Chicks on the Boys side of the Gym....
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Why do you care?!
In fact, let the girls on the girls side look at you in awe as you lift HEAVY!!!
Been there, doing that
In fact, the guys help out when I am not doing the deadlifts with correct form.0 -
It probably wouldn't feel awkward or uncomfortable for any of us to use any side of the gym if people didn't call them the "Chicks side" and the "Boys side" ....0
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This is gonna sound sad, but it's the only reason I haven't added strength training to my routine. When I was really big, before I got a gym membership (75 pounds ago..) I would walk outside, and a few times these built guys would be out on a front porch and they would yell mean things/oink at me. So I avoid boys in the gym all together. And I know that's extremely stupid because I'm sure like you guys said, everyone is there to pretty much get their own workouts in and they aren't worried about anyone else...but I can't help it. I'm so scared of being that close to guys who are in good shape, lol. I will stick to Zumba, with all of the other women, for now...
Me too
I feel like I should be over that, and it is only hurting me by not doing so. But I still can't venture to the "other side". I'm hoping to get over this soon. I hope you do as well!
I feel the same way ...0 -
Boys side of the gym? Psh, that's MY side of the gym lol 0
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This is gonna sound sad, but it's the only reason I haven't added strength training to my routine. When I was really big, before I got a gym membership (75 pounds ago..) I would walk outside, and a few times these built guys would be out on a front porch and they would yell mean things/oink at me. So I avoid boys in the gym all together. And I know that's extremely stupid because I'm sure like you guys said, everyone is there to pretty much get their own workouts in and they aren't worried about anyone else...but I can't help it. I'm so scared of being that close to guys who are in good shape, lol. I will stick to Zumba, with all of the other women, for now...
Me too I feel like I should be over that, and it is only hurting me by not doing so. But I still can't venture to the "other side". I'm hoping to get over this soon. I hope you do as well!
I feel the same way ...
Look at it as an opportunity to outwork them and make them eat their words. :drinker: I struggle with confidence in alot of areas, but this is not one of them. I grew up with three brothers who never took it easy on me just because I was a girl. It was either put up, or shut up. There's not much I like more than competing with the boys in a workout. It helps keep me motivated to push past my comfort zone where workouts are concerned.0 -
Thankfully I'm a member of a small gym and all of the guys are pretty friendly. When I started with my trainer (a guy) back in January he had me on the "guy's side" from the get go. I was totally intimidated but a lot of the guys would joke with me and offer tips. My sessions have since ended but the guys are still great--they don't make me feel like a weak little female and they're generally helpful!0
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initially i was terrified of entering the 'boys side of the gym" - coz i thought i would end up like a wrestler or body builder. then i didnt know how to use the equipment. now that i have basic instructions - i go early in the morning when it is empty - and the gym trainers are free to help me out. and i am loving it.........though i havent lost any weight yet !!!!!0
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This seems like an odd gym. At every gym I've been to, there's a Men's and Women's label on the locker rooms and restrooms....and no where else. Certainly not in any section of the workout areas. In 20 years of lifting, I've never heard any man refer to the free weight side as the Men's area, and during that same time I've never looked at a women and thought GTFO and I've never heard another male say anything to a woman along those lines. Never. Ever.
Ladies, I'm going to suggest it's in your head. I'm betting if someone you know referred to the free weight section it was another female, not a male, and certainly not an employed of the gym. And the "what are you doing over here" looks I'm seeing in some of these posts? Those are probably just looks, not GTFO Looks or anything like that. The human eye tracks movement, so we look at you when you're in there the same way we look at another guy who's lifting around us. You see a person, maybe make a mental note of they are doing something curious and move on. We don't have blinders on and there's a lot of downtime between sets so you will look at other people around you.
I'm not insensitive. I do get that women may understandably be uncomfortable and possibly intimidate in that environment. But trust me, we don't care. Come on in, set up your station, and get your workout on just like we are.
