Loosening Up in the Gym- Ladies

13

Replies

  • LacyJean1
    LacyJean1 Posts: 36 Member
    I don't focus on them. I focus on my needs and go for it.

    This is exactly what I do.
  • deeray
    deeray Posts: 103 Member
    I put my music in, shoot em a little smile, and get to work. Lol :wink:
  • Honeybea86
    Honeybea86 Posts: 107
    The weight side is MY side!!!! lol you belong there just as much as any guy does. You may not lift as much (well some women do) but you are doing weight training. SO next time you feel awkward or uncomfortable just remember its your side too. Put in your ear buds grab your weights claim your bench and go at it girl. Never worry if people are watching, your there for you imagine your the only one there!
  • mindbodystrength
    mindbodystrength Posts: 44
    Feel the fear and do it anyway. Claim your space in this world, and do what you need to do for YOU. Put your headphones on, get your mind in "badass warrior woman" mode, and do your thing. And don't you DARE let them intimidate you into another "walk of shame". You've got ONE shot at life hon, this ain't no dress rehearsal. :flowerforyou:
  • redwan2001
    redwan2001 Posts: 286 Member
    I can relate, at times I feel the same way, because you don't know if maybe your doing something wrong with the weights or they indeed are staring at you lol. I can agree with you with the men's side you don't see many woman over there because of that. What I do is put my head set on and my hat, and just be like let them stare. I need to get my work out on!! It is a peep talk tI need to give myself each time lol. Your not alone sister keep it pushing!
  • DrMAvDPhD
    DrMAvDPhD Posts: 2,097 Member
    I can relate, at times I feel the same way, because you don't know if maybe your doing something wrong with the weights or they indeed are staring at you lol.

    For the record, a lot of the guys in there don't know what they're doing either. As a matter of fact, I see more crappy form in my gym than good. So this is also a non-issue. Read up on good form before you go in and maybe you will be the one people are sneaking looks at to figure out how to do things.
  • wonderwoman_72
    wonderwoman_72 Posts: 10
    I absolutely know how you feel. I had to take baby steps. I'd walk over, grab some barbells and then retreat to an open floor part of the gym to do my exercises. I read a lot of books and watched a lot of videos at home. Every week as I got more confident in my technique, I'd take more trips to the "other side." In 7 months, I'm now the Girl that benches, squats and deadlifts alongside the guys. And I LOVE it! We're all in there with our headphones on, doing our own thing. But seriously, there is nothing more empowering that being the only girl in the free weights and doing more heavy lifting than half of the guys!
    I'm a list person, so my advice would be to do some research and have a plan for what you want to tackle that day, even if it's just a couple of sets of something. That way you won't be trying to figure out in the middle of the gym what exercises you should try. Then just do it!
  • 120weeks
    120weeks Posts: 242 Member
    I can identify so well with what the OP is saying! I thought the "free weights" room was part of the men's locker room for about 5 years (It's In the basement, seriously)..... but when I was ready to do this, my husband showed me around (his first time in that particular gym) and that was all I needed. Within a week, I made one male friend. I didn't realize all I needed was one friendly face who would ask where I was if I skipped a day or walk over and spot me even when I didn't ask for it. I just had to show up and breathe confidence into myself. It will open up a whole world for you, girl! Looking back, it was facing that "fear" in the face which has been one of my proudest moments. I hope it will be for you too :happy: Just go, go regularly, and be a badass!
  • LWolford84
    LWolford84 Posts: 14 Member
    :bigsmile:
    Have a good plan when you go in, put your headphones on and do it. The more you lift the more at ease you will be. I honestly would feel like a goofball doing a fitness class as I never do them... it's like starting any new thing. Use proper gym etiquette focus on your workout and you'll be fine. Most guys are into their workout and are not paying attention to anyone else. I'm always glad when other women are hitting the weights.
  • MinMin97
    MinMin97 Posts: 2,674 Member
    Just like anything else that is new, just start a little bit at a time.
    Get used to that part of the gym, your routine, and YOUR gym, in particular.
    Don't be so psychological about it.
    Glad you are drawn to weights, I LOVE weightlifting!!!
    I started with a few basics, reviewed them over and over on Youtube.
    Eventually I got comfortable around a few people and asked some questions, too.
    I take my routine to the gym with me, on a small note pad, just to keep my mind directed.
  • nz_deevaa
    nz_deevaa Posts: 12,209 Member
    Go in with a plan (know what you are going to do, know what weights you need, and what lifts you'll be doing).

    I take a notebook which I track my lifts/weights and in my 'rest breaks' I note the number of reps I've done etc in it.
  • forgtmenot
    forgtmenot Posts: 860 Member
    People don't pay attention to what other people do as much as you think. Most people are in their own little world in the gym, so don't feel self conscious.
  • Contrarian
    Contrarian Posts: 8,138 Member
    I just act like I belong there, because I do.
  • beskimoosh
    beskimoosh Posts: 375 Member
    I went on "guys side" for my weight training today, and there were these 2 men in their 40's gossiping on one of the machines. At that point I decided that if they can be there, then I can, because I was at least working out! I also got annoyed because I wanted to use it, but that's a different rant :smile:
  • Librariangetsfit
    Librariangetsfit Posts: 71 Member
    Just walk in there and get to work. If you are unsure of form, get a trainer to show you what to do. Eventually you will love being on the girls, who ventures into the other side. Result from weight lifting are amazing, it gives you the shape you want. :)
  • rascallycat
    rascallycat Posts: 248 Member
    Put on your big girl panties and walk in there like you own the place. Grab your weights and start your routine. Crank your music and bust your a&s! They don't care if you are there! Most of the guys at my gym love seeing women lifting. Just this weekend, there were more women in the weight room than I have ever seen. It was a thing of beauty!
  • dblaacker
    dblaacker Posts: 153 Member
    I work out primarily in the guys' section because the music is better, unless it's packed, or I need a machine or weights that aren't available there. I've discovered that the best thing to do is just to focus on my workout and what I'm doing, because nobody else really pays attention to me. They're all focused on their own workouts... Unless I've been doing cardio and am stretching before I lift. That might draw attention sometimes, but I don't care. I'm just trying to count to 30 during each stretch without losing track of it.
  • jenilla1
    jenilla1 Posts: 11,118 Member
    I totally understand what the OP is saying. The guys DO act like they own the place and it's awkward for us. I pretty much retreat to the treadmills, too. It sucks.

