Ladies: All Female or Co-Ed Gym?

Kotek1985

I used to go to Fernwood (all girls gym) and more the most part I enjoyed it. No one bothers you or makes you feel out of place. Most girls, including myself, have their headphones in doing their own thing. Free-weights were aplenty but some of the machines were in the PT only area which was a little annoying. It's like we weren't trusted with them.

I've since cancelled my membership cause it wasn't worth the money for the amount of times I was going (which seemed to forever be getting less and less). Now I just do my own thing. Looking forward to daylight savings were I can start going to evening walks again

postrockandcats

Done both and I didn't care for the women's gym I had access to- the machines weren't as nice. It really ticked me off.

Angie__1MR

Co-ed all the way, show those boys what you're made of!

Priincess_Natalie

I'm all for the ladies only gym. I can't stand being hit on or followed to my car just because I want to work out.

I went to a really nice all ladies gym in the town I used to live in. I LOVED it and I still miss it. I looked at gyms in my new area but they were all co-ed and I'm too intimidated by them :-(.

It sounds like you just had a bad experience with your female only gym. Mine was nice and would have been even if it were co-ed.

I'm glad you're comfortable and enjoy your new gym. That's all that matters.

MsTonyaRenee

I like my co-ed gym. People of all ages, shapes, sizes. I do admit that the weight area is intimidating to me mostly because I have no clue what I am doing yet. I've only ever felt weirded out once or twice by a male member and never to the point I was scared to go alone. I've actually become good friends with a few men and women that work out at the same times as I do

ronitabur

You're not weird! I love the co-ed gym! Sometimes I enjoy working out around the focused energy of the men in the freeweight section of the gym and other times I enjoy the fun aloofness of the women in classes.

BTW - Taking classes and mixing things up constantly is great for your body!

I should mention that my gym is a YMCA - where they have a dress code and code of conduct. So women don't strut around with bare midriffs and, since kids go there (Although they are not allowed in the workout area until they are 14.), the guys are not cussing or acting blatently inappropriate.

opuntia

I've mostly been a member of co-ed gyms, as that is all that was available in most places I've lived. I wasn't even aware that all-female gyms existed until a friend joined one once, and persuaded me to join. I remember thinking an all-female gym was pointless, but I actually found I really liked it. Mostly for sensory reasons - it smelt better and cleaner than co-ed gyms. Men working out tend to smell stronger than women. And it was more colourful - most gyms seem to be black and grey, but this gym had a lot of colours - pink, purple, turquoise. Stereotypical female colours, but still - I like colourful surroundings. I'm aware these reasons are superficial, but they made a huge difference to my experience of being at the gym. I was very comfortable there.

I think, too, I tend to feel a bit intimidated in gyms where there are huge muscly men doing enormous weights - I tend to avoid the area where that is happening, because that seems to be the heavyweight male area, and I feel I don't belong there! But in the all-female gym, although there were some strong women doing weights I wouldn't be able to do, it was a different vibe - it felt more normal, more something I could relate to, something I could potentially do myself once I got fitter. There were no areas where I felt I didn't belong, if that makes sense.

Lyerin

I belong currently to a co-ed gym, and I really love it. For me it wasn't co-ed vs. all-female it was finding a small gym with none of the "flashy" folks there. There are serious weight lifters, people trying to get fit, fit people keeping fit, but all of us are there for a workout and not to hook up or socialize (and that's not to say that it is unfriendly, but no one is sitting around chatting on the machines). I love it so much more than when I belonged to the bigger (and more expensive) gym in the area because no one is at my current gym to "be seen."

I don't mind working out with men around, and I've never felt intimidated around anyone at the gym.

swest222

Im thinking of joining a gym soon and would not consider an all female gym .. most women in the gyms have the snotty, catty attitude .. whereas men dont give a *kitten* ... at least where I used to go that's how it was ...

head_in_rainbows

Co-ed for me. First of all I can oggle hot guys + seeing tonned girls working out gives me motivation and hope that soon that will be me

doinit78

Co-Ed!!! I actually feel more judged by women than by men. Eye candy keeps me going.

krystyleee

Co-ed all the way!

krystyleee

Co-Ed!!! I actually feel more judged by women than by men. Eye candy keeps me going.

wildcata77

I go to a hospital-connected wellness center and that's the best option.

