any other ladies self concious in the weight room?

I was incredibly uncomfortable the first few days I started going to the gym but not because I was the only girl, but because I was surrounded by very fit women who could lift and do more than me. I was intimidated but now I'm over it. Men don't worry me as much though for some reason, maybe because I don't feel like I have to compete? What made me get comfortable is talking with other people and asking them what work outs they do and what their diet is like. If you smile at them and mind your own business they shouldn't bother you. They aren't at the gym to judge you, they're going for them so that's what they focus on. Just remember that you may feel uncomfortable lifting now but in a few months you're going to be really good at it. Don't give up!

just do it. the weight room isnt going to turn into a gang bang because 1 girl is in there. :laugh:

most of the time they are ignoring you and doing their own workout ... or at least pretending to ignore you.

stop standing in your own way and get the work done

i used to be, but i got a personal trainer who showed me around the "big boy weights" and got me feeling comfortable with what i was doing. i would only barbell bench with him to spot me, and if i wanted to try an increased DB weight i would try it first with him so i knew i didnt have to worry about dropping it on my face when i was doing it on my own.

im pretty lucky, now i train with a group of awesome super strong guys who just see me as another lifter, rather than as a "girl". i found that the ones that are more concerned with a "girl" being in the weights area are the insecure ones with something to prove, so now i just let my lifting speak for me :P

ive got a fair idea what im doing now, so just go about my program. at first, i didnt know how to take guys at foreign gyms when they would offer to spot if i needed it - i wasnt sure if they were being helpful and friendly or just though i couldnt handle it, but popular opinion seems to favour the former so i got with it. if i need a hand i look for the guy lifting the biggest weights with the best form and ask, they are more than happy to help when they see someone making an effort.

and if i cant work out how to adjust a new type of rack or something, a flutter of the eyelashes never fails

I was always worried that I would look like a fool. Like I didn't know what I was doing. So I made a plan (stronglifts specifically), a workout I was going to do. I then took those exercises and youtubed them to see them demonstrated and what was needed to do them. I then practiced the form at home with no weights and had my husband or son watch me do them. I then walked into the weight section like a boss and did it! After a few times, I am def. braver and will ask for advice on form or spots if I need it.

Just go. Trust me, none of the guys care that you are there. We are not staring at you. We are not thinking bad things about you. We. Don't. Care.

Just work out

^This.

And you know what? Even if the guys at your gym DO care, who cares? I mean honestly, women need to stop acting like the weight room has a "No Girls Allowed!" sign on it. Go in, do your thing, kick *kitten*, get out.

Stop worrying about everyone else. You're not doing this for everyone else. You're doing it for you.

Just go. Trust me, none of the guys care that you are there. We are not staring at you. We are not thinking bad things about you. We. Don't. Care.

Just work out

^^^ This! Just go and do your workout. I'm pretty much the only woman in the weight room at my gym and I don't care. Nobody pays any attention to me that I am aware of. And if they are paying attention to me....I'm too busy to notice or care.

Yeah, I feel terribly self-conscious in the weight room. I hate making the guys look bad..................:devil:

Just go. Trust me, none of the guys care that you are there. We are not staring at you. We are not thinking bad things about you. We. Don't. Care.

Just work out

its funny i know this with men but i have to remind myself with women. I know I look at the women, especially the ones in perfect shape, like "i wanna know what they do here to look that fantastic. I wanna look like that someday!" but then i don't go looking at those heavier than me and think "man, they're not trying hard enough". if anything it encourages me to know that everyone starts somewhere and if you're at the gym then you're on the right track!

Are these people really staring at unfit people like they are aliens, for real? Do they really care that somebody who is not fit paid his or her money to use the gym that they had to pay for too? I'm being rough with my answer because I was the same way, looking around to see who was laughing at me, etc. and I was so angry with myself when I thought about it a little longer. So many people in the world everywhere you go - and you just cant segregate everywhere. What's that movie Arnold said - "get your *kitten* to mars" - well get your *kitten* to the gym and be proud of yourself.

I had already been a member of my gym for a few years before venturing into the free weight area. The first few times I was intimidated, but after a while you start seeing the same people again and again. When they see that you are committed to lifting they will respect you.

Know what your lifting regime is going to be, and get a trainer or your friend to get you acquainted with the equipment. Don't worry about the men, we just don't want you to make us look bad! :embarassed:

I was a little worried about it so I joined a ladies only gym.

Some people stare bad and I am not strong enough to hit them with a barbell

So? Ignore them? What's the worst that can happen in this scenario, really? They're all thinking "who the hell is that? is she going into the weight room?" to which you answer "I'm veronica and yes I am".

I was maybe a bit self conscious the first time but not anymore. And I actually prefer going alone (except that if I went alone my husband wouldn't do any exercise at all) because it takes less time and I can do exactly what I want, no more or less, without waiting for someone.

But seriously ladies, what are you scared of in there? Are you afraid people are gonna look at you and judge you for lifting weights? Let them. The only person who's judgement matters is your own. Are you afraid someone's going to ask you what your'e doing back there? then TELL them - you've got a lifting plan right? Follow it. Don't let them intimidate you away from asking to use the rack when they're finished. Tell them no, they can't have those plates because you're using them. Yes, you do have more sets to do here, but they can work in if they need to.

Act like a person who doesn't let themselves be intimidated and you will BECOME a person who doesn't let themselves be intimidated.

In our gym there is actually a good mix of male and female.. Some of the females are stronger lifters than I am. We have a really supportive community and even the stronger lifter guys are supportive of those of us who have not been there as long. I won't lie to you though... Each gym community is different. If you find yourself bothered by an occasional guy, discuss it with the management of the gym... they don't want issues any more than you do. In the end, we are all there for the same purpose (well, most of us are)... we want to get stronger. I enjoy seeing others work out and may occasionally look and see what they are doing... Many times this is simply because I want to know what seems to be really working for you... Yes, I have picked up strength training exercises from women... One in particular had obviously strong shoulders and I realized one of the exercises she was doing would really help on that... so I started doing it and it does help... So lift, learn and enjoy.

I agree with other comments, if you're not sure on what to do once you're in there, get a trainer for a couple of sessions so you're confident. For me, it's headphones in, do your thing. Go for it