I want to lift, but I'm terrified of the weight room.

SunofaBeach14 · August 2014

Yea, guys just hate having women in the weight room. lol

Read some books on lifting like Starting Strength or Stronglifts, watch some videos on form from bodybuilding.com, and just go. I'm pretty sure within a few weeks you'll be posting here about how annoyed you are with all the attention and offers of help from those "intimidating" guys.

George_Baileys_Ghost · August 2014

Lots of good advice in here already op. Take it, go into the weight room and don't come out until it is afraid of you.

Izzy62 · August 2014

I was terrified too, but I waltzed in, made eye contact and smiled and reassuringly got several smiles and hello's back....I am old enough to nearly everyone's mother in there, but I have to say those guys have made me feel really welcome. They will spare moments to answer questions and help me out if I look completely at sea.

There is the odd one who you just know to avoid, but that's the same in all aspects of life, not just the weight room!! I haven't ever been in that room with another female (except one of the instructors), so I am assuming I'm still a bit of a rare species at this particular gym, but hopefully one day I will be able to help others in the same way.

Good luck, I would say just bite the bullet and go for it, easier to say than do I know.....

MrGonzo05 · August 2014

You are overthinking this. You have just as much a right to be in the weight room as the athletes. Go lift, learn as you go.

jazzy_45 · August 2014

Thank you for the responses everyone. I feel like it's just awkward because I'm with college guys, but that's really just an excuse.
I just need to make it happen. I want a nice *kitten*, goddammit!

SunofaBeach14 · August 2014

Nice *kitten*, you say?

Look up Brett Contreras

jazzy_45 · August 2014

Yes lol!!! That's honestly the main reason I want to lift. Yeah I want a nice fit body, but I really want a great *kitten*! Is that too much to ask for?

And yeah I've heard about him!

Idk what program I should do, so maybe one of his for starters?

SunofaBeach14 · August 2014

If I were you, I would start a full body program like Starting Strength or Stronglifts 5x5 and mix in some of Brett Contreras' work like barbell hip thrusts.

meshashesha2012 · August 2014

strong curves is really good for beginners. i just got the book and there's some good info in there. seems like he gives a lot of variations for things too.

i havent done it because i dont think i can do the glute raises with any amount of dignity in public

Elsie_Brownraisin · August 2014

I have a waist of 29inches and a backside of 45, if I can wave my *kitten* around with impunity, anyone can. Besides, I figure I'm never going to be able to move my *kitten* from the specialist interest section without doing exercises like that. :laugh: I try to pretend it's all about being strong and healthy, but yeah, an enviable backside would also be just super.

I found 'New Rules of Lifting for Women' a good starting point. Or pick any other programme, I found I felt much more confident knowing I had a plan to follow, instead of drifting about aimlessly, as I did the first few times.

I've never come across anyone horrible, even the young, well-buff guys that I assumed wouldn't give me the time of day. Well, perhaps in a bar they still wouldn't... I didn't get offended when someone valiantly offered to help me get rid of 2 50kg plates off a bar I wanted to use this afternoon after watching me struggle. The twit that walked off from them perhaps thought that clearing up his c*ap would be would be a great warm up for me. :grumble:

Honestly, feel the fear and do it anyway! It really does get easier after the first few times.

jazzy_45 · August 2014

Yeah glute raises ugh and hip thrusts...so awkward. :blushing:

jazzy_45 · August 2014

Hmm maybe I could even get a boyfriend out of this! I love fit guys!

AglaeaC · August 2014

That's the spirit

I still haven't started so you're not alone in working up courage.

tavery3700 · August 2014

Find the nearest Les Mills Body Pump Class you will love it.

meshashesha2012 · August 2014

i always think about thebold, because after a tough final set i would LOVE from one of the gym dudes to come swoop to my rescue and offer to be my rerack monkey. that's only happened a few times and that was because the weight i had on the bar was what he wanted, so yay no clean up for me. :laugh:

and OP if you're wanting to meet a fit guy, the weight room is definitely a good place to do it. i've found that as you go regularly you see the same people which makes it less awkward to start up conversations. especially between sets.

so pick a program (strong lifts, new rules of lifting for women, strong curves, starting strength are all good for beginners) and get to lifting.

also you might find that there are other women lurking. sometimes i think in some gyms there are women who dont want to be "the first" but then when they see another woman go in and come out safely they are like hmmmm i want to try those things too

Elsie_Brownraisin · August 2014

It happened for the first time today! But the bar was in the squat rack, on the top slot, which I find difficult to reach anyway. I could have been all like 'I don't need no man', but I thought 'nads to that', because they were really heavy and I didn't want to hurt myself before I'd even started my workout. I didn't find patronised, it was clear I was finding it difficult.

There are fewer women than men in the weight area, but about 25% of the time I'm not the only one. There were 2 there today - again a first.

Cc215 · August 2014

I've not had a woman in the weights section at the same time as me yet - though I have spotted two others in there - one on one of my cardio days, the other was in there after I'd showered and was leaving.

It's nice to know I'm not the only one that ventures in there - but I wouldn't care if I was now. The guys in there leave me alone to get on with what I'm doing. A couple have started to say hi now. And I sometimes get asked if anyone is using the machine next to me. One did spend a lot of time watching me work out - but I've decided that was just strength envy - I was squating 50kg, he was fart arsing around with the smallest dumbbells in the place!

Hinestly - the weights are scarier than the men - I'm not looking forward to the day I drop one on my foot!

jazzy_45 · August 2014

Well we're at it...any advice on getting guys in college? Lol...I don't do one night stands and I feel like most guys in college just want that.

ILiftHeavyAcrylics · August 2014

Go and do lots of stuff that you enjoy. There will be guys doing those same things, and there are built in conversation starters.

Example: took a pottery class. I noticed the guy sitting across me had no trouble centering his clay. I asked for tips. That sort of thing.

I met plenty of guys in college just by going to class and being friendly, but I also joined clubs and volunteered for things that sounded like fun.

eta: much more obvious example-- chat up some of the guys in the weight room.

365andstillalive · August 2014

Maybe I'm an anomaly but when I wanted to start lifting two years ago when I was in university (I didn't stick with it for medical reasons that I won't get into), I walked into the weight room, found a group of guys who were spotting each other and said something along the lines of, "Hey, my name is Candice. I've always really wanted to do this, but I don't really have any idea about form and stuff, would you guys be willing to show me some form or spot me or something?" Not only did they show me the form, spot me that day etc, one of them actually offered to work out at the same time as me for the next few weeks while I got comfortable and developed a routine. It was a little bit awkward asking, but totally worth it.

The other option is, find out if your college gym is affiliated with any personal trainers or does any orientations where they'll have someone teach you how to go through the motions properly. My university gym did, but they weren't licensed trainers.

I want to lift, but I'm terrified of the weight room.

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