Gym for self conscious individual

Shane732

As the title says I'm looking for a good gym for beginners in Dublin. I work in the Dublin 6/8 area and travel home to Blanchardstown.

Essentially I'd prefer somewhere that isn't hugely busy and good for people who aren't full of self-confidence. Something which I'm slightly lacking in at the moment!

Naturally there are the normal gyms like Westpoint, Total Fitness and Crunch but none of these really fit the bill.

I was considering David Lloyd as it appears to be one of the top gyms around. However I don't really think it would suit either.

Does anyone have any ideas of somewhere that would be suitable?

Thanking you kindly for the advice!

Ravage1616

I'm not aware of any gyms in dublin but from my experience as some one who kept putting off the gym, as i didn't have enough self-confidence, Kept thinking i would be out of place and thought people would be looking at me. You just have to bit the bullet and go.

The hardest part is walking in the door for the first time and after that you'll realize its not that bad! Most people won't even look at you. Best bet is just to pick a gym and get started on a program!

rubadub

Ravage1616 wrote: »

You just have to bit the bullet and go.

Or workout at home.

Shane732

Ravage1616 wrote: »

I'm not aware of any gyms in dublin but from my experience as some one who kept putting off the gym, as i didn't have enough self-confidence, Kept thinking i would be out of place and thought people would be looking at me. You just have to bit the bullet and go.

The hardest part is walking in the door for the first time and after that you'll realize its not that bad! Most people won't even look at you. Best bet is just to pick a gym and get started on a program!

Yea I know - I use a personal trainer and I get on fine. The problem is that I'm out of the country a good bit so arranging a session can be a bit of a bit**.

I'm due back in Ireland from the start of Feb and really want to make a go of it this time so I'm wondering where I should go...

tempura

Regardless of what gym you go to, there will be people there, so you really need to work on your self confidence instead. Nobody looks at you in the gym, well, they may, for a moment or two, but you just have to ignore any weird staring types, they are the ones with the problems. Most of the people in the gym are there for the very same reason as you, to get fit, you just need to get over your initial fear.

Shane732

tempura wrote: »

Regardless of what gym you go to, there will be people there, so you really need to work on your self confidence instead. Nobody looks at you in the gym, well, they may, for a moment or two, but you just have to ignore any weird staring types, they are the ones with the problems. Most of the people in the gym are there for the very same reason as you, to get fit, you just need to get over your initial fear.

Cheers for the advice...

eth0_

I can understand why you might be wary of Crunch...there are a LOT of posers there...but Westpoint is a pretty normal gym and tbh no one is going to take much notice of you when they're working hard on their own workout.

BobbyOLeary

Try CrossFit Ireland out in Sandyford http://crossfit.ie. It's not your typical gym where you go and just workout on your own but instead you go and take part in a class with a group of others. There's a very supportive atmosphere down there and nobody is going to laugh or look at you funny for trying it out.

Give Colm O'Reilly or GabGab (both members here) a shout and they'll be able to tell ya a lot more about it.

corkcomp

it sounds like the OP is looking for a quite gym, or somewhere he CAN work out on his own, recommending cross fit is just using another oppurtunity to plug ones own interests and it stands out a mile off tbh

ajxx

Westwood in Sandymount aint far from Dublin 6... Its got a lot of older women and a fair few non Irish Nationals who come in groups so you can kinda do your own thing and everybody minds their own business. Plus they give you a prog and review every ten weeks, showers are cublicles, swimming pool has saltwater and doesnt have a viewing gallery!

Like most gyms its a bit busy from 5-8..,

Your membership covers you to use their Leopardstown and Clontarf gyms also but to be honest Leopardstown is a bit more of a gymers gym I believe.

Its a bit pricey but they have student rates and you should get the joining fee either waived or at least reduced to less than e100 - and I wouldnt join if they look for more than that! Most of the members I knew in Leopardstown left owing to financial constraints so fair being fair they should be negotiable on the joining fee.

Red Alert

Great to hear you want to get started on getting fit OP. I didn't play much sport when I was younger and only got into fitness in my early 20's. After a couple of years, I'm really feeling the benefits now. I have to admit though that I was terrified the first time I went in to a gym!

