Chapter 5 - Gym Newbie

Determined to regain control of her body, Brittney prepared herself for a workout at the gym. She reluctantly changed into a pair of workout shorts that clung tightly to her thighs, emphasizing the pronounced softness of her hips and the generous lower belly pooch that curved out from under the waistband. Her shirt struggled to hide the expanse of her belly, as it strained slightly against the soft flesh, the fabric barely covering her navel. Despite her discomfort with her appearance, she knew she had to push through if she wanted to make progress.

As Brittney entered the gym, she was greeted by Amanda, the friendly front desk attendant who had always been a familiar face in her daily routine. However, Amanda looked at her with a mixture of curiosity and confusion.

"Hi, do you need to sign up for a gym membership?" Amanda asked, a polite smile on her face.

Brittney's heart sank as she realized that in this new reality, she had never set foot in the gym before. The once familiar relationship she shared with Amanda was now nonexistent. She could see the uncertainty in Amanda's eyes, as she clearly didn't recognize her.

"Uh, no, I mean, yes... I guess I do," Brittney stammered, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. She couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness at the loss of her old life and the connections she had made.

Amanda handed her the necessary forms to fill out, and Brittney quickly completed them, eager to get started on her workout. With her new gym card in hand, Brittney headed to the locker room to stash her belongings before beginning her workout.

As she made her way through the gym, she couldn't help but notice the curious glances thrown her way. Her new, curvier body seemed to draw attention, but not in the way she was used to. The tight shorts and shirt only served to accentuate her ample curves, making her feel even more self-conscious.

As she began her workout, Brittney tried to ignore the stares and focus on her routine. She started with some light cardio on the treadmill, the sensation of her body jiggling with every step both uncomfortable and unfamiliar. Despite her self-consciousness, she pushed herself to continue, determined to make progress.

Brittney moved on from the treadmill, her body still jiggling from the exertion, and headed towards the weight machines. She was determined to work on her entire body, not just focusing on cardio. As she settled into the first machine, she quickly realized that her strength was not what it used to be. The weights felt much heavier than she remembered, and she struggled to find a good weight to complete her sets.

Throughout her workout, she couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. She glanced around, noticing a group of muscular gym bros stealing glances at her, their faces a mix of surprise and thinly veiled disgust. Each time their eyes met hers, they quickly looked away, but she knew they were judging her. The weight of their stares made her feel even more self-conscious than before.

Trying to ignore them, Brittney continued with her workout, moving on to the next machine. As she adjusted the settings, she heard the sound of laughter approaching. A trio of athletic girls walked by, their toned bodies a stark contrast to her own. As they passed, Brittney caught them glancing at her and snickering amongst themselves.

Brittney vaguely recognized the girls from the gym, and she suddenly felt a wave of embarrassment wash over her. The realization that these girls, who were once her peers, now saw her as just some fat girl was too much to handle. She felt her face grow hot, and tears threatened to spill from her eyes.

Unable to bear the humiliation any longer, Brittney quickly stood up, abandoning her workout. She grabbed her belongings from the locker room, her heart pounding in her chest as she tried to hold back the tears. She rushed out of the gym, the snickers and judgmental stares of the other gym-goers echoing in her ears.

Once outside, Brittney allowed the tears to flow, the weight of her situation finally hitting her. She felt lost, unsure of how to navigate this new reality and the challenges it presented. As she walked back to her dorm, she couldn't help but question to herself if agreeing to this change for two whole months was a good idea.

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Brittney stormed into her dorm room, her eyes red and puffy from crying. She slammed the door behind her, startling Chloe, who was lounging on her bed, absentmindedly tracing her flat stomach with one hand while snacking on chips with the other.

"What's wrong, Britt?" Chloe asked, her voice filled with concern.

"I can't believe you!" Brittney shouted, her anger and frustration boiling over. "You're just lying there, taking your new body for granted! You're wasting the opportunity you have right now! You'll just end up fat again if you keep this up!"

Chloe's eyes narrowed, and she sat up defensively. "Excuse me? I don't think you're in any position to talk about being fat anymore, Brittney. You're the one who's overweight now, not me!"

Brittney clenched her fists, her voice shaking. "This is just temporary, Chloe! I'm going to get my old body back, and I'm going to prove that I can lose weight and get in shape again. And maybe then, you'll realize how much of a waste it is to just sit around and eat junk food all day."

Chloe sighed, setting the bag of chips aside. "Look, I'm sorry, but you can't take your anger out on me. We both agreed to this, remember? And it's only for two months. Just try and enjoy the experience."

Brittney took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. "You're right, I'm sorry for snapping at you. It's just... it's a lot harder than I thought it would be. I didn't expect it to be this difficult to adjust to my new body, and I'm just... I'm scared."

Chloe's expression softened, and she reached out to take Brittney's hand. "We're in this together, okay? I'll help you get through this as best I can."

Brittney nodded. "Thank you, Chloe. I really appreciate it."

With a renewed sense of determination, Brittney resolved to face the challenges ahead and make the most of her situation. She was definitely going to try working out again tomorrow.