I don't know if they're looking or not --- I sure hope they're not! I'm usually so focused on what I'm doing that i barely even notice there are other people there (UNLESS i'm on the treadmill, which is upstairs and overlooks the free weight area --- now, then? i'm definitely people watching ... lots of yummy things to distract me while i'm running on the hamster wheel!) You may just need to keep looking for a gym where you're more comfortable. I'm sure there's one out there for you!

Well if you try to compare yourself to others you will never be happy, since there will always be people with nicer bodies. I try to just concentrate on keeping my body fit, and just try to be thankful that i can still work out. That said i should add that i like looking at nice strong bodies, whatever the age of the person. P.S. If you have been working out for so long you have a body that somebody else thinks is nice.

Sweetheart, the objective is to enjoy yourself and to enjoy the endorphin high afterward. The rest falls into place. I work out at a Lifetime Fitness in the Austin area. Yes, there are some gorgeously fit and muscular fems AND guys. I look at it as eye candy at best, not something to be intimidated by...since it's all in your head. If you have a bent towards being socially outgoing, you'll likely link up with some super folks...even the work out staff. Best of luck!

To offer my opinion on the issue of whether those buffed muscley folks at the spa care, about you? No way. They are so busy looking in the mirror, checking how they look, you could waltz through there nekkid and they'd not even flinch.

I have three young boys and the oldest, 12, is starting to worry "what others think" of him and how he looks. I told him they are all so worried, again, about how THEY look, the don't care how you look.

Just work out, have a good time and don't notice the others. You are there afterall for YOU, not for them.

I think that the gym is a great place to go if you're trying to build up muscle. I lost a lot of weight passively with some outdoor activity and I'm not a big fan of the gym. I'm at the point, though, where I can compete with younger types if I need to. If I really want inspiration (maybe in the opposite sense) all I have to do is hit the Super Wal Mart on a Saturday Afternoon; around where I live it's like watching wandering herds of hippos.

i really don't think the young ones in spandex are looking at us.

go and enjoy yourself. if you are initially uncomfortable, it will probably disappear very quickly.

Yes, absolutely, you're stressing out over nothing.

From my POV...

Rule Number One: My workout is about ME. I'm not there to impress anyone, I'm not there to gawk at anyone, I'm there to get a job done. Whether the gym is filled with 20 yo hardbodies or a bunch of 90 yos who need help getting onto the treadmill, doesn't matter. I'm there for ME.

Rule Number Two: I do MY workout. Doesn't matter how fast the guy on the next treadmill is running, I run my pace, my time, my workout. Doesn't matter how cute the gal on the mat is, I do MY set of weights (being a runner, they're never very heavy).

There's a story about Ron Clarke, the premier 10K runner in the world, heading out for an easy 4 mile run a couple of days before the OG 10K. He got sucked up into someone else's workout... ran a world record time for 4 miles... and didn't even medal in the 10K a few days later.

But he DID beat the other guy at that workout...

I'm doing MY workouts because they fit into MY plan. I don't care what someone else is doing.

I don't care about the young'uns - anyone can be fit and buff when they're 23. Unfortunately, they (generally) don't have the experience to appreciate how hard it is to stay in shape for another 20 or 30 years, so they'll as likely as not be dismissive of you regardless.

Hell with them. The gym is there for ME and MY workout. Stop me if you've heard this before. :)