Free Weights - I'm down-right petrified.

mahidac

So I'm going to do it. Next week. I'm going to go into the free weights area and lift.

I'm scared. I'm terrified. I'm a fat girl, I'm not very strong, I don't belong with those muscly men that are in there. I don't really know what I'm doing. I'm shy and I don't want to ask anyone's help - they'll think I'm an idiot. Will they help me if i don't ask?

I don't know what weight to lift or the proper technique (aside from watching the videos on BodyBuilding.com)

I'm scared, I really, really am - but I know it'll be good for me, it'll be empowering.. I need to do it.

It'll be okay. Right?

As long as you stray away from like the high school kids working out - you would be surprised just how nice everyone in the free weights section is. I know personally that when I am lifting I am just zoned in on me so sometimes it looks as if I wouldn't want to be bothered, but thats just because I like to keep focused. I am always surprised at how courteous everyone is, especially if you are looking for guidance there are very few people who wouldn't give you some advice.

But regardless of how muscled up someone is in the weights section everyone started somewhere so we all know what its like to not really know whats going on - my advice would be to just pick a few compound movement, core exercises (nothing too fancy) and do those with light weights until you are comfortable

karinefitness

You'll be fine! At first, you might (or might not) look like you don't know what you're doing and it's OKAY! How many time have I gotten home, looked at the videos on bb.com again and thought to myself "EEEEK! I was doing to exercice completely wrong". It's part of the learning process and it's fine!!

I was SO intimidated by the weight room at first. I wasn't strong. I am petite. I thought the big guys would wonder what the heck I was doing in "their" place. I was the one giving them too much attention; they didn't care!!! They are too busy looking at themselves. Although two guys came up to me to tell me I was working very hard and blablabla... Eventually, a lady trainer told me she thought I worked out hard and with proper form, and that she loved my physique. I NEVER thought this would happen. I saw myself as the skinny weak girl. Not anymore.

I started going to the gym at 7 am when it was less busy (and less intimidating) with a plan in hand (I was introduced to weight lifting with the program New Rules of Lifting for Women) and Ipod in my ears (Eminem helped me through this haha). Maybe try going when the gym is less busy?

You WILL gain confidence in the process. Honestly, I never thought weight lifting would make me feel so strong (I'm probably still not strong by any standards, but that's how I feel and it's all the matters). I never thought I'd be able to use the squat rack. I never thought I'd be able to do an unassisted chin-up. Well, I can! Cardio never made me feel this way and this is why I'll never stop lifting.

Besides confidence, weight lifting will transform your body.

beckyinma

Max, start with 3lb weights, your biceps will thank you Tuesday. It's not about doing 5 reps with 8lb weights and feeling like you're going to die after. Let your body get to know the strain with smaller weights first.

Good luck, you'll be fine!

AlsDonkBoxSquat

So I'm going to do it. Next week. I'm going to go into the free weights area and lift.

I'm scared. I'm terrified. I'm a fat girl, I'm not very strong, I don't belong with those muscly men that are in there. I don't really know what I'm doing. I'm shy and I don't want to ask anyone's help - they'll think I'm an idiot. Will they help me if i don't ask?

I don't know what weight to lift or the proper technique (aside from watching the videos on BodyBuilding.com)

I'm scared, I really, really am - but I know it'll be good for me, it'll be empowering.. I need to do it.

It'll be okay. Right?

You're not a fat girl, you're a work in progress
You're not weak, you're stronger than you think.
Have a plan or program before you go in (I use new rules of lifting for women, but there are plenty out there)
Pay for 1 or 2 sessions with a trainer and tell them, I have my program, I just want you to spot my form and give me pointers . . . makes their job easy even if it isn't what they necessarily always want to hear. If you have to purchase a package then extend it out and have them meet with you 1 - 2 times over the first 2 weeks and then 1 - 2 times a month following until all your sessions run out.
Keep moving on off days, especially when you're sore, up your potassium, drink plenty of water, replenish with protein, and you should be sore for less days than if you sat on the couch and gave into the soreness of it all.

camillehardeman

I always feel the same way when I go to lift, but just remember, nobody starts out muscley and fit, everyone has a "first time" lifting. Once you start lifting more and more, you will be so surprised how quickly you see results (I was!). Good luck!

