this whole 'mens side' vs. 'womens side' of the gym

tuffytuffy1

I am 99% of the time the only woman in the dumbbell/man section of the gym. The machines are where the ladies usually hang out. I love working out in the heavy weight area, but I am always with my trainer (3 times a week). I have to admit that once I cut down on my sessions with him, I'm going to be a bit intimidated.

jdhosier

Interesting. My gym doesn't have different sides. Everyone just seems to work out together. I've never seen any problems - men and women use all of the free weights, mats and machines.

^
This is my experience too, but then I don't pay much attention. I am too busy feeling embarrassed doing my rotator cuff lifts with 5 lb dumbells... NOT. I see women lifting and using the machines. I don't give it much thought except to think, "Cool, someone's working on their strength and fitness."

I sometimes wonder if we (men and women, alike) don't freak ourselves out more than what other people really think.

katydid25

I knew I was lucky having a gym at work, but since joining MFP and reading all these threads I've realized HOW lucky. When I was lifting weights this morning around a handful of male coworkers, the only comments made were complimenting my form (I'm new at this and urging me to try something heavier.

And now that I think about it, the guys that glare somehow seemed banished to the corner...

Edited for my horrible grammar :grumble:

Rae6503

When it's all 20-somethings, I avoid the area. Older men just seem to be more helpful and less critical.

But if it's 20-something boys you can be sure the squat racks are free....

Dilfster

i see woman using the weight area all the time. Yeah, more guys are always there, but i don't think of it as a guy area at all.

meli_medina

My gym has a women's room with pretty much anything we need to do weight training. Unfortunately, the weights don't go as high (deadlift bars only go to 77 pounds and they don't have the bar I need in the room), so now I'm looking at possibly having to move the the open area. I see both men and women out there, though. I think it's not the intimidation by the men that's kept me to the women's room, it's that I can find everything I need in there much easier. LOL

Yanicka1

Come on girls. Don't let your own insecurities keep you from doing what you want to do!!! I train in the free weight part of the gym and no one will make me move. If you have to, fake it until you feel it!!!

yummy♥

When it's all 20-somethings, I avoid the area. Older men just seem to be more helpful and less critical.

But if it's 20-something boys you can be sure the squat racks are free....

HAHAHA!

AmberJslimsAWAY

Really? Why do women feel the need to act stupid to be accepted. Sad

because we have boobs... :huh:

mgmlap

I feel no intimidation at all. I pay my dues like everyone else..so I use what I want...I do get stares..but thats ok...eventually they will get used to seeing a woman in their 40's lifting weights...besides its kinda funny when I can lift more than the teenagers..LOL

ItsCasey

Really? Why do women feel the need to act stupid to be accepted. Sad

I wouldn't know. I have never acted "stupid" to be accepted anywhere. I'm just not afraid to let a man be helpful, even if I don't really need it. It makes him feel good, it gives me something I want (in this case, the opportunity to work out in a more friendly, cooperative environment). Everyone wins.

em9371

My gym has a normal weights room thats usually full of men and a special 'women only' room.
My trainer always asks if I want to go in the women's room, but I just go in with all the men I don't really give a *kitten* what they think of me for being in 'their' bit of the gym lol

kealambert

I wonder what would happen if a guy went into the 'women only' room...or if a gym decided to have a 'men only' room

kealambert

not counting the locker rooms!

TiffanyDawn79

The womens area here at a local gym had to actually change their "women only" sign because people were complaining. I know I need to make my way over to the machines and weight room I just can't seem to do it, and I don't really know why I am so intimidated. It is something I really want/need to work on.

kealambert

The womens area here at a local gym had to actually change their "women only" sign because people were complaining. I know I need to make my way over to the machines and weight room I just can't seem to do it, and I don't really know why I am so intimidated. It is something I really want/need to work on.

as Nike says: just do it

christine24t

I will go on the weight machine side of the gym, but not free weights. The people there (both men and women) honestly scare the crap of out of me. I go to a really welcoming gym, but I just get nervous about dumb stuff like that. Everybody grunts and lifts high loads and it scares me. I won't even go into the free weight part of my school gym because of the same thing. You walk in and everybody stops and stares.

turbophoenix

I had a guy come take dumbbells out of my hands once while I was doing chest flys (flies?). He then proceeded to give me a lecture on "proper lifting." I was more angry than embarrassed but it was very uncool.

