when you stop letting fear make the decisions. 

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:02

Welcome to another episode of Wait There's More Gets a Skinny with Sue and Kim. This podcast is all about real talk, real experiences, and the real journey behind weight loss, health, and learning how to actually keep it off. I'm Sue, and my co-host is Kim. And together we spent years navigating the ups and downs, victories and challenges of weight loss, mindset, and lifestyle change. Around here, we believe weight loss is the only part of the journey. Each week, we're diving into topics like long-term weight loss success, mindset shifts, gastric surgery journeys, fitness, nutrition, motivation, and everyday struggles that women face when trying to live healthier lives. We are not medical professionals. Everything we share on this podcast comes from our personal experiences, opinions, and the lessons we've learned along the way. Think of this podcast like sitting down with two friends and your friends for it. Figure some things out, and now we're here to share the truth about what it really takes to transform your life and keep the weight off. So go grab your cup of coffee or even your protein shake and let's get real about how weight loss and everything in between. Because remember, weight there's more.

SPEAKER_00 1:23

That's where I'm sitting right now, squeaking on my chair. I'm trying to get adjusted. Yes.

SPEAKER_01 1:26

Oh, the kitchen. Well, you know, when you have another person working from home, it's a little um frustrating having to work around that.

SPEAKER_00 1:36

Oh, yeah. Yeah, I know. I know the feeling. Yes. Um, how is construction going? Is it going to be done soon?

SPEAKER_01 1:43

Um, well, they got all the installation in. Um, we're just waiting for the insurance. You know, this process is terrible. Um, the insurance check to come back so we can pay the deposit to get the rest of the repairs done. Oh, wow.

SPEAKER_00 2:02

Yeah, every insurance is different. I remember when we had Hurricane Flow, uh, the way Navy Federal did it, your money went into escrow and you couldn't take any out until you like paid ahead of time and showed receipts. And then they would like reimburse us. I mean, I understand there has to be protections in place because I know some people do take advantage of that, but either way, it gets everybody so backed up on their timeline.

SPEAKER_01 2:28

But luckily for us, we can record from the luxury of our homes and uh we'll wait it out till we get new and improved studio because we get it painted. I'm gonna get the colors we want, and let's just let's you know, we'll redecorate and have fun with it once it's all ready. Did you pick a color?

SPEAKER_00 2:50

I know I sent you a couple swatches.

SPEAKER_01 2:52

Yeah, I see. I'm gonna go with that navy. Cool, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 2:57

We're gonna look like a real podcast studio, guys.

SPEAKER_01 3:00

That's right, that's right. We're we're moving on up.

SPEAKER_00 3:04

Um always a work in progress, just like our our lives and our weight loss and yes, and our struggles.

SPEAKER_01 3:12

Yeah, I um I thought about uh I hope everybody listened to our last episode. We have a ending in the beginning of um the podcast, and uh I had to record it myself, the beginning and the end, but hopefully once we get back into the studio and Kim and I are together, we'll do um, we'll redo the beginning and the end together so it so it makes it uh a little more warming than just listening to me talk.

SPEAKER_00 3:48

I'm sure nobody minds. Yeah, it's all good.

SPEAKER_01 3:52

Yeah. So I I guess today we decided um we're gonna do this little series, and it's either gonna be maybe two to three, maybe even four episodes long, but we're gonna talk about uh women being intimidated to go to the gym.

SPEAKER_00 4:12

Yeah, I think it's a great topic. And the more we talked about it, we decided we couldn't get it in. We probably won't be able to get it in one episode or even two, just because there is a lot to unpack there. Um, I have a lot of my own stories that we can, you know, commiserate over that, you know, gym intimidation. Um, but we also are trying to keep our episodes, you know, right around 20 minutes so we don't uh drag on too long for you guys. So that's why we're thinking of doing a mini-series. Yep. Um, you know, at some point someone has been to a gym, has tried to further their weight loss experience with cardio or strength training. So we're just uh we're gonna talk about our experiences and hopefully get some feedback uh from yours. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 5:08

I um, you know, and this is really for any any woman, but a lot of times, like after even before you have gastric sleeve surgery and you're overweight and you're unhappy with yourself, you're still intimidated to go to the gym.

