Weight Lifting at school gym

realia

School is starting in two days and this year I really want to go to the gym. All of last year, I kept telling myself I'd go, but I never did! I'm really shy, especially when it comes to exercise. I kid you not, I can't even exercise in front of my own mom without feeling a bit embarrassed. You can imagine how shy I'd be exercising and sweating in front of a bunch of strangers!

I was looking at videos and pictures of my school's gym just to motivate me for this coming year and I realized something. In the cardio section, there's only women and in the weight rooms, there's only men. I'd really like to lift weights. I'm not talkin' about 5 lbs light weights. Naaaaahhhhh. I'm talkin' about the big stuff. I want to be STRONG. But I'm absolutely TERRIFIED of going into a room with a bunch of men to do something I don't know how to do. And by terrified, I mean so-anxious-I-want-to-throw-up-and-go-home-and-cry terrified. I'm more confident when I know what I'm doing. I need a plan of action, which brings me to my next point.

I know nothing about heavy lifting. I don't know where to start, what exercises to do, what not to do, etc. So I'd like all those fitness experts or people who know what they're doing to fill in a lost college girl on how to start lifting weights. Please and thank you! :embarassed:

realia

Bump?

Tropical_Turtle

First to start I would recommend the New Rules of Lifting for Women (it is a book) - that will assist you with the kinds of lifts you will be doing to help in your weight lifting journey.

I am sure if you see one of the guys in between sets, ask. It can NEVER hurt to ask for assistance.

rose_mortem

bump. I "can't afford" (which is totally true) a gym membership right now, but the real reason is that I know I'd be too scared to actually use it

InkedBeauty89

I would recommend getting the book new rules of lifting for women. It will show you everything you need to do and how and when to do it. Its quite easy to follow and understand. As far as being embarrassed i cant really help because im sort of the same way. I lift at home though. I still wont go to the gym.

BinaryPulsar

You just have to get in there and do it, you know what you want!! Maybe get a book with a program you can follow such as Starting Strength or The New Rules of Lifting (they have a book about the basic important moves, a book for women, one that focuses on abs but is still for full body, a book for people with injuries, and other books as well). There are groups on here you can join. You'll learn!!! Lots of resources out there and on here!!

ghimm

Check out nerdfitness.com. He gives tons of advice on lifting in and out of the gym. There is also a lot of encouragement for women to get in to the weight room.

HeikkiLaukkanen

So you said you're in college? Have you looked into a weight lifting P.E. elective?

Short of that another book that I've seen many mentions of is "The New Rules of Lifting for Women". I can't vouch for it personally but it seems to be very popular and many women on this site have had positive results with it. A book I bought was called "starting strength"; it discusses a lot of anatomy and mechanics of lifting.

Lastly I'm kind of at a loss as to what to say about shyness and exercising. My wife says I lack empathy. Perhaps that was born out of high school football, military academy for college, and 15 years of military life. We're told to just do it basically. Somebody wiser than myself said that most people go around worry what others think about them so you shouldn't really worry about what they think of you; other folks are just kind of aware of themselves for the most part.

Good luck to you, strength training is a great physique and self confidence booster.

maddycovs

i'm lifting 3 times a week right now before my basketball season starts, so im in our school weight room a lot. i'm not an expert at lifting, but i know a way to feel less embarrassed: get a workout buddy! my friend jenn & i always lift together and, sure, were the only girls (the entire boys hockey team is in there each day) but we have fun and neither of us are as embarrassed as we would be alone! we even have little competitions with eachother to push ourselves to work harder.

realia

Thanks! I'll be checking out "The New Rules of Lifting for Women" and "Starting Strength". As for the shyness, I'm just an all around shy person. I'm slowly breaking out of my shell but there are still things I'm afraid of doing and one of them is going to the gym. lol.

realia

i'm lifting 3 times a week right now before my basketball season starts, so im in our school weight room a lot. i'm not an expert at lifting, but i know a way to feel less embarrassed: get a workout buddy! my friend jenn & i always lift together and, sure, were the only girls (the entire boys hockey team is in there each day) but we have fun and neither of us are as embarrassed as we would be alone! we even have little competitions with eachother to push ourselves to work harder.

I tried to get a workout buddy, but I'm a commuter, so the hours I have available to go to the gym are the hours other people have classes and/or homework to do. Most people who dorm go to the gym in the mornings or in the evening, when I'm not on campus.

Also, a lot of my friends aren't into weight training. If I go with a friend, I'd be stuck in the cardio section.

realia

So you said you're in college? Have you looked into a weight lifting P.E. elective?

I have to check if we have that. My major is super restrictive, meaning I can't take as many electives as I'd like. However, if they do have that, I'll squeeze it in my schedule if possible.

HeikkiLaukkanen

Looks like you're a person open to suggestions and willing to try things. I see success in your future!

As far as having friends who aren't into lifting, hopefully you can find a different friend who is. It doesn't mean you have to ditch your old friends but it really helps having somebody who shares your interests and values.

BinaryPulsar

Thanks! I'll be checking out "The New Rules of Lifting for Women" and "Starting Strength". As for the shyness, I'm just an all around shy person. I'm slowly breaking out of my shell but there are still things I'm afraid of doing and one of them is going to the gym. lol.

I understand, I have often been shy at times!