Why do guys stare at women lifters?

aproc

Because in between sets what are you going to look at? I stare at guys. Well I'm not staring, I just look around. I do find myself staring at my guy sometimes. ;P But hey...what better motivation than to look at the amazing lifters or lookers around in rest periods? Now when I catch someone constantly staring the whole time then it kind of gets to me. There are a couple who just make me uncomfortable the entire time and the trainer at our gym will just come up uncomfortably close to you while your doing an exercise, sit and stare like he's waiting to correct something. =/ If I weren't so quiet and nonconfrontational I'd say something to him.

ahealthy4u

Ran into the same thing. So I asked one of the guys watching me. He told me its not a good idea to lift alone. I needed someone to "spot" me. He said the guys don't think twice about helping each other but hesitate to offer help to a woman. He said he was watching to make sure I didn't get hurt. I told him to stop watching and stat spotting! LOL!

Love it LOL to funny but it is true one should never lift alone we all have done it but it isn't good unless you have saftey bars when lifting weights even if you have saftey bars you should still have someone with you just in cause.

ninerbuff

because it's hot.

This. Nothing like a female with sexy legs pushing 300lbs on the leg press.

A.C.E. Certified Personal & Group FitnessTrainer
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Glucocorticoid

In other news, grass is green and the ocean is blue.

Jorra

This could be why.

pinkita

This is why I'm planning to get a weight bench and other equipment for my home! I know I shouldn't care, but I've spent most of my life feeling self-conscious about my looks and the last thing I could stand now is to have to deal with looks/comments from men at the gym. When I was going to the gym it was just to use the elliptical, but I could see the free weights section from where I was. There were very few times a woman would enter, but everytime one did, I saw men stare, snicker, etc. Shows that I still have a ways to go mentally with all this, but for now I've decided to just set up a workout space at home.

EvonyPrincess

Most guys aren't turned on by women lifters as much as just trying to make sure you don't kill yourself. Although a lot of them are staring at my *kitten*. I mean, women stare at women lifters too so don't make it a "guy" thing.

EvonyPrincess

This could be why.

No on in my gym looks like that...more like this

RahBuhBuh

Staring...who is staring?
I'm either focusing on not passing out because I just lifted 2x what I should have so that I don't look like a wimp near someone more fit than me.

Or

I'm staring off into space daydreaming about they day when donuts will be considered health food.

TrainingWithTonya

Because in between sets what are you going to look at? I stare at guys. Well I'm not staring, I just look around. I do find myself staring at my guy sometimes. ;P But hey...what better motivation than to look at the amazing lifters or lookers around in rest periods? Now when I catch someone constantly staring the whole time then it kind of gets to me. There are a couple who just make me uncomfortable the entire time and the trainer at our gym will just come up uncomfortably close to you while your doing an exercise, sit and stare like he's waiting to correct something. =/ If I weren't so quiet and nonconfrontational I'd say something to him.

Oh, he's not a trainer, he's a Creeper. I've dealt with creepers at the gym. They get so close you are afraid you're going to hit them with your weights. Actually, going a little extra with the range of motion and actually hitting them with your weights is a good way to deal with them. LOL :laugh:

adrian_indy

They are looking regardless if you are lifting or not.

aj_31

I guess I've never really gotten any bad looks or noticed anyone really staring at me for lifting. I like to look around at guys/girls to see what they are lifting, how much, and their form.

Trail_Addict

because it's hot.

This. Nothing like a female with sexy legs pushing 300lbs on the leg press.

Be careful... someone will take offense to this if they don't have sexy legs or press 300lbs!

EvonyPrincess

because it's hot.

This. Nothing like a female with sexy legs pushing 300lbs on the leg press.

]
Pfft you must not get out much

JNick77

First, I just think it's awesome to see women doing some real weightlifting. Second, if I'm resting in-between sets and somebody near me is benching for instance, man or woman, I'll kinda keep an eye out just in case they suddenly need a spot.

imjessly

I get stared at when I lift too, doesnt' bother me. I just think "yes, thats right buddy, i put the weights UP after you used them" :laugh:

walkner88

I feel like its a little cocky of all of you who assume its something sexual. Every time I lift you will see guys watching each other too. You will see people with logs writing down exercises they didn't know about, getting up to help spot someone who needs it, and helping the obvious new guy who needs help with form. So just get over yourself and realize we are there to improve ourselves and our gym community, not hook up with conceited children.

ferrytrip

Because you are a woman and they are guys. There is no other reason.