SPEAKER_00 5:26

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 5:27

And after surgery, you still feel intimidated because you're not the skinny mini girl with the hair pulled up and the makeup on, and you know, in your little tight workout outfit. Um, you know, I mean, that's how I felt about.

SPEAKER_00 5:46

Yeah, I mean, there's definitely a stereotypical picture. I think like right now, um, Planet Fitness puts out there that they're a no-judgment zone, it's a safe place, you know, no one cares about um how you look when you come in, or you know, that whole they're trying to overcome that uh stigma to a gym. And that's not, I mean, it doesn't matter if it's a national campaign from a corporate gym or not, that's not gonna change your mindset on what it feels like to walk in that gym. And I'm just curious who if you can think back, what was the first time? How old were you and what was going on the first time you went to a gym?

SPEAKER_01 6:29

I was probably 45. The very first in the gym prior, but I didn't know what I was doing and I hated it. Yeah, because I was the fat girl in the gym. Even like in your teens, you didn't go? Oh, well, yeah, because I played, you know, I played sports. Um, you know, when I decided to get really serious about it, it was 45. But you know, in high school, I was on a swim team, I played softball. Yes, I played softball. And so I had to think about that. And um, you know, so yeah, back then you had to be in the gym or at the pool working out, and that's you know, obviously a form of exercise, but still I wasn't the slimmest attractive high schooler either, or so I thought, you know, you think like that.

SPEAKER_00 7:31

Oh yeah, yeah. Um, for me, I think I was 16 because I know I could drive there. Um, but I came from a small town, so there weren't a lot of options, but I hate to say it, the small town uh vibe wasn't very kind. I mean, everybody knew you. You couldn't just go to the gym and not be seen. So no matter, you know, everybody knew what you were doing all the time. So it was a, you know, intimidating thing because um you wondered what everybody was thinking. And the reason I brought that up is because it got me to thinking about mindset and how we've really brought that concept up in every episode. Um, and it's so important because my mindset at 16 and 26 and 36, you know, every just kind of fast forward every 10 years, how it was different. So when I went back at 26, I was looking for a man. I mean, let's be real, guys. Um, I was single, I was I had just lost weight, probably doing phenamine or something, and uh wanted to build on that tone, whatever, show off my body. I mean, I planned my outfit. There was a lot that went into these gym visits. Um, you know, when at the same time, you know, had which I mean, I was building structure like you've been teaching us, and you know, it was the follow-through wasn't there. The mindset was not good. You know, we we all have a lot of baggage, we all have something we've gone through in life that brought us to where we are. Um, but all the while these intimidating gym experiences have been there. So I thought that was a really good idea uh to talk about it because you know, every experience you could ruin it, you know, as far as um you walking into that gym, being intimidated. You know, you said at first you hated it because you, you know, didn't know why you were there or what to do. Um, you know, and then fast forward to your when you were 45, that would be post-surgery for you? Yes. Okay. And what changed?

SPEAKER_01 9:50

Um, Al got me into the gym. Uh after surgery, I did a lot of cardio. Yeah, I think that's our mostly walking.

SPEAKER_00 10:06

Um that's what we were taught. It was all cardio.

SPEAKER_01 10:09

Yeah. Yeah. And then I started, you know, figuring out I could run here or there, but I just did mostly cardio. And he finally said, Sue, you need to go in the gym. And I'm like, Oh god, I can't go into the gym, you know. Like, I am not, you know, uh, who's the famous model? I don't know. I'm not, I'm not her, I'm not that girl.

SPEAKER_00 10:34

Brooke Shields rolling up into the gym.

SPEAKER_01 10:37

Yeah, something, you know. Or Giselle, what's her name? Tom Brady's ex-wife. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 10:46

Yeah, I mean, it's and obviously something switched for you. I mean, obviously the support of Al, your husband. Um, that's huge. And unfortunately, probably a lot of our listeners would agree they didn't have that early on or don't have it now, you know, that support. Uh, I think uh anybody, which is what we're hoping to be here, you know, we can be your bariatric buddy for that too, you know, and let us hold your hand if you don't have a support system. Um it's totally understandable why you know that isn't working for you if if you're not going to the gym or you're intimidated by the gym like most people are.

