Weight room intimidation

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chocochip13
chocochip13 Posts: 15 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
So I've been wanting to start lifting for a while now. I've read up and researched alot and decided to start with strong curves. My diets pretty good too at this point. The only thing keeping me back is feeling so intimidated by the guys in the weight section that I keep pushing it off and stick to the cardio machines. I've seen all the threads here how lifting literally changes your shape and how amazing those ladies look, yet can't get myself to go in there. Anyone else been feeling like this?
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Replies

  • krstang89
    krstang89 Posts: 17 Member
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    I was definitely feeling this, plus the added barrier of not burning as many calories as doing cardio. What worked for me was setting a firm goal to add weight lifting Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for 8 weeks. I fully committed and am now three weeks in, already seeing some body changes :)
  • rileysowner
    rileysowner Posts: 8,238 Member
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    What exactly is/are the issue(s)? Intimidation is sort of a generic term. Perhaps listing the actual things will help. Although I am male, when I was young (late teens and 20s) and really out of shape, I found the guys in the weight room intimidating because I thought they would look down on me. What I discovered when I actually decided I would do it regardless of my feelings was that the two basic responses were 1) Not paying any attention to me because they were busy with their own workouts. 2) Being very friendly, encouraging and helpful. In short, just do it.
  • auddii
    auddii Posts: 15,357 Member
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    At some point, you just have to get over it. Lots of people are intimidated by the weight section (and not just women). Realize that not everyone there is an aggressive *kitten*, and I've actually never had anyone approach me in the weight section except to ask if I was almost finished with a rack.

    That said, I specifically started my first day at a time I thought the gym would be least crowded; I went Sunday morning when they first opened. I still lift first thing in the morning because there's a much better chance of racks be open because it's less crowded.
  • McCloud33
    McCloud33 Posts: 959 Member
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    I understand the feeling as I felt this way even as a guy going over to the weight section for the first time a couple of years ago. The thing you just have to realize is that, most people there aren't worried about you. They might notice that you're there, but they're probably not going to talk to you. My recommendation would just to be, go when there are fewer people there. At my gym, that means I go first thing in the morning before work. The more comfortable you get with the space, where all of the bars are at, etc..., the more comfortable you'll be around others in that space as well. Just my $0.02
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
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    Lots of people felt like that, including many men. They got over it by simply walking into the gym and handling their business. No one is going to mess with you in there.
  • bri170lb
    bri170lb Posts: 1,375 Member
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    I belonged to my gym for 4 months before I was brave enough to start using the weights regularly. I was actually afraid to go. I have had some very bad experiences with "jock" types in the past.

    These things really helped me:

    Make an appointment with a trainer. It's much easier to feel confident when you have a routine to concentrate on and you know that you are doing it correctly.

    Find a friend to work out with. It's way easier if you have a supportive partner.

    Remember that MANY of the people at the gym started out timid and pudgy, too! You just can't tell which ones! I like to imagine that they are thinking, "Wow, she's really trying hard, good for her". I have had a few people even say stuff like that to me and be very supportive.

    It gets easier to go very quickly. After only a couple of weeks, I stopped worrying about what other people were doing and started to enjoy myself because it feels SO GOOD to get stronger and stronger!
  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,442 Member
    edited December 2015
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    Just dive in. Once you get past your own mental-block, you'll find you were nervous about nothing. Rock that weight room!
  • LBL1986
    LBL1986 Posts: 58 Member
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    I totally understand this fear! I'm basically in the same place.

    I don't know what your schedule is like, but I discovered that my gym is the least populated around 8-10 on weeknights. And weekend afternoons around 3-4 its like a ghost town so that's when I try to do my weight training.

    I'm in the stage right now where I've been looking the equipment in the gym and learning how it works, trying it out for a bit etc. Just exploring at this point. I'm a hands on kind of girl!