Good post, it's exactly correct. If anything, new men are more intimidated than women. At least as a woman you aren't expected to be a master weight lifter from the get go. No one cares if you can only do a small amount of weight because it's expected when you're a woman. It should be LESS intimidating. In other words, if you're afraid of the heavy weights, it's all in your head.0 -
The weight room at my gym is split into weight machines and free weights. I see mostly women and big dudes trying to isolate on that side. But on the free weights side I am typically one of 2 or 3 women and go at a very busy time. I feel great on that side though. I am about to move up to using what I call the "Big Girl Rack", which houses weights 30# and above
. The only place in the gym that I feel slightly nervous in is the "Hammer Room". They have the name stenciled on the door and I think there is a minimum weight to go in there 
When I do end up in there, I definitely get stares, but most of the guys are polite. I combat my fear by playing Hammer Time every time I enter that room. 0 -
Your thoughts? I started lifting several months ago, at first at home with a few free weights..and realized quickly that I would have to break down and start going to a gym to lift since I was no longer challeged by what I had at home...
I am not gonna lie...the segregation in the gym is intimidating as all get out sometimes...there is a girl's side ( elliptical machines, treadmills and bikes) and theres a boy's side...( all the strength machines, cables-which happen to be my favorite!, free weights and bars). So my question to woman that lift...do you feel intimidated or uncomfortable by being the only female in the stregth section of the gym? And men...is it annoying when a woman crosses over to your side?
Just wanting some perspectives...from both sides. I am not going to stop lifting...I love it! But wonder why the gym is so segregated by gender.
I think it's great. Just don't get upset if you get gawked at a little when you walk in with super-tight stretch pants or really short-shorts and a tank-top on. You dress like that you need to expect a small amount of attention. 0 -
Does not bother me at all. We all pay to work out there. I encourage those that go into the strength areas. It would be better if more went in to be honest.0
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When I first started weight lifting, I felt pretty intimidated.. but thats because my trainer was an idiot and never really gave me the tools to go at it by myself.
Once I got rid of him, and got new trainers, I did much better. Currently I take what ever workout my trainer had me do that week and repeat it on my own.. and since I already know all the moves, I can just grab what I need and go.
I do get guys staring at me when I do some exercises( my trainer tends to do a lot of "out of the box" type exercises, and people are either very intrigued/think I'm crazy). When they do, I stare back until they look away and then they never bother me again 0 -
I've only twice been intimidated in the free weights area. 1). The first day in there alone without the p/t was pretty scary, but that was more to do with remembering what to do....and 2) The time another woman came in looking all sexy and hot (i was super jealous)...but then she proceeded to do a few curls on a bench, then left, and there's me squatting 35kg on SL 5x5. That gave me more confidence than anything! I am the only other female I've seen in the free weights area...in fact I don't think I'd like it if another one came in...it's MY territory now lol!0
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At my gym, women can come into the weight section AFTER they have asked permission from each male member currently working in the area.
This is standard practice at my gym as well.
This IS LEGAL DISCRIMINATION. If you pay the Same Gym fees, then You (Women) have EQUAL ACCESS (Just as the Men) to any part of the Gym (except Sexually Restricted Areas, like Toilets and Showers.) WHO would PAY for A Service and ALLOW themselves to be Discriminated against. I would tell them, I will NOT follow that PRACTICE, I will Follow the RULE (If this is NOT in your GYM CONTRACT then it can not be enforced) and if it IS in the Contract (that you DO NOT have FULL ACCESS to every area of the Gym) you bought a BAD DEAL or You may be able to get out of the Contract by alleging discrimination. MY GOODNESS why would ANYONE pay EQUAL PRICE for UNEQUAL SERVICES?!!!
.... I thought they were joking??0 -
At my gym, women can come into the weight section AFTER they have asked permission from each male member currently working in the area.
This is standard practice at my gym as well.
