Anxiety and Exercise

Hi people.

Just so you know, I'm going to be posting this again in the anxiety forum because I find people in different sections have different solutions to the same problem, and my dilemma applies both to Exercise and Anxiety (as evidenced by the title).

Alright, so I'm a relatively small woman who is average build (medium shirts, size 10 jeans (thats 30" I think in guy sizes)), I'm engaged and living with my fiancé who is a work out success storey but has cut back his routine to a light work out in the morning, and I have fairly severe social phobia. I started working out a few weeks ago, and my fiancé already sees the results (I don't, but I'm my worst critic), but I want to go further with it.

I'm too scared to work out when he's around, and I'm too scared to work out in front of people at a gym. Also, I'd have to travel a few subway stops to get to a gym because all the one's in my area are very preppy and try hard and expensive.

I'm not working out to lose weight. I'm working out to get stronger. But I'm too scared to let anyone see me or hear me (old building = thin floors = no jumping of any kind or the neighbours will be annoyed) especially my fiancé who's with me almost all the time. I've tried working out during break at work, but the staff room is cramped and too small and I'm still scared someone will walk in, plus I only get 30 minutes. Also, it's so frenetic where I work (very similar place to a shelter) that I want at least 15 of those minutes to be just chilling out and mentally refocusing.

I'm working on this form an exposure therapy sort of way but because I still don't understand anything about exercise or diet or any of this crap I am still too anxious. That being said, I don't want to stop.

Advice?

I can understand how hard that must be to find a place to work out under the circumstances. Is it possible to go into another room and close the door so no one sees when at home? Is going out to walk, run, or bike an option as there in anonymity on the streets and no one pays attention there because you keep moving and never one place long? You can even possible do this on your lunch break or even do the stairs at work to get some exercise in the for a few moments and chill the rest. Sometimes you have to get creative but there are ways, it's just a matter of finding them. I wish you well and good luck with your exercise program!

Yeah being scared sucks. Not sure what to tell you. Try going walking/jogging.

Hey,

You and me appear to be fairly similar; I work out not to lose weight but to be stronger as well. I also feel too anxious to go to a gym to work out and I'm too afraid to work out in front of my parents as well.

What I'd suggest is to start with workouts that aren't overly obvious and aren't going to be too strenuous, such as barbells. That helped me get up some confidence, as well as purchasing a pullup bar and putting it in the doorway. That way you can just do a few here and there. Also, doing exercises such as situps and pushups at night may work.

Another thing you could try doing is jogging around for fifteen minutes at work or something like that, or even walking to and from work. Alternatively you could buy a bike to ride to and from work.

Anxiety sucks, so just remember to start small, not to push yourself but still set challenges and to just keep going. You'll get your confidence up n no time, I'm sure of it.

Practice makes perfect, remember that.

YouTube has some good low impact workout videos( no jumping , no noise ) I do those a lot since I HATE jumping jacks( big bosoms lol) or stick with yoga...I've seen slimming effects on myself from regular videos they also diff help strength and again low noise.

Do you have a treadmill? There are plenty of other exercises that do not make noises. Get some dumbells for home too. I have a post coming out on exercises that can be done in your hotel room, at home in a small space and at the gym.

http://coachsmindeye.blogspot

I feel your pain, but Im not quite that shy. I had to tell myself that I cant let people keep me from doing what I want to do. We are all there to work out. But the more you go and do it the easier it will to keep going. Have you thought of meeting with a trainer? That has helped me break out of my shell. She showed me what work outs to do for my target area so when I went to the gym I didnt look like a fool.

Hey, bumping because I didn't want to start a dupe post.

For myself, I was thinking about doing something not-so-much cardio/yoga/gym type exercise but some sort of sports.

I really like the idea of tennis, but maybe martial arts?

Do you guys think these might be good ideas for exercise for the anxiety ridden?

I think it would be great if you aren't expecting to be perfect at whatever you chose to do. Part of my anxiety is "being good" at everything and I am far from it. But I will get upset with myself on the inside and then have these negative tapes start playing till I am no longer trying anymore.
I say go for it!
I love walking and have been stealing time any chance I get for a quick burst walk. It helps with my anxiety and clears my head.