    Between researching on my own and trying out equipment and exercises I'm building a routine for myself that works.
  • FitGirl0123
    FitGirl0123 Posts: 1,273 Member
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    Put on some headphones and get caught up in your workout. Don't worry about the guys, or anyone else :) The more you go, the more confident you will become. The weight room is a scary place at first, and not just for women, but for anyone who hasn't been in there before. Don't let that deter you from achieving your goals!
  • lithezebra
    lithezebra Posts: 3,670 Member
    edited December 2015
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    Yes. This is me. I'm doing Strong Curves too, and I can't bring myself to writhe underneath a barbell at the gym to do barbell glute bridges, so I'm stuck at bodyweight glute bridges at home. I go to a super friendly gym, and I'm afraid someone will try to help me.
  • BusyRaeNOTBusty
    BusyRaeNOTBusty Posts: 7,166 Member
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    You've just got to do it. Chances are the people in the weight room are super nice. Watch a ton of videos. Make sure you have a good idea on form. Maybe find a less busy time to go, and just jump right in.
  • RavenLibra
    RavenLibra Posts: 1,737 Member
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    WHAT everyone here has said... part of creating a healthy lifestyle is developing the confidence to embrace new and uncomfortable situations...overcoming these barriers may seem difficult, but the more you seek out and overcome them, the greater your confidence and self worth become. Which will give you the emotional character to seek out even more challenging goals. YOU have made great strides just to be where you are now... it is a small thing to cross that line, take a spot at a bench or on a rack and look in that mirror to get your "stuff" done. the benefits far outweigh the negatives...that being said...I definitely recommend that before you grab some free weights... work the major muscle groups on the machines for a few weeks until you have created some balanced strength... IE so that both your right side and left side are equally strong... I also recommend walking lunges... to start...nothing builds confidence like walking with balance
  • RoseTheWarrior
    RoseTheWarrior Posts: 2,035 Member
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    Just remember that every person there, no matter how big, strong, fit, started out not knowing what to do, and started out too thin, or too fat. Everyone has to begin somewhere. They are no better than you. You are no worse than anyone. I've worked out in gyms that were super heavy on heavy lifting and big guys. And once I started with weights, and kept at it, and they saw how hard I worked, I had their respect. After a while, I was just "one of the weight lifters". You can do this. They're just people. Don't project any "specialty" to them just because they're farther along the journey than you are :smile:
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,867 Member
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    most people, including men are intimidated by new things. i started lifting again about 3 years ago and yes, i was intimidated as it had been a long time and i knew i was going to be starting off with some pretty puny weights relatively speaking.

    i just looked at it kind of like getting into a cold swimming pool...best thing you can do is just jump in. my first session was a Saturday morning right when the gym opened at 5 AM. I wasn't alone, but there were very few people there and it allowed me to get more comfortable with the environment and re-familiarize myself with the equipment. by the end of the hour i was kind of kicking myself for not getting in their sooner because really, it was a non event.
  • lithezebra
    lithezebra Posts: 3,670 Member
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    I've been doing all the exercises that don't look like something from a porno at the gym, and doing my glute bridges at home. At some point, maybe I'll run into someone else who does glute bridges, and try to work out together.
  • cnbbnc
    cnbbnc Posts: 1,267 Member
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    Anything new is going to feel odd at first. I did feel a bit apprehensive about it, but I'm over it now. I worked my way into it buy going at off times at first so I could get acclimated to everything and not have crowds of people around me. That's a big part of the hurdle... just getting comfortable being there and with the equipment.

    Beyond that, yeah....no one is paying attention to you. People will look around at others while they rest (I do too), but that's all it is. Simply killing a minute before the next set. :smile:

    Just get in there a few times and you'll be good to go.
  • jacklifts
    jacklifts Posts: 396 Member
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    chocochip13 wrote: »
    So I've been wanting to start lifting for a while now. I've read up and researched alot and decided to start with strong curves. My diets pretty good too at this point. The only thing keeping me back is feeling so intimidated by the guys in the weight section that I keep pushing it off and stick to the cardio machines. I've seen all the threads here how lifting literally changes your shape and how amazing those ladies look, yet can't get myself to go in there. Anyone else been feeling like this?

    As a fitness enthusiast, I can tell you that less than 2 out of 10 guys in the lifting section are doing anything more than random. If you're following a solid program, I can guarantee you you'll have a leg up on most everybody else in that weight room from your first day - even if you don't know how to do the exercises, etc. Good luck to you!
  • Tomm88
    Tomm88 Posts: 733 Member
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    listen if guys in a gym are annoying you it's normally kids 15 to 19 dont let it influence you, any respecable lifter or pretty much anyone who's serious about what they do won't look your way.
  • ljk0615
    ljk0615 Posts: 160 Member
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    I wanted to do hip thrusts but felt weird about doing them at the gym. Then I found this huge floppy mat to fold in half around the bar so it's pointing down my legs. It's purpose is two-fold: it cushions the bar but also drapes me almost like a blanket so that I don't feel so conspicuous while doing them. I found a place in a corner with a Bench and now I just put in my earbuds and do them. Just do your research on your form and get going. Your confidence will grow quickly. And soon you'll be so pleased with the results that the intimidation will start to fade.
  • BethAnnieT
    BethAnnieT Posts: 263 Member
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    cnbbnc wrote: »
    Anything new is going to feel odd at first. I did feel a bit apprehensive about it, but I'm over it now. I worked my way into it buy going at off times at first so I could get acclimated to everything and not have crowds of people around me. That's a big part of the hurdle... just getting comfortable being there and with the equipment.

    Beyond that, yeah....no one is paying attention to you. People will look around at others while they rest (I do too), but that's all it is. Simply killing a minute before the next set. :smile:

    Just get in there a few times and you'll be good to go.

    Exactly what I was going to say. Go at off times when it's not too crowded just so you can try things out without such an "audience" I.e., less people there to see you if you, say, bang your head on something, stand backward in the squat rack (is that a thing?), or fumble around getting the weights on the bar for deadlift. Truly, once you go a couple of times, you will be able to act like you own it. :) Then you can go during your normal time, and feel like a pro.

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