This has been bothering me for awhile and I just can’t get over it. I live next to a college where both my parents work and I have an ID card that can get my places there so my Dad and I go to the gym there.(I’m only 14 so I can’t go by myself).
Almost all the time I go, there are tons of huge ripped college kids and I feel really awkward since I just look like some little skinny kid lifting nothing compared to them. Is there anything I can do to feel more comfortable?
Remind yourself that if you start lifting now, you’ll be in that position in a few years, and that all those big, ripped guys where once your size. There might be some jerks, but most of them should be pretty understanding as long as you focus on lifting and don’t act like a fool in the gym.
I know the feeling man, we all started somewhere. Trust me though, most people are way to busy/focused to really pay attention to what’s going on. It’s not a popularity contest or anything like that.
The fact that you started training at a relatively young age AND you’re on T-Nation earns my respect.
No reason whatsoever to feel awkward, just get in there and focus on your own progress.
look to them for inspiration when you feel that you’re too lazy to go the gym or when you’re struggling on those last few reps
Its awkward for everyone in the beginning. The feeling will pass.
Every one of those huge ripped college kids was once a 14 year old starting out. Many of them will be impressed that you’re starting so young & some will be wishing they had done the same.
Like the guys have said, focus on your lifts. Once the college guys get used to seeing you around & see that you’re serious, I wouldn’t be surprised if you end up with a couple of mentors.
look for the guys doing squat rack curls and 100lb 1/4 squats… if they are there then no one will care about what you are doing lol.
Thanks, all that stuff makes sense, I’ll think about it when I go next and hopefully I will feel better about going to the gym.
Yeah i live on a military installation and when i go to the gym i usually see big strong military guys… im also the only teenager that goes there on a daily.
usually if you ask somebody for help on a lift or something they are more than happy to help!
Give it time ,focus on what u do,and ull be climbing the ladder soon
I was in the military(Navy). The best words of wisdom I can give you is just be polite and don’t bring in your loud mouth friends. Other than that no one is going to dog you for being young/smaller.
[quote]T.Cal wrote:
This has been bothering me for awhile and I just can’t get over it. I live next to a college where both my parents work and I have an ID card that can get my places there so my Dad and I go to the gym there.(I’m only 14 so I can’t go by myself).
Almost all the time I go, there are tons of huge ripped college kids and I feel really awkward since I just look like some little skinny kid lifting nothing compared to them. Is there anything I can do to feel more comfortable? [/quote]
All of these guys where in your exact same shoes a few years ago.
Yea I go through the same thing when I go. It’s not really the guys with ripped muscles that un-nerve me, it’s the women lol.
[quote]FatAss2008 wrote:
Yea I go through the same thing when I go. It’s not really the guys with ripped muscles that un-nerve me, it’s the women lol.[/quote]
Half-naked women “unnerve you”, have you caught teh ghey?
I got vaccinated for the ‘ghey’ a long time ago.
My name says it all.
Unfortunately i’m self concious about my weight so I definately feel out of place
[quote]FatAss2008 wrote:
Unfortunately i’m self concious about my weight so I definately feel out of place[/quote]
I was definatley in the same boat when I first started lifting, so no worries.
Let me tell a story:
Once, a year or so before I started lifting for real, I went to the weight room to see what it was like. I was doing seating BB military presses with a big ole 2.5lbs on each side. A couple football players made fun of me and my friend. I literally didn’t go back because of that until I started a real physique transformation. It was stupid. And I let what someone else though and said affect what I wanted to do. I learned, and won’t make the same mistake again.
OP, it doesn’t really matter what any one else thinks. Just remember that you are in the gym to meet your goals, which you keep to yourself. If any asshole decides to try and bring you down about it, then that’s their own insecurity and their own business. Focus on what you need to do and forget about the rest. Your way ahead of the game if you start lifting at 14. You’ll be a ripped college kid someday, so remember this and do what you can to help out the 14 year olds you see when that day comes.
To the OP,
Believe me, some of those 200 lb bigger guys in your gym would feel just how you’re feeling if they stepped into a gym with a lot of 250 lb lifters.
It’s natural to be a little uncomfortable or self-conscious starting out doing almost anything new. Getting out of your comfort zone is important for any big achievement in life. So don’t let that stop you from getting in there and doing what you want to do.
At the age of 14, with the info you have from this site and your access to a gym with some decent lifters, you have a great opportunity. Many on this board, myself included, would love to go back and have what you have - so be courteous to the other guys, train hard, and make the most of it. Good luck, mate.
justrob wrote:
To the OP,
Believe me, some of those 200 lb bigger guys in your gym would feel just how you’re feeling if they stepped into a gym with a lot of 250 lb lifters.
Haha, I was just about to say the same thing…
After a year of lifting smart and eating right they’ll look totally different to you.
[quote]zephead4747 wrote:
T.Cal wrote:
This has been bothering me for awhile and I just can’t get over it. I live next to a college where both my parents work and I have an ID card that can get my places there so my Dad and I go to the gym there.(I’m only 14 so I can’t go by myself).
Almost all the time I go, there are tons of huge ripped college kids and I feel really awkward since I just look like some little skinny kid lifting nothing compared to them. Is there anything I can do to feel more comfortable?
All of these guys where in your exact same shoes a few years ago.[/quote]
Hell, maybe they didn’t start working out until they were 16. If you can get over these guys being bigger than you, then you’ll have a big head start if you begin lifting seriously RIGHT NOW.
I remember when I was about your age I was no more than 115 pounds soaking wet. I remember seeing guys doing Dumbbell Bench Press with 50 pounds whom everyone else in the school thought were massive.
But as soon as I started lifting seriously my junior year, I gained some perspective and realized that many of these tough-guy juniors and seniors were using weights that were laughable.
Right now even weak people seem big to you because you’re in your early teens. You’ve got a lot of growing to do. While you may not be able to put up the weights that these college guys can right now, what you can do is train HARDER than they are.
If they are the kind of people who will judge you based on what you can lift (especially when you’re a 14 year old) then they’re the type of shallow asshole whose opinion doesn’t matter.
The real measure of a man is how he treats those weaker than him. I can’t remember where I nicked the concept from but I think it’s very true.
So, keep going to the gym, keep doing the big exercises with whatever you can lift safely, and then after you’re done with puberty, you’ll be a big guy who intimidates some fourteen year old (until you remember what it was like for you and go over to help / encourage him).
2 things…
If you allow other people’s thoughts and perceptions of you determine your outcome, you give THEM the power. If you do your thing, they will respect you in time. Don’t be too concerned about what others think, or what YOU think they think. 90% of the time, you will be wrong.
If you befriend and ask the others in the gym for help or advice, you never know, you may make more improvements than you thought were possible on your own.
Don’t be afraid to live by comparing yourself to others. Be the best YOU you can be. Eat clean, and train hard… the rest will take care of itself. If you do it right and want it bad enough, you’ll be a monster when you become their age. AND, you’ll know better than to make the 14 year old kid in the gym feel awkward, and maybe give him some of YOUR time and advice.