P.S. I should probably note that I'd worked out with a trainer before and was using proper form as I was taught... On the other hand, I always use the men's "side" of the gym for cardio. But that's a WHOLE different story...

mes1119

can we stop it please? as a guy, I have never seen a woman lifting and not been excited for them or thought anything but good thoughts (especially if they're easy on the eyes).

and dudes, if you ARE doing this, or see other dudes doing it, STOP IT. and ladies, please just trust that you're allowed to use whatever part of the gym you want; don't feel relegated to 18 hours on the elipitical because you 'feel intimidated'

Tell all the men over there to stop hitting on us and picking on us. I do not need you to tell me what I should or shouldn't do. If I wanted your opinion, I would ask. I do not go to lift weights just to hand out my phone number either.

HeidiMightyRawr

The whole of my gym is the "men's side". Seriously, I saw a woman at the gym today. I've been there since May 2010 and seen a woman there probably 5-10 times max! 50% of those women were either, going with a bf and mainly just standing around watching him, doing endless reps with tiny dumbells, or staying on the cardio.

I wish more women would venture into free weights if they want to (without intimidation holding them back) All the guys I've met there are really nice!

SWilland

I sometimes wonder if we (men and women, alike) don't freak ourselves out more than what other people really think.

^^ This!

I dont go to the gym for lifting or cardio but I think your spot on with the mentality

ladyfox1979

I have to say that I am one of those people who don't give a damn what people think if I want something I go for it and God help anyone who gets in my way of something I want.

The men's side of the gym does not intimdiate me. I have my weight lifting days and if I need a paticular weight of need to do my squats I go right to the person using and say " when are you done?" . They don't seem to mind and I have made a few friends in the process. I do get teased that I can't do as much as they can but then I reply and say I am a "dainty lady" and I have a man who is strong enough for the both of us

kealambert

I will go on the weight machine side of the gym, but not free weights. The people there (both men and women) honestly scare the crap of out of me. I go to a really welcoming gym, but I just get nervous about dumb stuff like that. Everybody grunts and lifts high loads and it scares me. I won't even go into the free weight part of my school gym because of the same thing. You walk in and everybody stops and stares.

A) not to diminish your legitimate concern, but people generally do not stare, especially in a bad way...that's socially very looked down upon on it's own, so if they are 'staring,' it's probably a good thing
we are all SO caught up in our own lives, ESPECIALLY at the gym, it is such a rare occasion I think of anything else except my own workout
C) who cares! it's your workout, OWN IT! confidence wins out in all cases, so do whatever you feel you need to do to succeed

kealambert

can we stop it please? as a guy, I have never seen a woman lifting and not been excited for them or thought anything but good thoughts (especially if they're easy on the eyes).

and dudes, if you ARE doing this, or see other dudes doing it, STOP IT. and ladies, please just trust that you're allowed to use whatever part of the gym you want; don't feel relegated to 18 hours on the elipitical because you 'feel intimidated'

Tell all the men over there to stop hitting on us and picking on us. I do not need you to tell me what I should or shouldn't do. If I wanted your opinion, I would ask. I do not go to lift weights just to hand out my phone number either.

my thread. if you don't want my opinion, don't read it. otherwise, I'm offering it.

and this is about empowering those who feel they aren't allowed to fulfill their potential.

and I have never A) seen, nor been a witness to anyone being 'picked on' or 'hit on' in any way in my 7 years of regular gym goig.

WickedGarden

When I went to the gym, the men would be super territorial about the weight room. I hardly ever saw other women there.

I didn't care, I went there, did my workouts. I just hated when the guys would leave their towel on the bench of the machine I wanted to use, hog all the handles (keep them all in a pile next to them while they did dead lifts), or just leave all the weights on the bar so I'd have to take them all off and put them away before I could do the bench press. oh and the towels...they never wiped down the machines OR used a towel on the bench.

