Too Embarrassed to Lift Those Weights

I feel this way sometimes also. But, it usually goes just fine! And people smile at me.

Yeah, I used to go into the weights room, just fine, all the time. And sometimes I would forget my form and a guy would correct me and it was all good. But, since reading these forums I started to feel a lot more worried and awkward about going into the weights room. I really need to shake that all off and remember that it's still all the same nice people in there (not everyone is nice, but most are). On the bright side I have been learning a lot. You might feel more comfortable if you have a good program to work with such as the books: "The New Rules of Lifting for Women" or "The New Rules of Lifting for Abs".

There is a women's room at my gym that has everything I need for most of my workout (bench, heavy dumbbells, mats, balls, barbells, steps and risers, cord weights and lat pull down, etc...), but I need to go into the main section for the power rack and some heavier barbell weights.

Haha, I think it's just my pride. I hate looking stupid... and I hate being corrected even more! The idea that some stranger would be irked so much by my theoretically horrible form that he'd come up to me and correct me would have my face red in seconds. SO MUCH STAGE FRIGHT. Haha, I'm glad I'm not alone.

Sometimes guys correct a lady just to be nice, and maybe even because he thinks she's cute! I've made some friends that way, too.

My suggestion is to have a session or two with a trainer to get yourself familiarized with free weights and to check your form.

To be perfectly honest, most people are focussed on their own workout and trust me, if your form is not that good, you will not be the only one, I have seen some pretty bad form from the muscle guys. However, you need to make sure your form is good to prevent injury.

Do lots of homework, check out YouTube, get yourself some good books (Starting Strength and New Rules are a couple) and as I said, get a few sessions with a trainer if you can.

ETA: when you do go on your own - have a plan, with your workout already written out, including your reps/weights (which you may have to tinker with until you get your strength levels sorted). It will be much less intimidating this way as you will have more focus.

Everyone, absolutely everyone has bad form at one exercise or another. You learn proper form, if you pay attention and see how others do it, ask questions or read. Bad form is actually perfectly ok at the start IF you are careful to start low and slow AND you are trying to improve your form.

I speak several languages and it is the basic think I teach others about language learning - you can't learn proper usage by not doing.
To learn, do.

When a woman is in the gym if a guy is looking it is not because of her form or weight she is lifting, hes looking for the same reasons any guy looks at any time really.

When I am in the gym in there to TRAIN, there to GROW not SHOW, those that stand around gawping or chatting are not worth worrying about.

TRAIN and ZONE out and you wont even see anyone.

Peace

If I can hack it in a women-only aerobics class (I actually meant to go in to the one that sometimes had one or two other men and involved different moves), you can hack going to the weights area .
And yes, my 'form' was terrible and I was a sweaty pile by the end of it!

I totally agree with Sara! Investing the money to get a trainer for a few sessions to cover the basics is well worth it and will pay off in the long run!
If you cannot afford it, make sure you have a plan and don't wander around clueless doing a bit of this and that, as its getting you nowhere in the first place. There are quite a few programmes mentioned in the thread already. Go check them out.
And believe me, most people that correct your form, do it for your good... I also found it awkward at first, but soon learned that it is important. Ideally you get a buddy to spot you - maybe another girl if that is more comfortable for you. Just put a note on the board in the gym or gumtree or such.
It's like with everything in life - the most difficult bit is getting started! I have to train all across different gyms, as I keep travelling for work, so I have the "OMG all new experience" every other week. : )

Good luck with it!

I've just started in the weights area myself, and a few sessions later I feel much more comfortable there now.

I certainly experienced that first-day-of-school feeling, but the more I go, the more welcome I feel. I find it helps to stay open and friendly, which hopefully invites advice or tips from those around me. Its always encouraging if you leave having had a good chat with someone.

Push through this stage. Its all in your head - which means you have the power to change it. You belong there as much as anyone else.

Life has a way of conditioning us ladies to shy away from typically male-past times or vocations. Its just knowledge, knowledge acquired through doing. They aren't any more capable than you are, they just have a bit of a head start is all.

And anyway... boys are quite lovely aren't they.