As a trainer I have heard every reason possible for people to avoid the gym. Being self-conscious is one of the most common. “It feels like everyone is looking at me,” has been said to me more times than I can remember.
The thing that I find fascinating with this argument is that people fail to translate their feelings to others. The gym is a place for people to improve themselves, and so it follows that people who are in the gym are those who by definition do not see themselves as perfect. We gym rats are for the most part neurotic, self conscious, perfectionists. Certainly we have all seen the woman with the perfect body that is there to be seen, rather than sweat. However, I truly do believe this is the minority. In the main, people in the gym are not looking at you and judging you, any more than you are judging them. I have found that they are JUST as self conscious as you are.
When I go to the gym, I do not judge people by their fitness level, the clothes they are wearing, or what type of workout they are doing. This is what I notice…
Politeness. I will always notice when people are following general gym etiquette. Your body-fat or the weights you are lifting will not draw my attention; but you best believe that if you drop weights, fail to wipe sweat off your equipment, or leave your weights un racked you will receive some very unpleasant looks from me.
Modesty. I notice when people are arrogant, making loud noises, and staring at themselves. I don’t have any negative feelings towards these people, but I do find them amusing. The fittest person in the gym is probably not looking diminutively at you, they are probably laughing at the guy flexing and smiling at himself in the mirror.
Form. Practice does not make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect. While I have no bad feelings or judgement towards people who lift poorly, I am a trainer by trade. I notice poor form (and good form) and often wish that I could help…unfortunately the self conscious gym goers (those who’s concerns I am discussing.) prevent this. A person who radiates the “leave me alone vibe” can’t benefit from the experience of others.
In the end, being self conscious is an inhibitor. Focusing on the negative, “who is looking at me?” “I feel fat.” “what is her deal?” does nothing except distract you. Everyone is self-conscious and has their moments of doubt…accepting that everyone around you is just as awkward and worried makes all of the difference in the world. Fight through it, understand that you aren’t alone, and for your own sake don’t leave the gym. Trust me when I say that the people you see around you went through the same process.
Selene M.
My Whole Wellness 
I was always told it was okay to drop weights, you know, lift heavy with good form. By the end of your set, I was told to drop the weights, just don’t throw them. I’m pretty vocal in the gym, it takes that exertion of energy to get those last reps in on my sets. The last thing I wanted to touch on was looking and flexing in the mirror. I go to the gym to look better, feel better, and be better. When I’m there I have a pump and I can really see what my results are. Is it so bad to work hard to where I drop weights and exert my energy (vocally), then to take a minute to appreciate and maintain motivation by admiring my hard work?
Actually no, there are signs all over every gym I have worked at and worked out at saying “don’t drop weights.” The reasons in order of magnitude-
Risk – when people are in the middle of a set and are focused they often don’t see what is going on around them. A person can get hurt, especially if the gym is crowded and the weight bounces or rolls.
The noise is annoying and distracting. If someone is doing a technically complex lift or exercise, the break in focus can be detrimental.
Damage – you damage the floor, and weights when you drop them.
Proper loading– This will probably be an area where we will have to agree to disagree. My experience and education is without exception that a set should not go to complete exhaustion. If you have to drop the weights at the end of a set because you do not have the strength to set them down carefully, its time to decrease weight. The reasoning is that at this point form has already been compromised, and the risk to your body by using improper form is high. I finish even my heavy (for me) sets with one good rep in the tank.
The exceptions here are with bumper plates on a proper dead-lifting rack. The rack is isolated, so the risk of anyone being hurt is non existent. The weights are meant to be dropped and the rack (unlike the floor) is designed for that beating.
– Noise-
Grunting or a making a bit of noise on that last rep of a hard set is one thing. The yelling with every rep is just ridiculous though. I have no idea which you are talking about, but I know for myself that the people who are usually the later are generally attention seekers. The gym is by no means a quiet place, but I know I’m not alone in being annoyed with hearing “arrrgh” 10 times for 6 sets.
– Modesty-
Like I said, I don’t have any hard feelings towards the mirror people (unless they are in the way of me checking my form) but I do find it hilarious. Bathroom mirrors do just as well for checking yourself out.
Oh, and thanks for the comment and feedback!