InnerFatGirl

Sorry if this is an old thread, but I experienced this too! I'd always been too intimidated to go into the free weights section of my gym, but yesterday, my friend gave the confidence to do so and showed me some moves. After he left, I carried on for about another hour. I really enjoyed it, but there was these guys behind me (young ones) who kept snickering, looking at me, and saying stuff. It made me REALLY uncomfortable. I also got a lot of looks from the men in there, but didn't mind that so much. It's just those ones that got to me.

EuroDriver12

um i think theres one of 3 reasons why a guy would stare..

1. the girl looks good
2. to see how much she can lift and what she can do
3. she looks like a man... vainy, shredded, n dry face...

JNick77

I have recently started lifting as part of a strength training programme and I am aware that when I am on my own, a lot of the guys in the weights area of the gym are checking out what I am doing. I have had this in more than one gym, but I don't get this when I am working out with my (male) PT. I have not been hastled by any of the guys in the weights area, but the staring does make me uncomfortable and has made me shy away from lifting in the past. I am no stunner and not lifting heavy, so I don't understand the staring.

I did not post this as an opportunity to bash male lifters, I would just like to understand why they do it.

Personally I think it's awesome to see a women get away from doing 2 hours of cardio and a couple weight machines and actually do some real weight lifting. Today there was this very attractive woman doing push presses and it was one of the hottest things I've ever seen.

iva001

I feel like its a little cocky of all of you who assume its something sexual. Every time I lift you will see guys watching each other too. You will see people with logs writing down exercises they didn't know about, getting up to help spot someone who needs it, and helping the obvious new guy who needs help with form. So just get over yourself and realize we are there to improve ourselves and our gym community, not hook up with conceited children.

LOL..also, sometimes I'm just continually checking to see if you're done with the barbell/free weight/bench that I need.

EuroDriver12

I feel like its a little cocky of all of you who assume its something sexual. Every time I lift you will see guys watching each other too. You will see people with logs writing down exercises they didn't know about, getting up to help spot someone who needs it, and helping the obvious new guy who needs help with form. So just get over yourself and realize we are there to improve ourselves and our gym community, not hook up with conceited children.

LOL..also, sometimes I'm just continually checking to see if you're done with the barbell/free weight/bench that I need.

that.. actually is the most likley scenerio lol

SteveTries

Actually it's more banal than you may think. When you're say on a bench resting between sets it's boring and there's nothing else to do. You watch what going on around you. Man, woman, rabbit eating leaves outside the window - its just something to do.

Flixie00

As the original poster, and some time has now passed, I though I would update on the issue.

I have kept on with using the weights area in my gym, and as I am now a regular, the looking has reduced. This tells me that this is not guys just staring between sets, but had more to do with my novelty value (very few women in my gym use weights). If I use the weights area at the weekend at a sister gym, I still get the looks which backs up my argument.

I am still a little uncomfortable using the weights area, but will keep up with the weight training as I am loving the results.

docktorfokse

The correct response when you a man someone staring is to face him, bring your arms out to your sides to look bigger, and say in a low-pitched but loud voice, "Come at me, bro!"

Smuterella

The men at my gym are almost without exception, young and gay. They still stare.

mommy7

I stare some at men AND women in the weights area. My #1 thought "Hmm, that looks neat, I should try it". #2 thought "I want that equipment, are they done yet?".

rybo

Does no one take advantage of the mirrors? Helps cut down on being busted staring.

kazzari

I haven't noticed staring. I have had men comment on the weight I'm lifting, usually when I'm doing deadlifts, but only to say they are impressed. Or a guy who has been working out nearby comes up to me later to comment on how impressed he was by the intensity of my workout and we'll discuss what I'm doing. I never feel like they have an ulterior motive (I could be wrong, but it never feels creepy). So, I guess they were watching to notice. But it is always respectful in the way the men respect each other in the weight room. I feel like one of the guys. That said, I didn't start lifting free weights until I was in my 40's and now everyone looks like one of my kids. So from the younger guys the respect I'm getting might be respect for someone who could be their mom! And they usually only bother me to find out how many sets I have left in the squat rack. I think the guys are there to work out and in a crowded gym it is hard to avoid looking at somebody. The can only stare at themselves in the mirror for so long.