Nikki582

Thank you so much everyone! I am feeling a renewed confidence in what I can do!! Thanks for the advice and the votes of confidence. I'm thinking of hiring a trainer but I don't have a lot of money.... and my gym isn't staffed on the hours I can go (pre 7am) except buy already booked PTs (although there's one that always chats to me after his clients, he might take pity on me :laugh:)

Thanks so much. NROLFW isn't available in Australia easily yet, it'll be published here in Feb so I'm hanging out to purchase it then!

Nikki582

I did it!

Deep breath, stepped in, picked up some dumbells and did what I needed to do. Assisted weights machines lie, btw.

No one laughed, pointed or sneered. The guy I see in there everyday gave me a friendly nod when I stood in..

Woohoo!! Wednesday I might strut in there like I own the place!

songbyrdsweet

Hey, I'm not a muscly man and I spend most of my time in the free weight section! Great job going in even though you were afraid.

ninerbuff

So I'm going to do it. Next week. I'm going to go into the free weights area and lift.

I'm scared. I'm terrified. I'm a fat girl, I'm not very strong, I don't belong with those muscly men that are in there. I don't really know what I'm doing. I'm shy and I don't want to ask anyone's help - they'll think I'm an idiot. Will they help me if i don't ask?

I don't know what weight to lift or the proper technique (aside from watching the videos on BodyBuilding.com)

I'm scared, I really, really am - but I know it'll be good for me, it'll be empowering.. I need to do it.

It'll be okay. Right?

Don't be afraid to ask. Practically everyone in the gym needed guidance including myself when first starting. There should be someone on staff to help you out with beginning. Take advantage of it.


A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Iamfit4life

If your gym offers "Bodypump", it's a great way to get started lifting weights.

This is how I started. And after about two months I was comfortable enough to go it on my own.
I strongly suggest it.

karinefitness

I did it!

Deep breath, stepped in, picked up some dumbells and did what I needed to do. Assisted weights machines lie, btw.

No one laughed, pointed or sneered. The guy I see in there everyday gave me a friendly nod when I stood in..

Woohoo!! Wednesday I might strut in there like I own the place!

Great job!!!!!!

fiberartist219

Honestly, I had trouble wandering into the free weight section at the gym I was going to. I wasn't so afraid of people judging me as much as I was afraid of all the idiots dropping weights.

I don't go to the gym anymore for several reasons, but I do work out at home. I prefer my privacy when I lift weights. I have a couple of dumb bells and I have made it clear to my husband that he's not allowed to say anything unless I ask. He likes to compare my workouts to his own, and I am not ready for that.

dad106

I did it!

Deep breath, stepped in, picked up some dumbells and did what I needed to do. Assisted weights machines lie, btw.

No one laughed, pointed or sneered. The guy I see in there everyday gave me a friendly nod when I stood in..

Woohoo!! Wednesday I might strut in there like I own the place!

Good job!

I started with a Trainer in January and still see one... and never really lifted on my own until now. My gym has a system where all the machines are numbered, and the system generates workouts for you based on what you set(days, type of training etc).. and all you nee to do find the number. So easy and I love it!

Rae6503

Nice job!!

Lozze

I'll tell you what my gym owner told me. They won't even notice you unless you block their view of themselves in the mirror :-)

I got one nasty comment. Froma guy who was lifting lower weights than I was. The big muscly guys I was terrified of abused him and stuck up for me.

MaddameKat

Hey well done!
it gets much easier now, i switched gyms (just for today) and found i missed my 'meatheads' as i have noone to spot me, you get used to the guys in the end.

jennifershoo

This post is full of good advices, so.... bump!

jhalda

Okay, so I created a profile on here just so I can tell you that it will all be okay, and you will really enjoy free-weights. I was a straight-up cardio junky until Fall of 2010 when my husband convinced me to try weights as well.

My advice? Don't be afraid to ask for help! If you see someone doing something that you might want to try, ask them to show you how to do it. People who lift are more than happy to:
a) help those who haven't learned as much as they have
b) step in and help beginners do it right so they can see results and avoid injury
c) show off what they know!

I taught group fitness in a gym setting, lifted in a gym setting, and used cardio equipment in a gym setting. Not once did I encounter anyone who thought a new person in the weight section was a bad or silly thing. In fact, most people in the gym are silently cheering you on, thinking that it's wonderful you are trying something new.