The guys also need to stop telling the women in the weight room "don't hurt yourself..that's a lot of weight for a small gal like you" What?!? are you intimidated by the amount of weight i put on the leg press because *you* can't press that much?

oh, and ladies, don't ask the guys in the weight room for pointers, ask the front desk if a trainer is available to show you how to use the machines, it's free.

kealambert

I have to say that I am one of those people who don't give a damn what people think if I want something I go for it and God help anyone who gets in my way of something I want.

The men's side of the gym does not intimdiate me. I have my weight lifting days and if I need a paticular weight of need to do my squats I go right to the person using and say " when are you done?" . They don't seem to mind and I have made a few friends in the process. I do get teased that I can't do as much as they can but then I reply and say I am a "dainty lady" and I have a man who is strong enough for the both of us

you rule

mes1119

can we stop it please? as a guy, I have never seen a woman lifting and not been excited for them or thought anything but good thoughts (especially if they're easy on the eyes).

and dudes, if you ARE doing this, or see other dudes doing it, STOP IT. and ladies, please just trust that you're allowed to use whatever part of the gym you want; don't feel relegated to 18 hours on the elipitical because you 'feel intimidated'

Tell all the men over there to stop hitting on us and picking on us. I do not need you to tell me what I should or shouldn't do. If I wanted your opinion, I would ask. I do not go to lift weights just to hand out my phone number either.

my thread. if you don't want my opinion, don't read it. otherwise, I'm offering it.

and this is about empowering those who feel they aren't allowed to fulfill their potential.

and I have never A) seen, nor been a witness to anyone being 'picked on' or 'hit on' in any way in my 7 years of regular gym goig.

I wasn't trying to be mean to you! I meant "you" as in "men." Maybe not all gyms are like this, and I doubt you are. But there are very few younger women at my gym and the younger men feel the need to say something to any girl that walks into the area. I've had 4 guys ask for my number. There is nothing more annoying than being interrupted during your work out to have a guy tell you that you're doing something wrong or to ask you out.

kealambert

can we stop it please? as a guy, I have never seen a woman lifting and not been excited for them or thought anything but good thoughts (especially if they're easy on the eyes).

and dudes, if you ARE doing this, or see other dudes doing it, STOP IT. and ladies, please just trust that you're allowed to use whatever part of the gym you want; don't feel relegated to 18 hours on the elipitical because you 'feel intimidated'

Tell all the men over there to stop hitting on us and picking on us. I do not need you to tell me what I should or shouldn't do. If I wanted your opinion, I would ask. I do not go to lift weights just to hand out my phone number either.

my thread. if you don't want my opinion, don't read it. otherwise, I'm offering it.

and this is about empowering those who feel they aren't allowed to fulfill their potential.

and I have never A) seen, nor been a witness to anyone being 'picked on' or 'hit on' in any way in my 7 years of regular gym goig.

I wasn't trying to be mean to you! I meant "you" as in "men." Maybe not all gyms are like this, and I doubt you are. But there are very few younger women at my gym and the younger men feel the need to say something to any girl that walks into the area. I've had 4 guys ask for my number. There is nothing more annoying than being interrupted during your work out to have a guy tell you that you're doing something wrong or to ask you out.

OHHHHHHhh I thought you meant this thread was my opinion you didn't ask for, which of course was confusing, but got my trigger finger. my bad!

jodyl70

Was very intimidated in the beginning, down right scared actually!
Now I feel alot of pride that I am one of the very few women who work out with the "big boy weights" and that I actually know what the heck I am doing!
:happy:

Lemon912

Haha was this for me? I know its silly but its hard to just walk over like you belong especially if you have no clue about how anything works and do not find it easy to talk to random guys (really hot and in great shape guys). But you know what, you are right. Why should I be sentenced to a life time of cardio if I want to use the weights. Im gonna strut over there today and use the weights. Maybe another day Ill find the courage to ask random guy to spot me so I can try benching