I don't know what time of the day you went to see the gyms involved. The crowd varies a lot over the course of the day and the week. I'm in Jackie Skelly Rathfarnham and sometimes I've nearly had the gym all to myself, and other times its been crowded. It's very easy to be anonymous in a big gym though. In fact I've felt more self conscious in some small hotel gyms compared to the likes of Crunch or JS, so that's another thing to think about.

There's no reason to feel uncomfortable when you're there... most of the other gym-goers will leave you alone. Most of the equipment in the cardio areas tends to face in one direction so you can always start off at the back knowing that nobody can see you Most people tend to be looking at the TV rather than around them anyway.

Almost everyone is friendly and helpful so don't be afraid to ask someone's advice on anything. Get to know a couple of the staff as well, you'll feel like you know someone then and you can ask them stuff if you're not sure.

When you join up, try and get a programme done for you by one of the staff there. Depending on the gym, it might be free when you join. If you treat each visit as a set of goals to be achieved from your programme, you won't have too much time to worry about anything.

Good luck with it

squod

Red Alert wrote: »

. I'm in Jackie Skelly Rathfarnham and sometimes I've nearly had the gym all to myself,

There's a good explanation for that. Ask your local gym what times are slackest, then try to fit a workout into those times. Also you could ask them if there's a studio free you could use for an hour or whatever. There's no harm in askin'.

Cheeky_gal

Shane732 wrote: »

I was considering David Lloyd as it appears to be one of the top gyms around. However I don't really think it would suit either.

Thanking you kindly for the advice!

Well for starters I wouldn't go near David Lloyd, I was a member there for 3 years and absolutely hated the place! I'm sorry to say but it's infested with stuck up people, d4 central if you want an honest opinion! :P

I was the same as you, very self conscious and I LOVED crunch in Temple Bar, the gym and changing room is so dimmed with like a candle light that you can't even see those red faces! I also found the people to be very friendly !

BobbyOLeary

corkcomp wrote: »

it sounds like the OP is looking for a quite gym, or somewhere he CAN work out on his own, recommending cross fit is just using another oppurtunity to plug ones own interests and it stands out a mile off tbh

You got me. Oh wait. I've no financial or moral interest in CrossFit Ireland. I train in Crunch UCD. I'll admit, I know the owners of CF but I'd have no problem in telling someone that CF wasn't for them. If someone wanted some racks and a place to do cable pullovers and such I'd suggest RAW. Someone wants a load of cardio stuff then any sort of normal globogym will do. The OP wants to work out on his own, the only place that'll happen is at home. People are everywhere.

Either work out at home or go to a personal trainer who has his own space, Transform maybe? Or if based on Northside go to IP for a more personal experience.

Crunch in UCD can be quiet, but you WILL get people looking at you like you've 4 heads and I've had a few run ins with some obnoxious folk. Same for any other gym that I've visited, all except for CrossFit. If recounting my personal experiences counts as a shill then every single person who comes on here and says something positive about their gym experiences is exactly the same as me.

Hope that clears up your misinterpretation.

EDIT: Just saw the OP lives in Blanchardstown, I read it backwards - working in Blanch, living in D6/D8. Informed Performance then OP?

corkcomp

BobbyOLeary wrote: »

You got me. Oh wait. I've no financial or moral interest in CrossFit Ireland. I train in Crunch UCD. I'll admit, I know the owners of CF but I'd have no problem in telling someone that CF wasn't for them. If someone wanted some racks and a place to do cable pullovers and such I'd suggest RAW. Someone wants a load of cardio stuff then any sort of normal globogym will do. The OP wants to work out on his own, the only place that'll happen is at home. People are everywhere.

Either work out at home or go to a personal trainer who has his own space, Transform maybe? Or if based on Northside (which the OP isn't) go to IP for a more personal experience.

Crunch in UCD can be quiet, but you WILL get people looking at you like you've 4 heads and I've had a few run ins with some obnoxious folk. Same for any other gym that I've visited, all except for CrossFit. If recounting my personal experiences counts as a shill then every single person who comes on here and says something positive about their gym experiences is exactly the same as me.

Hope that clears up your misinterpretation.

