If you've ever walked into a gym [1] and felt your confidence shrink faster than your water bottle in the sauna, welcome. You may have met gymtimidation [2]. I know her very well.

I'm a certified fitness instructor. I've lost over 100 pounds [3], passed my NASM exam, and spend my time in gyms all the time, but gymtimidation still pops up now and then, especially when I enter a new space. Because I'm not just in the fitness industry — I also live in a plus-size body. That duality gives me a unique view into both worlds, and I'm here to say: we need to talk.

This is a call to action for both sides. To the gyms, studios, trainers, and staff: gymtimidation is real, and you have the power to fix it. And to my fellow plus-size people navigating fitness with fear, shame, or anxiety: I see you. And you're stronger than you think.

What the Fitness Industry Must Do Better

Let's get practical, shall we? Here's what gyms can do to make everyone feel welcome.

• Stop treating big bodies like anomalies: Don't act shocked when we crush a strength circuit. We're not unicorns. We're people who train hard, too.
• Train your staff on inclusivity: Everyone, from the front desk to class instructors, should know not to make assumptions based on body size.
• Offer guidance that feels safe: Don't wait for us to ask. Make it easy to get an equipment walkthrough without judgment. First-timer? Offer a welcoming tour.
• Diversify your marketing: Where are the big bodies in your Instagram feed? The older folks? The wheelchair users? The moms? Let us see ourselves in your space.
• Make the space actually accessible: That means having equipment that works for all bodies, towels that wrap all the way around, and hair products that don't fry coils and curls.

To My Fellow Plus-Size People: Here's What We Can Do, Too

The system needs to change, yes. But we don't have to wait for perfection to start moving our bodies. We can take steps to ease our own gymtimidation too.

• Tour the gym like a boss: Use your newbie status! Ask for help, get a machine tutorial, learn the layout. Knowledge is power and confidence.
• Remind yourself no one is watching: Gym people? We are the most self-absorbed species during a workout. We're in our zone, not watching yours.
• Pep-talk yourself, daily: As someone living in a bigger body, I do my best to catch myself if I apologize for taking up space. This is something I'm extra mindful of in the gym. I've had to say, "CeCe, you paid for your membership. This gym is as much yours as anyone else's. You belong here." Confidence doesn't always roar; sometimes it whispers "keep going" when you want to leave.
• Try the scary class: I wish I didn't waste so much time avoiding group fitness classes. I assumed they were only for people who could sprint, squat, and shimmy without breaking a sweat, not for someone still building stamina like me. If I had to start my journey again, I'd practice at home, with a simple 10-minute bodyweight strength workout [4]. No pressure, no mirrors, just me learning the basics like squats and modified pushups at my own pace. It gave me the confidence and foundation I needed to walk into a class without feeling overwhelmed. By the time I stepped into that studio, I wasn't trying to be perfect — I was prepared. I knew I could modify moves and take breaks without shame. If group classes scare you, start with a short at-home workout. You don't need to be "ready" — you just need to begin.
• Ask for help: I used to fake it on machines I didn't understand. Not anymore. A quick ask gets you an answer and a better workout.
• Put on your playlist, not your comparison goggles: Comparison is the quickest way to kill your motivation, and let's be honest, in fitness spaces, it's easy to fall into the trap. That person has abs. That one runs marathons. That one just flipped a tire the size of a fridge. But here's the truth: you're not behind, you're just on your own path. One practical trick I use? I treat the gym like my own personal music video. I put in my headphones, play a playlist that makes me feel like Beyoncé in "Homecoming," and get into my own vibe.
• Celebrate the small wins: Every time you show up, you're rewriting the story. That matters.

Fitness is for every body. Period.

It's time we stop acting like gyms are reserved for those who already "look the part." The fitness industry must do the work to become more inclusive, accessible, and welcoming, and that includes everything from staff training to towel sizes. But we also get to take up space, ask questions, and grow stronger in the bodies we have now, not some version we're waiting to become.

Your health is a practice, not a pant size.