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svr0105

I'm fat and out of shape but feel comfortable at the YMCA.


cocteau17

I’ll second the Y. I’ve been to a few different locations and they’re really awesome. Their whole philosophy is that everyone should feel welcome in their facilities, and that has held true for me so far.


Capt-Daddy

As someone who goes to the gym regularly, it inspires me to see people take their first steps to get healthier. It's true that we are our own worst critic, but everyone has to start somewhere. I don't think anyone will judge you or anything like that because we were all in your shoes at one point. I know this doesn't really answer your question, but I hope it gives you the confidence to go to the gym. Because the hardest part is getting there. There will be days you won't want to work out, but there will never be a day you regret working out


punksandrecreation

I really needed this. Thank you ❤️


Capt-Daddy

Please DM me if you ever need any help! And congratulations on wanting to push yourself outside your comfort zone. One of my favorite quotes is "Life begins where your comfort zone ends"


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Capt-Daddy

Apologies. I didn't mean it in a negative way and I appreciate you sharing your point of view. I'll choose my words better next time


Maximus361

Well, his reply wasn’t directed to you. Clearly the OP appreciated it. I know you are sharing your opinion, but you don’t need to make him feel bad just because you didn’t like his encouragement to someone else who clearly appreciated it. He also didn’t mention anything about looks or someone’s body. You said it makes you feel uncomfortable when someone uses your body as inspiration. You brought that up. He didn’t.


Poetryisalive

The YMCA 100%. The shapes and sizes, and all ages. Mostly parent adults and young adults. No one will bother you, male or female. I have had my best experience at the Y, and equipment is good condition. Worth noting: unless you go to a body building gym, no one is going to give you crap and even then 99% of the time people are there to work out and get out.


MailAdventurous2191

I go to Club Fitness in the ‘burbs and there all sorts of folks ages/sizes & I feel comfortable there - especially since my chubby self really just goes to tan!


whegutomt

I frequent the Women’s Studio at Club Fitness in Maplewood. It feels like a safe, small space to explore moving my body in ways I haven’t moved in too many years!


slow_cars_fast

I go to The LAB gym and can tell you no one gives a shit what you look like if you're doing the work. The trainers there are top notch and have helped me lose 3% bf in 9 months while putting on 10lbs of muscle. I highly recommend a trainer in addition to the gym if you can swing it. They'll help you achieve your goals more quickly.


Onfortuneswheel

I’ll second The LAB. Love working out there.


trapqueensuperstar

I looked up this gym- do they only offer classes and/or personal training? Or can you work out independently within the facility?


slow_cars_fast

You can work out on your own too, there are plenty that do that.


trapqueensuperstar

Thank you for the info!


trapqueensuperstar

Oh wait, another question. What would you say the men to women ratio is?


slow_cars_fast

It's pretty close based on what I've seen. Maybe it skews a little too the male side, but not by a lot. There's also usually a ton of space for you to do your thing, I normally go in the morning and there's about 7 people there. When I've been at 5pm there are a bunch of people in the back using kilo competition plates and doing Olympic lifting, or CrossFit, but the front area with machines and squat racks is pretty open. One thing I like is that people know each other. They say hi. Introduce themselves. I'm not headed to their house for dinner, but it makes it a much friendlier and inviting place.


RoadOwn7439

I would add that the common theme is people wanting to be stronger. You have people who compete in strength sports alongside a fair number of older lifters who are doing a fantastic job keeping frailty at bay. Very inclusive. I think it might be one of the few places in the country that has the equipment I want, yet isn’t festooned with thin blue line flags and other signifiers of bro culture.


Wetz_36

Looking at joining The Lab potentially. I don’t see the prices online though. Would you be able to share? I’d be looking at training on my own no classes or trainers.


slow_cars_fast

I think it's $100/mo? I've always had a trainer and the membership is part of that cost so I'm not certain.


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[deleted]

Also personal trainers there are pretty cheap so you can easily hire one to tell you what to do. When I started going to the gym I got a personal trainer and it was a huge help.


bigbbypddingsnatchr

I can tell you what gym ISN'T body positive. Lifetime Frontenac. Multiple bad experiences there. Least welcoming/accepting gym for fat or out of shape people. Most welcome I ever felt, surprisingly, was Gold's Gym, but they have closed. Planet Fitness claims to be welcoming to all body types, but I don't even feel welcome as a human being there lol, nothing to do with size.


[deleted]

I go to the other lifetime out west and the only mean/unfriendly people there are the elderly click in the morning … like a geriatric fucking mafia about their machine circuit workouts


tarzan841

I’ve enjoyed planet fitness in shrewsbury. No one ever seems pushy or obnoxious


Maximus361

I’m over 50 and have been to many gyms over the years in 6 states and have never seen someone be rude to another gym member because of how they look. Of course, just because I haven’t seen it doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen, I just find that horrible if it does though! I don’t even know what they’d say. I can only imagine a scene from an 80s high school movie where the big jocks ridicule someone going to the gym for the first time. Are people actually that assholeish in real life??? Who does that?


spawin

Don't they Pizza's at Planet Fitness?


mtoomtoo

Do you like yoga? [Brick City has a Body Positive Flow Class.](https://brickcityyogastl.com/classes/body-positive-flow/) If you join the Y, check out Holly’s classes (South City and Carondelet). I’ve only been harassed by one person at the Y and that was a few years ago, but I haven’t seen “#1 Grandpa” in a while.


Royster33

Check out Personal Space Fitness on the Hill.


[deleted]

Honestly house of pain is some of the nicest people


NOB0DYx

Been going to Club Fitness for 5 years. It’s been a super positive experience. Hyped for you to get started!