I wasnt having a go man, just saying that sometimes it can be annoying on this forum to see people plugging the same commercial interests (whether they have a financial interest or not is immaterial) when the sugestion isnt the best advice for the given situation ... Personally I dont see cross fit being a suitable environment for the op, but i am DEFO not knocking CF in general

BobbyOLeary

corkcomp wrote: »

I wasnt having a go man, just saying that sometimes it can be annoying on this forum to see people plugging the same commercial interests (whether they have a financial interest or not is immaterial) when the sugestion isnt the best advice for the given situation ... Personally I dont see cross fit being a suitable environment for the op, but i am DEFO not knocking CF in general

I'd beg to differ really. CF gets a bad rep from them damn Americans and their topless, gang-sign, "BADASS", "LET'S GET SOME" antics. I went to CF.ie for a while (6-8 months or so) and I saw some very shy people really come out of their shell there. Honestly I've never seen such a supportive atmosphere for people to exercise in.

Going a bit OT here now, bear with me. I can completely understand why some people are intimidated by globogyms, I know I was when I started. People DO stare and people DO make condescending comments, albeit it's only a tiny minority. I never saw that at CrossFit in my time there.

The OP is looking for somewhere supportive, and in my personal experience CF is the place to go. I'm sure there are other places that will provide the exact same, and maybe even better service for the OP.

I don't post that much on here purely because not every thread interests me. If it seems I'm plugging CF all the time then maybe I am, but I do actually think about what to recommend to people. CrossFit is an answer for a lot of people. As is Starting Strength. As is Rowing. As is HIIT. As is a coronary bypass.

I'm a big fan of educating people with regards to fitness and I think if people get to know a bit more with regards to what they need to be doing and what they should be eating it's a greater service than a simple gym membership. In my personal experience the only places offering this are personal trainers (Transform, D-Gal, etc.), CrossFit (Both Ireland and Dublin) and IP Gym. There may be more but I don't know them. Couple this to the fact that CF.ie is the only place I have an indepth knowledge and experience of and you can see why I recommend it so much.

That and Tom pays me a fiver every time I mention it on here :pac::pac::pac:

corkcomp

BobbyOLeary wrote: »

I'd beg to differ really.

thats all you needed to say really, and fair enough if thats your opinion.

Nonoperational

To be honest OP I know you may not be looking forward to it but after the first time you'll be grand. You may not believe me but nobody really takes any notice of other people in the gym. I go a few times a week and there are always all sorts there going about their business. Bite the bullet and you'll be wondering why you ever even thought of it.

corkcomp

would agree with post above. ive been in a fair few gyms in Cork and ive never once seen anybody purposely making anyone feel uncomfortable .. tbh i would never take the piss out of somebody in the gym unless I knew them. once the first visit is over you wont feel self concious anymore

Shane732

BobbyOLeary wrote: »

The OP wants to work out on his own, the only place that'll happen is at home. People are everywhere.

Either work out at home or go to a personal trainer who has his own space, Transform maybe? Or if based on Northside go to IP for a more personal experience.

Don't get me I'm not an inward person and have no problem with people!

Basically my issue is with free weights. I could do cardio all night (not literally) and couldn't care less who looks at me. The problem is with free-weights. I wouldn't be the strongest person in the world and can sometimes struggle with say 25-30kg plus. I'm not keen on having people watch me struggle!

I've used and Transform before and certainly will use him again. I would highly recommend him but unfortunately arranging appointments can be a problem.

corkcomp

Shane732 wrote: »

Don't get me I'm not an inward person and have no problem with people!

Basically my issue is with free weights. I could do cardio all night (not literally) and couldn't care less who looks at me. The problem is with free-weights. I wouldn't be the strongest person in the world and can sometimes struggle with say 25-30kg plus. I'm not keen on having people watch me struggle!

I've used and Transform before and certainly will use him again. I would highly recommend him but unfortunately arranging appointments can be a problem.

look at a decent dumbell set in argos, im talking a heavy set that you can barely lift off the ground! You can do great things with dumbells, even squats and deads! im sure transform has mentioned progression, it doesnt matter what weight you lift as long as you progress to a heavier weight over time, none of us start off lifting very heavy weights, we build up over time!