SPEAKER_01 11:31

Yeah. Um, you know, the gym doing workouts at home is completely different than doing workouts at the gym. And I always feel like, yeah, you get a good workout at home, but in the gym, I feel like it's that atmosphere. And you know, you just like for me, I just put the headphones on and drown out all the noise and just go for it. Uh I I could do that at home, but there's all these distractions. Like, you know, we have a garage gym and we do do stuff in the gym, um, you know, in that gym, um, you know, once in the summer, most of the time when the weather's nice, but then you know, you're dealing with the bugs and the flies and people walking by or driving by, you know, there's all these distractions when you got the garage door open and you can't really jam the music too loud to annoy the neighbors, but you know, you just got to get over that fear. It's like, how do you get over that fear of walking into the gym for the first time? Or you know, the first time in a long time, because I'm sure people have been to the gym and and didn't feel comfortable and decided never to go back because there are those are there are those people too.

SPEAKER_00 12:58

Yeah, 100%. And and and you asked a good question. How do you how do you change that? How do you get over that? I think it's going to be different for everybody. Um, for me, I think um I just got over it. Like it's just one of those things where you know, now I'm almost 54. I'm definitely not 26 anymore. So uh there's a lot to be said for that. I've done a lot of growing up and I'm kind to that I don't care, you know. I mean, I do. Um, but you know, it's I think it's always just gonna be that little bit, you know, like a new thing. It's always gonna have that little bit of intimidation factor. But once you realize everybody's there for the same reason, they're not there to look at you or judge you, they really are trying to better themselves as well, for the most part. I mean, there's always gonna be a bad apple in every bunch, but you know, I think just changing my mindset to hey, we're all here for the same goal. Um and two, I think the we're on the upswing of the wave of acceptance for obesity in general. Um, I think it's a little more embraced as far as how society has kind of come around to the thought of um, you know, inclusivity, which means so many things, you know, very I'm talking very surface level, um, to where I would like to think our hearts are a little softened to the judgment, um, to where if I saw someone walking in the gym, I I'd be just kind of internally saying, way to go. I know that was hard. At least you're here. Take the small win. You know, and I wish I knew that in my younger years, but I would like to think that is kind of what everybody's thinking. Like, good for her. That's awesome. Yeah, that's that's great that you know she made that step, or oh yeah, I see her every day, or I see her every Tuesday and Thursday. Like, wow, great job. Yeah, you know, I think positivity and kindness are a lot more um prevalent in this crazy world uh right now that that I think um it should be less intimidating than it used to be. Um and and I hate to say, yes, it does my age has something to do with it. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 15:30

And I feel um, you know, like when I had the surgery, we lived on base. So the gyms were on base and they were full of marines.

SPEAKER_00 15:41

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 15:42

And so I think that's that was more intimidating. Um also Al was deployed for the longest time, the actually the first year of my weight loss surgery.

SPEAKER_00 15:56

Oh wow.

SPEAKER_01 15:57

Yes. So the only thing he saw for the time he was on deployment was what you're getting right now. It's the top of my head. You know, he didn't see the rest of me, so he was shocked when he got off the bus and saw me. And um, and that was all me walking. Yeah, and you know, and trying to run a little bit, and that's when he said, like, oh my gosh, you need to get in the gym. And I was like, but no.

SPEAKER_00 16:31

So you he was gone a whole year, that first year of recovery? Yes, no home in between, nothing. Holy moly! And you were raising three boys. Was Jen already out of the house? She was in college. How did you do that, Sue?

SPEAKER_01 16:47

We were in California and she was in at Ohio State.

SPEAKER_00 16:51

That had to be a rough year, though. It's uh it's already hard having your husband deployed, but working through what everybody can relate to right now is this that first year of healing is is rough. Yeah, so just your mind is all over the place.

SPEAKER_01 17:07

How did you stay focused to lose 100 pounds before he got back? And I think I had lost like 146.

unknown 17:17

Wow.

SPEAKER_01 17:19

And that was like following the diet, you know, everything, the vitamins, um, eating, you know, trying to get enough protein, and you know, getting exercise, and all I did was walk, or I try, you know, I was running a little bit more. But you you just gotta get, you just, and I don't know, like he just you just flip that moment when you're like, all right, at least I'm gonna walk into the gym with him. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 17:58

I'm losing you, I don't know. Are you there? You're frozen. There you are. Okay. I hope it didn't.

SPEAKER_01 18:07

Yeah, I was still over 200 pounds.