This IS LEGAL DISCRIMINATION. If you pay the Same Gym fees, then You (Women) have EQUAL ACCESS (Just as the Men) to any part of the Gym (except Sexually Restricted Areas, like Toilets and Showers.) WHO would PAY for A Service and ALLOW themselves to be Discriminated against. I would tell them, I will NOT follow that PRACTICE, I will Follow the RULE (If this is NOT in your GYM CONTRACT then it can not be enforced) and if it IS in the Contract (that you DO NOT have FULL ACCESS to every area of the Gym) you bought a BAD DEAL or You may be able to get out of the Contract by alleging discrimination. MY GOODNESS why would ANYONE pay EQUAL PRICE for UNEQUAL SERVICES?!!!
.... I thought they were joking??
Kidding...why ever would someone kid on the forums?0 -
It was intimidating at first because I just had never done it before and was afraid of looking stupid and doing things wrong. Not necessarily because of all the men... at my gym there are usually some girls over there, too. Even if there weren't, I paid for my membership just the same as the guys. Not that anyone really even pays attention to me anyway.0
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I'm a guy and currently workout at home so cant really comment but have been to the gym many times in the past and have several male friends who use gyms regularly and every guy I know would never have a problem women lifting free weights next to them. The gym equipment is for all to use. It is becoming more widely recognised that lifting heavy, primarily free weights, is the most effective way to workout and burn calories and is therefore becoming very popular for women.
Unfortunately there is still the myth that lifting heavy weights will cause a woman to bulk up and working on cardio and treadmills, elliptical etc is the best way to tone and lose weight. It couldn't be further from the truth and is actually the opposite way round. While this myth persists there will always be some segregation amongst some gym equipment which is a big shame.
I say go for it Lift heavy low reps 0 -
Just a quick non-gender specific thought. I did not do free weights until later in life (35+) and at first I found the guys really into lifting were a little intimidating.... Until asked a question or needed something, and then I almost always found them helpful and friendly.
I think you may find it the same (given that there are some jerks out there) 0 -
I like being the only girl at my gym actually moving any weight. The guys at my gym call me deadlifts :bigsmile:0
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Your thoughts? I started lifting several months ago, at first at home with a few free weights..and realized quickly that I would have to break down and start going to a gym to lift since I was no longer challeged by what I had at home...
I am not gonna lie...the segregation in the gym is intimidating as all get out sometimes...there is a girl's side ( elliptical machines, treadmills and bikes) and theres a boy's side...( all the strength machines, cables-which happen to be my favorite!, free weights and bars). So my question to woman that lift...do you feel intimidated or uncomfortable by being the only female in the stregth section of the gym? And men...is it annoying when a woman crosses over to your side?
Just wanting some perspectives...from both sides. I am not going to stop lifting...I love it! But wonder why the gym is so segregated by gender.
I only go to the gym very occasionally, but where I go, males and females are all mixed, there is no segregation at all.0 -
Today I saw for the first time another girl lifting weights at my gym, and it annoyed me. Why? Because she was using the weights I wanted! ;p
I was actually really pleased to see her there though, I recognise her as she ran a bootcamp class in a field a couple of months ago that I went to, but today at the gym it was really busy and I was glad there was another girl there lifting the same as me. I felt like I was doing something right.0 -
I just recently started lifting and my gym's weight area is dominated by men. There are a few ladies, but honestly, I feel pretty comfortable with myself and my abilities and am proud of myself for starting something new, so I try not to pay attention to what everyone around me looks like or what they're doing. Although, I have 4 brothers and work in a pretty male dominated industry, so I really could care less what the boys think, haha.0
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At the gym that I go to, everyone uses everything. There are no real sides. For those of you that are hesitant to go lift because you don't know what to do, ask. At least at the gym that I go to, most people would be more than happy to help you out or answer questions.0
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I was working with a male trainer and never felt like I was out of place. HOWEVER, I went to the lifting side of the gym by myself the other day and was looked at like I had a third head. The worst part...I let it get to me. I wish I had just shown the boys what I was made of, but I chickened out. That's okay, I plan on lifting again this afternoon, so watch out boys!! LOL!
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