Nonoperational

I started off benching 40kgs and couldn't do 3 ful sets. Nobody cares to be honest.

missy1

in my experience westpoint gym is not one to be self concious in.. its so busy noone would even look twice at you..

if you are self concious about the gym it maybe because you are not totally sure what you are doing.. A personal trainer will help you hugely with your confidence.. My trainer in westpoint was great! cannot speak highly enough of him!! there are many good ones around you just need to find someone who suits!

westpoint are charging 275 at the moment with the trainers being approx 40 euro a hour more but money well spent if you ask me!!!

best of luck!:D

missy1

ooops posted to wrong section!:mad:

kumate_champ07

corkcomp wrote: »

it sounds like the OP is looking for a quite gym, or somewhere he CAN work out on his own, recommending cross fit is just using another oppurtunity to plug ones own interests and it stands out a mile off tbh

maybe so but it is perhaps a gym were all members have equal respect for one another and are on the same wavelength

I have alot of respect for overweight or unfit people I see at the gym as it takes alot for them to join up,
I think once you get 'stuck in' you just concentrate on your own workout and you kind of forget about everyone else around you. I kind of workout in a 'bubble' at my gym, I dont like distractions and I'm only there for myself to get a job done.

Dublin10

rubadub wrote: »

Or workout at home.

+1.
No packing bags.
No travel time.
No self confidence issues.
No fees:D

MushyMick

What's IP people keep going on about? I'm in Blanch too (working here living in Clonee) is it the one in Rosemount Industrial Estate?

jumpin_macflash

http://informedperformance.com/

near glasnevin ind. estate

MushyMick

Oh right. I thought so cos there was a gym in Rosemount but I heard it closed? I saw that site you posted but just the boxing ring and stuff made me think it was the same one. I think it was a boxing gym in Blanch? Anyone know what one I'm on about? I might check that out though. I've no car but they seem tio be near the train station and I pass that train line to come home from work. Can't seem to find a phone number on the site does anyone have contact details? Membership for Westpoint is up now and I'm never going back!

TommyKnocker

Hi There

IP = Informed Performance Gym, Glasnevin

See http://informedperformance.com/

They guys who run it post on here and are very knowledgable and helpful.


Best Rgards,

M

jumpin_macflash

MushyMick wrote: »

Oh right. I thought so cos there was a gym in Rosemount but I heard it closed? I saw that site you posted but just the boxing ring and stuff made me think it was the same one. I think it was a boxing gym in Blanch? Anyone know what one I'm on about? I might check that out though. I've no car but they seem tio be near the train station and I pass that train line to come home from work. Can't seem to find a phone number on the site does anyone have contact details? Membership for Westpoint is up now and I'm never going back!

PM Roper, its his gym. or email them the contact details are on the site. if i had any money id join it looks massively impressive.

id say its about 5-10 mins walk from broombridge station.

injured365

Shane732 wrote: »

Don't get me I'm not an inward person and have no problem with people!

Basically my issue is with free weights. I could do cardio all night (not literally) and couldn't care less who looks at me. The problem is with free-weights. I wouldn't be the strongest person in the world and can sometimes struggle with say 25-30kg plus. I'm not keen on having people watch me struggle!

I've used and Transform before and certainly will use him again. I would highly recommend him but unfortunately arranging appointments can be a problem.

I started off struggling with an empty bar......havent gone a whole load over that either but im getting there......i was the same at the start but eventually i just thought **** it who cares what anyone thinks

MushyMick

I tried there to pm Roper but its not letting me??? The box is grey and you can't put stuff in. Does anyone have any contact phone number or email for this gym? I'm kida like the OP. I'm not self conscious or anything usually but I'd need a bit of guidance. I asked a trainer for help in the place I was in and I had a program but it didn't seem to match what I wanted from what I've read on the web and mags. Basically I wanted to put on some muscle and he had me at a load of machines doing about 15 exercises per night!

d'Oracle

MushyMick wrote: »

I tried there to pm Roper but its not letting me??? The box is grey and you can't put stuff in. Does anyone have any contact phone number or email for this gym? I'm kida like the OP. I'm not self conscious or anything usually but I'd need a bit of guidance. I asked a trainer for help in the place I was in and I had a program but it didn't seem to match what I wanted from what I've read on the web and mags. Basically I wanted to put on some muscle and he had me at a load of machines doing about 15 exercises per night!

www.informedperformance.com

jumpin_macflash

MushyMick wrote: »

