You joined a gym! That’s great news. For Gastric Bypass, Gastric Sleeve and LAP-BAND patients, joining a gym gives you an added edge. Studies have found that weight loss surgery patients who regularly exercise lose more weight than those who exercise infrequently.

So now that you’ve gotten over the hurdle of joining a gym, keep in mind the hardest part is still ahead of you: You actually have to step into the building and exercise in front of other people! Don’t worry. It won’t be as bad as you think. Feeling uncomfortable or self-conscious is natural when starting anything new. There are ways to overcome the fear and gain confidence.

• Meet with a trainer to learn how to use machines correctly.
• Ask the staff questions.
• Work out during “off-peak” hours when there are fewer people around.
• Find a gym buddy.
• Line-up in the back of the group class until you feel more comfortable with the program.
• Do not compare yourself to others. Bring some music and a headset with you so you can focus on the music, instead of what’s going on around you.
• Follow proper etiquette – keep your area clean.

It may help to remember that no one was born knowing how gyms work. Everyone was new at some point in their life. Just like anything else, each time you go, you will feel more comfortable with your environment. Make the commitment, and you’ll find that with time you can be a regular gym-goer.