Scared to lift!

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Replies

  • SoViLicious
    SoViLicious Posts: 2,633 Member
    I use Golds Gym... Those guys are always nice to me.
  • Isakizza
    Isakizza Posts: 754 Member
    I also go to Gold's Gym.
    And also a short chunky girl, lol.

    Been planning my first workout of the StrongLifts 5x5 program. Walked into the weight room, guys pumping, grunting, slamming wts. I went at 8pm hoping it was late enough to have less people there. I was so nervous I felt like passing out, lol.

    Thought OMG, I'm not ready for this!!! Walked out.
    Later worked up the nerve to try it again, and plan on going again and again. I'm just using the bar as I'm a newbie, but hope that as I build on strength, I also build on confidence.

    If I can do this, you can too! :happy:


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  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    By 8 PM most of the afternoon- just need to get my workout done for the day people are gone- the only people at the gym from 8-11 at my gym are generally the serious lifters. I'd actually go in the morning super early. or around like 2-3 PM.

    If it's night time it feels less intimidating- don't ask why but it does.



    And yes- keep working with the bar- as your form/technique improves- your confidence and ability to lift will grow dramatically.
  • DopeItUp
    DopeItUp Posts: 18,771 Member
    I'm usually the only girl in the weight room at my gym, and I'm old enough to be most of the boys' mother (age 47). I just put my headphones in, ignore everyone else, and do my thing.

    As a side note, I did have a little bit of a humorous thing happen on Friday.....I was going to do deadlifts and added the weights to the barbell....forgot to subtract the weight of the bar. I struggled through 3 reps before I realized my mistake. I'm sure I looked like a doofus, but ya know what?....no one even noticed. All the boys were too busy doing their own workouts to see what the old lady was doing.

    All that to say.....for better or for worse, no one will pay any attention to you. Just get in there, get it done, go home and eat some protein. :wink:

    On the bright side, you realized you can lift at least 45lbs more than you think you can. I wish I had that problem!
  • Isakizza
    Isakizza Posts: 754 Member
    Do they offer any classes at Golds Gym? I belong to a small town fitness center and they offered body pump classes. It would be a good class to start out with (just my thinking) then you can work into the heavy lifting as you feel more comfortable. Great music is a huge motivator for me. Go for Girl!!!!:smile:

    My Gold's Gym is awesome!!! Love love love it!

    Many classes (zumba, gravity, yoga, pump, pilates, kickboxing, boxing, jiu jitsu, etc), MMA building, outdoor wt room and indoor, cardio theater, pool, sauna, therapy pool, basketball.

    I know gyms vary as to what they offer, I know some up in LA are different than mine too.
  • KickboxFanatic
    KickboxFanatic Posts: 184 Member
    6 weeks ago I was exactly in your shoes. I spent months in the cardio section of the gym, drooling over the idea of getting back to lifting after many years away from it. I finally asked myself why I wasn't in there doing it and it was fear. I was scared of those big boys in there and didn't want to be laughed at. SCREW THAT!!!!! So the next day, I made a plan and started attacking the weight room. Those boys barely even knew I was there.

    Last night, I went in, did my thing and actually got a high five from one of them "good job tonight girl". :D

    So my advice. Just do it. You know you love it. You were born to lift! Don't let those boys intimidate you, just do it. Make a plan and do it!
  • jody664
    jody664 Posts: 397 Member
    I'm usually the only girl in the weight room at my gym, and I'm old enough to be most of the boys' mother (age 47). I just put my headphones in, ignore everyone else, and do my thing.

    As a side note, I did have a little bit of a humorous thing happen on Friday.....I was going to do deadlifts and added the weights to the barbell....forgot to subtract the weight of the bar. I struggled through 3 reps before I realized my mistake. I'm sure I looked like a doofus, but ya know what?....no one even noticed. All the boys were too busy doing their own workouts to see what the old lady was doing.

    All that to say.....for better or for worse, no one will pay any attention to you. Just get in there, get it done, go home and eat some protein. :wink:

    On the bright side, you realized you can lift at least 45lbs more than you think you can. I wish I had that problem!
    Yes! I called it my 1RM, although I did at least 3 reps. LOL. I recorded in my lifting log, and my trainer said, "Well, I see it's time to up your deadlift weight....."
  • hungrywhodat
    hungrywhodat Posts: 40 Member
    Everyone is so intimidated by "experienced" gym people.

    I wish the "new people" could know just how ridiculous that is.

    If you aren't sure what you're doing or can't remember, ask someone. It's kind of a secret, but gym people actually tend to enjoy dispensing helpful lifting tips. You may have noticed this every time you ever talked to someone who works out a lot and didn't want to hear anything about it.
  • hungrywhodat
    hungrywhodat Posts: 40 Member
    Those boys barely even knew I was there.

    Oh, they knew you were there

    They just didn't mind
  • tartsul
    tartsul Posts: 298 Member
    i know what you mean! i was really scared to start lifting too! i took my husband with me to help me the first few times to help me with form, etc. now i normally go at like 5 AM, and there's only a handful of people there. it stinks getting up so early, but it's nice that there's no waiting for equipment or tons of people clogging the place up. i'm sure like tons of people said already, once you get back in there, it'll all come back to you quickly! you could try going really early when it's not busy in order to get yourself back into it. plus it feels good to start the day off with exercise! you can totally do this!!!!
  • dewgirl321
    dewgirl321 Posts: 296 Member
    My gym used to be a Gold's and there's still a lot of meatheads. I love it! :love:

    Some of them spend extra time checking themselves out in the mirror, some are super-focused on their workouts, and some are friendly and helpful. What's scary about that?

    Find a program on bodybuilding.com or stronglifts or nrol4w and hit those weights! You won't be able to do what you did in high school right away, but the technique should come back to you. You'll be impressing yourself in no time, and that's all that matters.
  • jofjltncb6
    jofjltncb6 Posts: 34,415 Member
    I'm usually the only girl in the weight room at my gym, and I'm old enough to be most of the boys' mother (age 47). I just put my headphones in, ignore everyone else, and do my thing.

    As a side note, I did have a little bit of a humorous thing happen on Friday.....I was going to do deadlifts and added the weights to the barbell....forgot to subtract the weight of the bar. I struggled through 3 reps before I realized my mistake. I'm sure I looked like a doofus, but ya know what?....no one even noticed. All the boys were too busy doing their own workouts to see what the old lady was doing.

    All that to say.....for better or for worse, no one will pay any attention to you. Just get in there, get it done, go home and eat some protein. :wink:

    On the bright side, you realized you can lift at least 45lbs more than you think you can. I wish I had that problem!

    ^this

    When I miscalculate by 45 pounds, the barbell stays stapled to the floor.

    :smile:

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