I tried there to pm Roper but its not letting me??? The box is grey and you can't put stuff in. Does anyone have any contact phone number or email for this gym? I'm kida like the OP. I'm not self conscious or anything usually but I'd need a bit of guidance. I asked a trainer for help in the place I was in and I had a program but it didn't seem to match what I wanted from what I've read on the web and mags. Basically I wanted to put on some muscle and he had me at a load of machines doing about 15 exercises per night!

info@informedperformance.com

jumpin_macflash

injured365 wrote: »

I started off struggling with an empty bar......havent gone a whole load over that either but im getting there......i was the same at the start but eventually i just thought **** it who cares what anyone thinks

id echo this. when you first go to the gym your gonna be the weakest there. just go, after a few weeks youll be stronger. however if you can get to a proper gym like IP or CF, at least youll be getting proper instruction and support.

Shaki

Hey, you are working in the D6/8 area. The Fitness dock on Camden Street is good and very reasonable. I have been a member for 3 years. It only starts getting busy after 5.45pm. Obviously at the moment you have all the new year rush. Give it another week and they be gone. Wish you luck with your choice. Im moving to D15 in a couple of weeks and am going to have to go through the same process. If anyone out there has any suggestions.

Thanks

G-Money

OP, I went through pretty much the same thing back in November. I hadn't been to the gym for ages and I was feeling very very self conscious. I was 18 stone, and very unfit. I even posted on here about feeling embarrased/shy/intimidated at the thoughts of going back. I'm a member of Westwood and I go to the Leopardstown club. Even though I've been there loads of times, for some mad reason I had got it into my head that since I was last there it had been inundated with people with perfect bodies. I was completely ignoring my own experience from having been there before.

Anyway I was talking to someone one night and they said something to me and quite unexpectedly, it created a massive amount of motivation to get me back into the gym. It actually made me angry what they said as well. That pretty much eliminated most of my embarrasment although I still had some.

So I decided to go to the gym that evening and I decided to start out small. It had been ages since I worked out (almost a year) so I knew my fitness levels were pathetic. I said I'd go and do some moderate cardio for about 30 mins or so and see how I get on. I wanted to ease myself back in and not go insane. Once I got in there though, I was grand. I did my cardio, and went home and felt better mentally at least for having went.

If you want to go when a gym is quiet, the best times are first thing in the morning. I remember years ago when I joined the gym for the first time, I had my first workout on a Friday night about 7pm. I figured everyone else would be going out or whatever and the gym wouldn't be busy and I was right.

With regards Westwood Leopardstown, if they even get a hint that you are interested in joining, they will tell you the joining fee is 499 euro but that if you join by 9pm that night, it's on 99 euro or 49 euro. I'm not joking. They told me that and I was in a few days later and heard him say it to someone else (so much for the by 9pm tonight) bit.

They also text me every few weeks or so with offers and its the same thing again (join by 9pm tonight and its only 49 euro) or whatever. So don't fall for that. Most likely if you phone them up a day or two later they'll tell you the same thing.

Also one thing they don't seem to tell people about is their off peak membership. It's 55 euro a month and that lets you go between 6am and 4pm during the week, and 4pm at weekends. The full membership is 75 euro a month. The off peak may not suit everyone, but I'm sure there's quite a few people who wouldn't mind saving 20 euro a month.

Personally I changed to the 75 euro a month option again as I was too tired to get up early in the morning and go then. However I'm a bit fed up with gym's at the moment so I'm evaluating whether to cancel my membership or something. My 1 year contract ended with them several months ago so I should be able to cancel anytime I choose.

My advice to you is to only join a gym if you think you will stick with it for a year at least (assuming they force you into paying/joining for a year). If you don't think you will, perhaps look at some other gym with a more flexible membership programme, or some other way of exercising.

I know myself I kind of dislike doing weights. I find it boring and while I know it's probably making me stronger, I never feel like it's having much of a benefit. I much prefer cardio to be honest as I actually feel fitter afterwards.

I've heard good things about Crossfit from several people on here. I think there are two based in Sandyford, although I don't know which one the people have the positive comments about I'm also not really sure if it's the kind of place you have to join for a year or just pay as you go or whatever. But that's besides the point.

Anyway, if you think you'll stick at a gym for a year at least, they might be an option. If not, perhaps look at either exercising at home, or outdoors or something. I know I'm sort of trying to find out myself what's best for me.

Good luck anyway whatever you decide.