question of confidence for other women

Lake_Po

I started reading NROLFW and tonight I went to the gym with intentions of starting to work with weights. I'm nervous, anxious...I can't seem to make myself feel comfortable using weights when no other women are. Where do I start? I'm so self-conscious. It seems the only people that use the weights (or machines for that matter) are 20-something frat boys that intimidate the crap outta me.

A LITTLE ADVICE WOULD BE AWESOME!!

Thanks

jordymils

When I started going to the gym just doing my own thing 5-6 years ago I HATED going into the free weights section because the only people in there were big beefy men making ridiculous noises trying to lift stupidly heavy weights. So I stuck to the cable machines and body weight stuff, as well as cardio machines. But I hated that gym and have never been back.
A little over 2 years ago I started doing crossfit with a personal trainer (in a normal gym, not a crossfit box) and because he was there telling me what to do etc it took away the intimidation factor. I still train at the same gym 4 times a week and now I love using the free weights, especially when there's guys there haha. I'm stronger than most girls my age/that I know and I love that I'm no longer scared of the weights or only using the little ones. I sometimes use the same weights as the guys in there, and it makes me feel great that I can lift the same, sometimes heavier, than them.
The gym I train at is a small independent gym with about 75% of the clientele being males, so I'm used to training in a testosterone-fuelled environment and sometimes it makes me push harder.

So my advice would be to have a few sessions with a PT, partly so you can get a really personalised program written up for you, and partly so they can help you get over the nervousness of it all while they're by your side. After a few sessions, or maybe a few weeks, you'll know exactly what to do etc and shouldn't be unsure anymore

athenalove46

It does take time. I think it took me at least 2 weeks maybe a little longer before I started feeling a little comfortable. It's now been almost 4 months at my gym and everyone is so awesome. Keep going and know it does get easier!!!

heybales

heard a nice one in a post.

Look up, review, and practice some movements at home for 1 lift, best you can anyway.

Then walk right in to free weights area, pick up dumbbells or load up bar (first weight will be hard to know until you do it, do first set as half what you think you can do, then add more), and do that 1 lift, 3 sets, concentrate on form.

If you have 2 of them you really got down confidently, do both.

Then leave. That way you walk in knowing the 1 or 2 lifts you are going to do you have practice, and except for weight, you got it.

And it's alright to stand there looking around for say the 2.5 lb plates that are usually few and far between and you can't see them.

Agreed on below (since I can still edit) - going in with a notebook or something, just like the other guys likely have, shows you mean to be there too.

liapr

Agreed ^^^. I like the idea of prep before going in.

I find when I have a plan of attack/full workout written out before I go in, then it makes you much more confident and you are in your own zone. For me, I actually write out my various lifts and the sets/reps I will do for each.

natini

I printed out my worksheet for the workout. I reviewed all of the exercises and marked the pages. This helped me prepare. After 2 weeks I felt like a pro. I am usually one of two or three girls in my weight room and the rest are men.

harlanJEN

Confidence. Self Confidence. It comes from YOU. With that said .... I believe if you feel that you know what you are doing then you'd likely feel much more comfortable. The weight area of the gym is clearly outside of your comfort zone. That's OK. It was also outside of my comfort zone too - 2 1/2 years ago. At age 47.

NOW? I could easily walk into any gym in the country and OWN IT. No hesitations. It didn't take me long to get there. I've worked out at 3 gyms in 3 different cities since I picked up my first barbell. Every gym has new people, a new set up and a different vibe. However, no biggie. I'm usually the only woman. Eh. That's ok. Who cares? I don't. In fact, some of those 20 year olds ask me a thing or 2 once in a while.

How to get there? First. You've got to WANT it. Second, you simply need to learn your way around.

Hire a trainer for a couple of sessions. Let him / her know up front what your goals are. You want to learn the machines, learn the weights, learn how to use them properly, learn proper form. Pretty soon - you will be OWNING that place ! : )

Now .. go get after it !

Jen

Lake_Po

Thanks everyone! I will be looking into getting a trainer. I also did print off the worksheet and I also bought a couple different weights to practice with at home. Appreciate it!