    It's scary at first, but I started out by going with my husband during slow times until I was comfortable with what I was doing. Now I just walk in like a regular. I still prefer to have my husband with me, because he's fun to be around, but I can go alone no problem now. It's all in the attitude. Fake the confidence until it comes naturally. :flowerforyou:
  • LLaceFace
    LLaceFace Posts: 101 Member
    I completely understand how you feel! I used to run on the treadmill and just stare over at the other side and think about how bad I want to tone my arms and work on other areas other than cardio.... then one day I guess my desire to get stronger overcame my fear of big bulky men with metal in their hands and I walked straight over and asked someone to show me how to use a few machines to tone my "trouble areas" He was actually really nice and showed me around and made me feel comfortable in this previously scary place.
    Now I have a few "friends" on the weight side of the gym and I dont feel so out of place when I am lifting...
  • LaPipebomb
    LaPipebomb Posts: 13 Member
    I skipped what everyone else posted, but I know how you feel. I felt the same way, initially. Most people working out are in their own little world, and aren't concerned with the comings and goings of others unless you're utilizing a piece of equipment they might be needing. I just pop my headphones in and, as with anything else in life, put on an air of confidence, and eventually you'll feel more comfortable.

    As for what I do on the weights side, I'm fond of hammer curls, overhead tricep extensions, bench press, power cleans, deadlifts, squats (with or without weights depending on what I'm doing), box jumps, etc.

    The one thing I'm still apprehensive about is asking someone I don't know, for a spot. Where I used to live, I had a really awesome lifting partner, but he moved away and then so did I. Now I've got to readjust to this new gym, and my boyfriend (who has no experience with free weights) doesn't feel he is ready to deviate from the circuit training machines to work free weights with me.

    Bottom line, keep your confidence up! You belong there just as much as they do! You pay the same membership fee. Don't let them muscle you out of a spot in the weight area.
  • MissTess121664
    MissTess121664 Posts: 4 Member
    Just turn up your headphones and get busy. Those guys know that we are at the gym for the same reason they are...to look good. They actually appreciate a girl who cares about their body. They know most of us aren't interested in body-building and have no desire to do what they are doing, so don't even worry about it! Have fun and claim your space!
  • baja572
    baja572 Posts: 94
    I put my headphones in and get to work :)
    [/I loveeeee this Thanks!!!quote]
  • girlykate143
    girlykate143 Posts: 220 Member
    If you can avoid Monday's, do it. People generally get into the gym because they feel guilty about what they ate/drank on the weekend and so have to burn it off. Less peeps on tuesdays, wednesdays, and for me at least, around 3 or 4.
    Act like you've been there before. Take music if you think you need it. Fake it till you make it.
  • Ballard12
    Ballard12 Posts: 109
    I went with my husband for the first couple times...now I'm pretty comfortable going by myself. Do you have a friend (female or male) you could go with at first?
    Same here, husband helped showing me the differentmachines and the correct forms and got me set up on my way to the truck and then from there I just walk in like I own the place. Most of the guys at my gym have your headphones in they don't even notice I'm even in the room unless I stop them to ask them for some help. Just keep your head up and have confidence and yourself.
  • redheaddee
    redheaddee Posts: 2,005 Member
    Don't think of it as the "guys side", you belong there as much as they do.

    This. And PS they are GUYS. Bat your eyelashes and ask to show you something, cannot imagine you would not get someone to help :blushing:
  • Mich4871
    Mich4871 Posts: 143 Member
    I used to feel intimidated, but quickly got over that (and I'm very self conscience!). I just do my thing and move on. IF I was feeling weird about it, there is a small fitness room in the ladies locker room at my gym that has a couple of elipticals, treadmills and weights, I would work out there. But so far, I've never done that.
  • starcatcher1975
    starcatcher1975 Posts: 292 Member
    I'm always on the free weight side. It's the first place I go to when I'm at the gym. I just ignore everyone there and focus on what I'm doing. Once you get started you'll be too busy to worry what anyone else thinks of you. I've been there long enough now that I recognize people and we talk, nothing too in depth or too long since we're focused on working out not chatting each other up (or maybe they're just not interested in chatting me up lol)
  • jgrode1984
    jgrode1984 Posts: 112
    I definatly agree- it's everyones side... I pay for it just like they do! I saw one lady going to town on that side and I was totally envious!

    Next time you see another woman in the weight area.... Make it an icebreaker moment and go ask her for some advice! Maybe she can show you some workouts, check your form, and it will give you a "buddy" to work out with that day... :)
  • Cait_Sidhe
    Cait_Sidhe Posts: 3,150 Member
    I just do it and don't worry about it. I've injured my hip flexor muscles not doing a proper warmup before. Not gonna let anything injure myself.
  • McAlyna
    McAlyna Posts: 123 Member
    I ignore the surroundings and walk straight to the available equipment I need for the day, mostly squat rack. Tho, I was nervous the first time but now, I am okay. I am the only girl there doing free weight most of the time. They don't make me feel uncomfortable or anything. I'm there for my own good

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