It's ungordly expensive ($89 a month for a family membership) but it has a pool, staff on site to help with form or machines, etc. Also, lots of extremely obese and/or elderly people are there working out with doctor's orders, so I am never the oldest or heaviest person in the gym or pool, but there is a nice balance of health nuts as well for motivation.

I'm building my free weight routine so I personally like having the guys to watch. I am nervous about form, etc. so they provide a good example. I'm not the only woman who does free weights in my gym, but I can count on one hand how many I've seen over there with me. I need the guys to learn from.

Smiling_Sara

I've always gone to a co-ed gym, but I will admit that I don't do a lot of weight stuff there unless there are nto many there. I"m simply kind of intimited by the all the guys that hang out by the weights.

krystyleee

I don't know if it's just the area I live in or what, but I go to a co-ed gym (I actually belong to two, one at home when I come home for breaks, and one at my university), and I have never been followed out to the car by a man, or hit on, or stalked, or stared at for an extended period of time. It's never happened to any of my friends, and I haven't seen it happen to any of the other girls either. At the gyms I go to people are there to work out.

I am also not afraid to walk right over to the free weights and grab my little 10 lb dumb bells. No one has ever looked at me funny, and I won't get in the workout I want unless I stop caring about what others think, get what I want, and get to work lol.

obmckenzie

I go to a Co-ED gym, and have been to quite a few over the years. I usually join/go to the smaller local gyms not the big ones like LA Fitness. I've never noticed anyone judging me (aside from my trainer) but that doesn't mean the crazy fit girls don't do it but I've been lucky enough to not hear it.

I like the co-eds because I'm competitive and I grew up with brothers. I always push myself harder if I can compare myself to a guy near by. I don't feel the same way with other girls, which is weird. If there is a guy on a treadmill near me I feel the drive to push a little longer. If I'm on the circuit I always push myself for an extra set and a little more weight.

My only problem with the co-eds (which only happens once in a great while) is I always seem to attached the creepy guy. You know the one. He comes in and gets on the treadmill next to me (or whatever I'm on) and will flat out stare at me while he's running...though last time he almost fell off from leaning towards me. lol

weemawhit

I prefer working out in situations with only women. I used to work out at a couple of co-ed gyms, they weren't terrible, but I definitely felt out of place and a little self conscious. I'm really lucky that I live right next to a friendly all-womens gym now; most of the members are at least twice my age, but they're all sweet and encouraging.

There was a guy that would follow around my friend and I, and if we were close enough, he would start making really loud groaning noises while lifting. Hey, if you need to make noises during your workouts, I totally understand that-- but if you're trying to pick up chicks, that isn't how I would suggest doing it! He was really quiet until the two of us were around, LOL! Awkward..

PRMinx

It totally depends on what you are comfortable with, but I prefer a co-ed gym as well. I find women to be competitive and catty a lot of the time. Not only do men not act like that, but I've also found them to be very helpful and supportive in the weight room. I can understand being intimidated but, the reality is, men aren't judgmental about it. It takes a lot to walk into a room filled with men and do your thing - they know that and will respect you all the more for it.

rockermom5

I've done both - my experience with the all female gym was not terribly convenient hours and not much variety for a pretty big price tag. My husband and I are now on our third co-ed gym, and while I still feel self conscious at times, I spend the majority of my time in the free weight area with the boy's club. Not many women venture over there, so I feel a little out of place. However, like someone else said, the guys can be the nicest people at the gym. Our gym has a lot to offer, and I have barely begun to scratch the surface, even after a year.

yoovie

coed is necessary.

lauratovar218

Personally- I prefer working out without men around. I get too worried about how I look and simultaneously do not want to be hit on. Yes.. That makes no sense. So, best for me to stick with the park track or Jazzercise.

Psychgrrl

Co-Ed gym. Bigger and waaaaay better equipment and facilities. Plus it was cheaper. Plus more locations. Never noticed any looks or snickers. People, of all gender identities, everywhere. Everyone seems nice--I just smile at all peeps.

Only pet peeve is when men try to take disks off the leg press when I'm using without asking because they assume I won't need them. Shrug. I tell them otherwise. Only happened a couple of times. #beastmode

jemhh

Wow this is an old thread.

I don't care either way. Exercising in front of men isn't something that has ever bothered me, no matter if I was in good or bad shape.

And getting hit on has never been an issue for me. It either has never happened in any environment or maybe has happened and I didn't realize it. I don't know. Sometimes the posts from women complaining about how much they get hit on make me wonder if I live in an alternate universe. Either way, it's not something that has ever disrupted a workout.