This made me laugh. Not because it's funny, but because I'd lay hard cash *most* who read your initial description and just jumped immediately to "she doesn't want to speak to men" or some shit. And, the exact opposite is the case, but, surprise, she has valid reasons for playing cold fish with everyone at the gym, or probably anywhere else.
Instead of being butthurt about the reasons why they make this assumption, which is the way women are treated in society, everyone gets mad at you because they assume immediately that you're a part of that problem. It's fucking SAD that she has to have fences like those up at all, but, that's the world we live in, like it or not. I conceed that you *might* be one of the many assholes out there and thus a part of the problem, but until I see the evidence of that, you get the benefit of the doubt. And, well, so far, so good on that concept.
Honestly, compared to some of the shit I've seen posted here, by people I STRONGLY suspect are incels, that NO ONE took any issue with, none of your original post made me question you're integrity at all. Like I said, you could be an asshole somewhere in this, but I honestly doubt it, based on the way you handled the assault on your character and the responses you made to that.
I'm glad to hear you made a bit of progress and am not surprised that it wasn't a trainwreck. It's early, but it appears to have went just fine. What more can a guy hope for, right? I wish you luck and I hope it works out in your favor.
On a side note..................in regards to
@temporaryacc, you and I have crossed swords a few times. I do believe we have a few fundemental differences of opinion, and I think that's perfectly normal and natural.
Each time, once we've each had a few more posts to elaborate our points of view, we walk away if not in agreement, at least in nuetral mode. So, I'm taking this opportunity to call you out here publicly for being reasonable and rational on the internet. Something that seems to get harder and harder to do on a daily basis. I'm a firm believer in giving credit where credit is due. And, you deserve the credit for that. You have my thanks for that.