I've been a member of my gym since March this year and it took a while for me to sign-up.

See, I've always hated gyms – the smell, the music, the people who stare at themselves in the mirror while working those guns and also the additional effort of actually getting to the gym.

I've also never been a fan of exercising in front of people. Not that I have anything to be ashamed or embarrassed of, I've just always preferred doing my own thing at home.

I have a rule for watching TV at home: don’t do it unless you're exercising (this only applies to movies, or series and NOT the news). Odd, yes, but it has worked for me for years.

But I decided to join an actual gym this year for several reasons: 1) my fiancé is a regular gym goer and I thought it would be convenient for us to train together, 2) I was quite excited to learn how to use new equipment as I was getting bored of my basic home-gym set up, 3) as a shift worker I liked the idea of a 24-hour gym and 4) having a regular sum taken from my bank account fortnightly would force me to go as I hate wasting money.

Back at the gym, reluctantly (Supplied)

It all started well – I was going at least four days a week and loving it.

The culture wasn't awkward, the equipment fun and most importantly, I felt so much better physically and mentally.

But then life got in the way and my regular visits dropped down to once or twice a week.

And then it went to zero.

I had three excuses: I was in the process of changing jobs and now found myself working at very different ends of the day - starting my day when it would normally end.

It was a big adjustment after doing nightshift for four years.

Secondly, our engagement party was just around the corner and I was frantically organising all the last-minute things that pop up with hosting an event for 85 people.

And thirdly, my fiancé and I took a short trip to Melbourne to see our favourite band two days after our party so I wasn’t going to go to the gym while having a much-needed break.

It was during this week-long stay I received the first text message from my gym: "Hi Natalie, we have noticed it has been a while since your last visit. We'd like to help you get your health and fitness goals back on track. Please contact us."

I shrugged it off as spam texting but when I read it aloud to my fiancé, Jason, he laughed and said, "I think they're fat-shaming you".

Which I immediately took the wrong way and thought he was accusing me of being overweight.

He wasn't.

But when I thought about it further, Jason was right. My gym was fat-shaming me.

Back at the gym, reluctantly (Supplied)

When I signed up for that swipe card I didn't quite realise it would be used for them to monitor how frequently I work-out.

Rookie gym-goer error.

If I had any doubts about my gym's intentions after that text message, two weeks later I received another.

"Hi Natalie, it's been a while since we have seen you so we want to give you a FREE PERSONAL TRAINING SESSION to re-motive you!"

This really annoyed me as they were well and truly making me feel guilty for not going to the gym for about two months.

Yes, two months. Shameful but in my defence, I keep fit by walking a lot.

So I'm not totally lazy.

When I showed the texts to my colleagues, they agreed the gym was putting the pressure on for me to return - but doing so in a way that made me feel bad about myself.

I'm sure whoever generates those texts do so with the best intentions: that is, to get me back to the gym for my benefit.

Plus, I'm sure they'd hate for me to lose interest completely and cancel my membership.

Have their motivational messages worked?

Well, sort of.

I've not taken up the "free personal training session" offer.

But I did go to the gym this week and, as expected, felt so much better afterwards.

Physically, yes, but mainly I felt lighter because the guilt had lifted.

So, yes, I will be back at the gym today getting my "fitness goals back on track".

Thanks gym, your so-called fat-shaming did indeed work on me.