Hey All,

My name is Rebecca and I am almost 29 and married from NJ. I have about 70-80 lbs to lose....I had my band for a year and just got it removed two days ago. I am doing a 3 month medically supervised diet then revising to the sleeve in September. I know I have to kick up my exercise regime once my surgery incisions heal up. I am a big fan of yoga but have found it to be hard since I have gained weight (At one point I was down to a size 8/10 but gained the weight back to a size 20). I have a gym membership but find it hard to motivate myself to go because I am very self conscious of the way I look. I need to get myself to go and walk on the treadmill or go to one of their classes and not care if people look at me. Does anyone have any advice as to how to get over the gym jitters? Thanks!

I've had luck at Kohl's and Old Navy, and their prices are pretty good. Lane Bryant has great choices, but they are a little pricey. I also got some cute tops at Target and they were cheap too.

I went out today to K-Mart and bought a cute top and pair of Jillian Michael's workout capris. Hoping to go to the gym later in the week wearing my new outfit.

When you go to church.......do you sit there and feel like you are a sinner and shouldn't be there? Of course not, everyone in there is a sinner. You all are better for being in there.

Most that are going to the gym are in there to better themselves, too. Assume that they have the same agenda as you.....pop your earbuds on and get to work. Nobody cares if you are large.

They do care if you don't follow proper gym etiquette, though: do not sit on equipment between sets....get your set in and wipe down the gear and move. Do not park your butt there. Make sure to always......always use the supplied wipes to clean up your gear as soon as you are done.

Also keep in mind that not everyone is using their own iPods and just listening to the gym's piped in music.....they don't want to hear you sing.....enjoy your music silently.

If you feel compelled to carry on conversations....then go to the gym's lounge area. Do not hold other folks up by camping out around gear and chatting. It's not that folks don't care what you have to say.....they just don't care when they are working out. Stick and move........stick and move........stick and move.........and wipe down you gear every time you get off it.

Nobody is judging you in the gym......unless you break etiquette rules....then expect some rudeness to occur. It's nothing personal.....it's not that you may or may not be large.....it's simply that you've done one of the above items an incurred the wrath of others.

It's like golfers who play slowly.......they are holding up the entire course. If they are beginner golfers...then they shouldn't be playing during primetime hours.....but getting their practice rounds in at non-peak times. If you feel that you are going to be slow or self conscious then consider going to the gym during non-peak hours a few times until you get into the swing of it.

I will admit that there is a social thing that is undercurrent at all gyms.....at certain times of day. It's just the regulars acknowledging each other. Don't get torqued up about it you aren't part of it.....just keep going in there and doing your work and you'll be benefitting hugely.

Where do you find cute workout clothes? I went to the Nike outlet yesterday and didn't even check sizes because the shorts were sooo short and the tops so thin. Would prefer to keep inner thighs covered for everyone's sake!

I literally shop everywhere. Online and in store.

Online: Old Navy, Kohls, Ashley Stewart, Lane Bryant, Target (Plus size)

In Store: Kohls, TJMaxx/Ross/Marshalls, Lane Bryant, Target (straight size)

I am especially fond of capris/pants from Kohls. They have name brands like Fila, Nike, etc... and they offer a variety of colors besides basic black. I like tops that Ashley Stewart sells. They are longer than most places. I love Lane Bryants sports bras. Boobs do not move! I like their active wear, but wait until they have a sale to buy.

When you go to church.......do you sit there and feel like you are a sinner and shouldn't be there? Of course not, everyone in there is a sinner. You all are better for being in there.

Most that are going to the gym are in there to better themselves, too. Assume that they have the same agenda as you.....pop your earbuds on and get to work. Nobody cares if you are large.

They do care if you don't follow proper gym etiquette, though: do not sit on equipment between sets....get your set in and wipe down the gear and move. Do not park your butt there. Make sure to always......always use the supplied wipes to clean up your gear as soon as you are done.

Also keep in mind that not everyone is using their own iPods and just listening to the gym's piped in music.....they don't want to hear you sing.....enjoy your music silently.

If you feel compelled to carry on conversations....then go to the gym's lounge area. Do not hold other folks up by camping out around gear and chatting. It's not that folks don't care what you have to say.....they just don't care when they are working out. Stick and move........stick and move........stick and move.........and wipe down you gear every time you get off it.

Nobody is judging you in the gym......unless you break etiquette rules....then expect some rudeness to occur. It's nothing personal.....it's not that you may or may not be large.....it's simply that you've done one of the above items an incurred the wrath of others.

It's like golfers who play slowly.......they are holding up the entire course. If they are beginner golfers...then they shouldn't be playing during primetime hours.....but getting their practice rounds in at non-peak times. If you feel that you are going to be slow or self conscious then consider going to the gym during non-peak hours a few times until you get into the swing of it.

I will admit that there is a social thing that is undercurrent at all gyms.....at certain times of day. It's just the regulars acknowledging each other. Don't get torqued up about it you aren't part of it.....just keep going in there and doing your work and you'll be benefitting hugely.

I find that the gym culture during the day is a bit different that in the evenings. During the day everyone their is about business. Young, old alike come in and get down to business. During primetime hours of say 5 - 8pm there is a bit of a social atmosphere. Weekends are similar to daytime midweek hours.

This is abut YOU. If you feel self conscious, get a iPod and tune everyone out.

@@BLERDgirl is so right ... plug yourself in to your favourite music and just ignore the rest of the world. I walk for exercise ... started when I was working 7am-3pm so had plenty of time to walk after work (we have great walking tracks around the beach and bush areas near where I live), but I'm working different hours now, plus it's the middle of winter here and I'm a sook! I don't do the gym thing for no other reason than the fact that I'm so unco-ordinated (if being a klutz was an Olympic event, I'd take gold). I bought myself a decent treadmill and it's upstairs on the mezzanine floor overlooking our main living area, so I can hop on there and watch a movie to fill in the time if I don't want to listen to music. I'm not not a major fan of exercise (unlike my gym junkie brother), but I know exercise is important and am happy to do it if I've got something to distract my brain from it all!