SPEAKER_00 18:10

Okay. But it had to look drastic to him.

SPEAKER_01 18:13

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 18:14

So at that point, he could tell, even though you were taking your vitamins and you were doing your cardio, he could tell your muscle was pretty much gone. Yeah. Well, it's great that he knew that. I I still don't think that we know enough or are told enough or support are supported enough on the back end uh after the surgery of what to do. Like, I that I mean, I heard it. Oh, drink lots of protein, your hair's gonna fall out if you don't, you know, your muscles gonna deplete if you don't, but it just wasn't emphasized enough. Like I just that that didn't um get through to me. So I think that was lucky for you 16 years ago. Gosh.

SPEAKER_01 18:57

Yeah, I also feel like they don't emphasize enough about the extra skin.

SPEAKER_00 19:03

Yeah, and and I think most people don't get approved. I think there the people that have gotten plastic surgery covered um had a great deal of weight loss, like you. I didn't, you know, my 50 pounds is nothing to 179, was it? Uh 239. 239. Um, yeah, I don't think it should be automatically approved, in my opinion. If you've lost 200 pounds, you're gonna need skin removal because that's gonna create other tons of issues.

SPEAKER_01 19:39

It sure isn't for cosmetic surgery.

SPEAKER_00 19:41

I mean no, I mean, definitely not. Um yeah, and again, we're in that I don't care what you think, phase. Like, who cares if people think that's what you're doing it for? You know what you're doing it for. Um yeah, I've considered saving money up to have my skin removal because I just from ex what I've researched and what I know from talking to other people, it's very hard to get TRICARE to cover that for what would seem like a little amount compared to what you went through.

SPEAKER_01 20:14

Yeah, yeah, I just feel get in the gym, like just do it. You have nothing to lose, everything to gain, and don't let people intimidate you. Don't let you don't let yourself be intimidated.

SPEAKER_00 20:32

Yeah, don't psych yourself out. I think if you guys are following Sue's suggestions of talking to yourself positively in the mirror, um, talking to yourself throughout the day positively, doing your own, you know, meditation or walk in your faith, knowing what needs to be done, I don't think that the gym will be as intimidating if your mindset has changed. I think that's such a big piece of the puzzle that I'm I'm flipping the switch on my mental state and telling myself, change the mindset and everything will follow, because I believe it will. Yeah. Um, albeit a little backwards. I wish I had a little head start on that going into the surgery. Um, and I think a lot of people can relate too that you kind of have those not rose-colored glasses, but like glasses of excitement, you know, like, oh, okay, I finally got this approved. This is actually happening, you know, things are gonna change in my life. I'm gonna get healthy. And you kind of get caught up in that, that you have kind of missed the boat on keeping yourself mentally aware and present and learning to love yourself before just looking in the mirror makes you love yourself.

SPEAKER_01 21:55

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 21:56

Um, and I think if you do love yourself, Whether that helps you be solid in your relationship. You know, you can't love others unless you love yourself, but you also can't walk into the gym with confidence unless you love yourself. I I really think once you've gotten there, everything else is cake. I agree. Get over that fear.

SPEAKER_01 22:22

Get over the fear. Get yourself in the gym. If you're a first timer and you go to the gym this week, we want to hear from you.

SPEAKER_00 22:30

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 22:33

Yeah. Yeah. So our next episode, we're going to talk about when you walk into the gym, when you walk through those doors.

SPEAKER_00 22:42

Yeah, what happens, what happens once you're inside? This episode is getting you to drive there and go inside. Tune in next week for um what do I do now? Awesome. Okay, so I like that was a good one.

SPEAKER_01 23:03

Yeah, it was. And with that, you know.

SPEAKER_00 23:08

Wait, there's more. And that more is next week. We'll see you next week. Thank you, thank you.

SPEAKER_01 23:16

Thanks everyone. What's up, another episode of Wait There's More. If you enjoyed today's conversation, make sure you subscribe, follow, and share this episode with someone who could use a little motivation on their health journey. And don't forget to connect with us on social media where we share tips and encouragement from our own journeys. You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube by just searching Wait There's More Gets A Skinny with Sue Again. Remember, your transformation is about more than just the number on the scale, because wait there's more. Thanks for listening, and we'll see you next time on Wait There's More Get The Skinny With Sue Again.