Ladies: All Female or Co-Ed Gym?

I'm part of a co-ed gym right now and I feel a little..eh going near the men's domain (weights, machines), but I like biking and soon to go on the row machine, but I'm always self-conscious about trying out new machines in front of people in general.. I don't know why. That's why I like to have my hubby with me lol. If I had a workout buddy, I would feel a lot better and not as insecure. But with the things I do now, I don't feel self-conscious bc I'm comfortable with what I use. I feel stupid when I don't know how to use something.. trying to break that habit and act like I don't care, ha.

Sorry, I hope I made some sense

I have to say, that I joined a co-ed gym. I was very nervous the first time I walked in , and I hopped onto the treadmill that was in the farthest corner away from everyone. Then I realised that there were SO many people just like me. I have to say, I am not sure wether it is the time of day I go, or what, but most of the people in my gym are just like me. We out number the skinny, buff people by many. And, some of those skinny, buff people have been more than willing to help me with a piece of equipment that I am struggling with. So , it is all good. i would not change now at all

I've done both too. I just found that the women at the female only gym weren't very friendly. I'd get a lot of nasty stares despite the fact that they were all about as out of shape as I was. Now that I'm in a much larger, (and better) co-ed gym people really don't pay any attention to anyone else. Plus there's a bit more diversity here, a lot more body types and ages and with that comes less judgement. Though I do tend to avoid weights because there are a lot of guys and they're a lot better at me. I'm weak as hell.

Love co-ed workouts. Never underestimate the power of eye candy to get me to put in just a little more effort. Plus, while women and men can both be catty, men tend to act more protectively towards women -- whereas women might think someone is being a byatch, I think they're less inclined to speak up or act on it than a man would. Men are just more used to calling each other dumb@sses without it damaging their friendship forever.

I go to a co-ed gym because it had the most to offer. The female only gyms in my area must be only for stay at home wives because they aren't open evenings or weekends which is the time I could go! Plus my gym has a pool, classes, racquet ball courts, on top of the longer hours - none of which the women only gym has...

I don't go to a gym now as I am poor as hell but I used to go to a boxing gym which was co-ed and I loved it, I was intimidated the first time I went but everyone there was awesome, they were encouraging, even if I modified or if I couldn't run as far as anyone else, or if I needed an extra break when doing suicide drills nobody every snickered and made negative comments. I loved it. I just wish I could still afford to go.

women's gym because of the ameneties, for the price, pool, sauna, whirlpool, steam room and free classes, other than that its about the $$$

It depends on the gym. I've never been to a ladies only gym so I can't comment on that, but I've had mixed experiences at co-ed gyms. The worst ones are unfortunately always University gyms. I think this is because by and large most of the people there are really young (no offense, young folk!) and that just creates a more uncomfortable atmosphere where everyone is self conscious, everyone stares and everyone is both judging and worried that they're being judged. I find myself really put off by and uncomfortable around a lot of the guys at University gyms. Crowd too many 18-24 year old men into a weight room and they just get into this zone where they're puffing up for each other and trying to claim space, and that makes it awkward to try to step into the weights section as a woman, and probably I imagine as a man who isn't one to do the macho puff up thing, or isn't yet in excellent shape.

In non-Uni gyms though, I've been fine. I find myself always happiest at YMCA's because they tend to have the most diverse crowds, and that creates an atmosphere where people are more comfortable with themselves and less inclined to lear or judge. It's not like everyone else is some physical ideal and then there's chubby ol you feeling awkward. Everyone is in different places and is there for different reasons. They all just do their thing and seems a little bit more confident and comfortable than I've seen elsewhere. I've also been OK at more corporate yuppie gyms even though they aren't my fave. As long as you have a good age mix it's usually more relaxed in my experience. Although with the yuppies you can get a bit of the judgy vibe too. Obviously the Y is the place for me!

Basically, every gym has a different culture and you just have to find one you feel comfortable in. Most gyms offer a trial day or week so you can get a feel for the place before signing up. I highly recommend doing this with all gyms close enough to your house or work that you'd actually go on a regular basis. Then you can choose from their, confident you picked the one that best balances your needs and preferences.

I have had TREMENDOUS fitness success in the past year, and I attribute it to my separated gym. (the women's and men's gyms are separate. Also, the pool has split ladies/men days.)

I have joined co-ed gyms in the past and fizzled out after about a month. I know it was due to my "inferiority complex".

I feel more comfortable wearing my running shorts, running skirts, lifting, using the free weights... just so many pluses!

I would like to add to this..;I live in a fairly large city and there are lots of gyms to choose from. I like this particular one for a number of reasons, and honestly, if it was an "all-female" environment, I probably wouldn't have gone. There are more machines and equipement then in the men's side, and just as many free weights. The classes are offered co-ed, there are family times for the pool and... I do enjoy walking PAST the men's gym! lol

I've heard mixed things about female gyms. I've never been to one because the ones around me don't have everything I want and need out of a gym.

The gym I go to is a bit of a yuppie gym but I've never had trouble with the guys... I just tend to avoid them, especially the ones that clearly think they're amazing. If they were all that fantastic they'd be at a gym that was more concerned about lifting rather than a female dominated gym.

I've used both and I greatly prefer the all-females gym. I just feel really uncomfortable working out around men. Yes, some (most) people at the gym can be supportive, but I feel like I haven't yet reached that level of self-confidence to 'not care' about the few negative snickers. I know myself and one negative comment or giggle while I huff and puff and it would be enough to scare me away from the place. I like feeling 'at home' at my gym. I'm lucky enough to have a womens only gym that still has all the amenities, classes and weights that would be offered at a co-ed.

Maybe one day when I feel better in my skin I'll venture into one of my gyms co-ed branches, but for now women's only all the way.

My old gym used to have both. A co-ed side and a women's only side. I'm not terribly self concious so I've always just went in the co-ed area when I started. But the women's side is good if they feel intimidated. But the equipment is always limited in those areas.

I go to a co-ed gym and I get SO MUCH support from the men there! The women are nice too, but the men I've met have been my biggest cheering squad at the gym.

I don't think I could go to an all female gym because I feel like I'd be more self conscious, but I've never tried one, so I couldn't say for sure.

For some reason, this made me think of the time I was doing incline crunches and farted really loud. The guys in the gym laughed so hard about that. I don't think that would happen at a ladies only gym.

I go to a co-ed gym and I get SO MUCH support from the men there! The women are nice too, but the men I've met have been my biggest cheering squad at the gym.

I don't think I could go to an all female gym because I feel like I'd be more self conscious, but I've never tried one, so I couldn't say for sure.

For some reason, this made me think of the time I was doing incline crunches and farted really loud. The guys in the gym laughed so hard about that. I don't think that would happen at a ladies only gym.

LOL!!! I would have laughed! But that reminds me of the time I was in an all female yoga class and the woman next to me farted. AND NO ONE LAUGHED. Every ounce of willpower I will ever have in my life was used up in getting through that class. But I am all about the 12 year old boy humor.