I get intimidated at the gym...

There are a lot of people thinking the same way as you and another large group that is obsessed with the way they look while they are "pumping iron". I found that 90% of the time while weight lifting no one even knows I exist.

Stop being intimidated. Just get in there. No one there cares if you're new, unless you don't follow the basic gym rules. Honestly, everyone is just focused on what they're doing. And, if you need, help just ask someone. I usually suggest that you pick the biggest guy in the room, because he is very likely to be happy to help. Yes, it works.

Honestly you should stop worrying and get your *kitten* in there!!! seriously there too busy watching themselves or chatting.

best thing to do is walk in there and start curling in the squat rack, that's what all the cool people do. Do that and they'll accept you as their own.

Somehow I dont think the guys mind you being around.

I know the feeling and I wish I could be of more use to you .
I'm lucky in the sense that the weights and the cardio are in the same room so even though the super toned people are over in the weights section you can always turn your head and have all the cardio people there as a sort of support if you like ... The only thing I can really suggest is to keep in mind that the buff people who you think are looking at you had to start somewhere and you could one day be the buff person ... if that makes sense ?
Use these people as an inspiration not a set back I hope that helped

Stop being intimidated. Just get in there. No one there cares if you're new, unless you don't follow the basic gym rules. Honestly, everyone is just focused on what they're doing. And, if you need, help just ask someone. I usually suggest that you pick the biggest guy in the room, because he is very likely to be happy to help. Yes, it works.

Seriously this ^^!! I was intimated for like 5 seconds and then realized everyone is just doing their own thing. No one is judging, and if so, who cares, we all start from somewhere! Some guys are even helpful when they see me trying to rerack some leftover weights, and I've gotten a few compliments even. Moral of the story - Get in there and lift heavy!! :bigsmile:

I don't get too intimidated while doing cardio, but when it comes to the weight room its like I just want to run...not because I don't think I'm strong enough to lift some weights...but because everyone in there is either buff or super toned...and I'm...super not ! lol ... I always have it in the back of my mind that people are looking at me and it makes me so uncomfortable. What should I do??? I know I don't need to go pump a bunch of iron...I'm not trying to look like a man....I just want to burn some more calories and firm up my body...

Girl,
Go in there like you own the place. And as a paying customer, you do own the right to be there and use the equipment.
What goes on in other people's heads - you can't control. The only thing you can control is what is going on in your own head. And you might be surprised that the other buff users of the gym are probably so focused on their own workout that they probably don't even realize or care that you're there.
kind regards,

Ben

^^ truth ^^

Hi Ashley,

If you want to burn calories/fat, then do cardio. If your gym has elipticals or incline treadmills do those. Its helpful to have either audiobooks or music to get you thru but for incline I walk 2.0 mph/variable incline 5-18% for 30 mins and you will burn over 280 cals. For the free weights, start with 10lbs and work your way up...weights are for toning, your gym has other equipment that will help you, ask someone to walk u thru and state your goals. Lastly, it is helpful to have a workout buddy - this is a good way to meet some folks at the gym, then go regularly or at the very least, just walk, walk, walk. You can do it. I'm 61 and I've lost 22 lbs since September, just taking it slow and watching my food intake via myfitnesspal.

I'm a girl who loves lifting weights at the gym. And 98% of the time, I'm the only girl over in the weight lifting area. I guarantee you, when I do see a another girl come in the weight area, the last thing I'm looking at is her. Everyone has to start somewhere. So, keep at it the only way you're gonna get looks is if you are not following gym rules and, more than likely, guys are going to look simply because they're impressed you're rockin' it solo!

I don't get too intimidated while doing cardio, but when it comes to the weight room its like I just want to run...not because I don't think I'm strong enough to lift some weights...but because everyone in there is either buff or super toned...and I'm...super not ! lol ... I always have it in the back of my mind that people are looking at me and it makes me so uncomfortable. What should I do??? I know I don't need to go pump a bunch of iron...I'm not trying to look like a man....I just want to burn some more calories and firm up my body...

First of all... Dont go lift like most of the girls do! LIFT HEAVY! You will in no way look like a man unless you devote all your life to being in the gym with an extremely strict diets and roids! Message me if your at all interested!

And just get in the weight room! The only way to gain confidence in there is to just suck it up and go lift! I was the same way, i think most girls were....now i dont even think about being uncomfortable in the weight room! I'm in there more then on cardio stuff... and im usually the only girl lifting heavy

Just work your way into it... Go do those weight machines until you gain more confidence, then move onto the beneficial stuff !

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/884447-do-you-lift-heavy-are-you-bulky

Ohh and honestly, no one is probably watching you! I realize that every time i leave the gym.... I looked at people and all that stuff, but i wasnt judging or even remember what they were doing! Unless it just looks rediculous or something...then i probably would

I feel the same way. I am afraid to go to that side of the gym. I have no idea where I would even start!! What exercises to do or anything...but I know I am going to have to someday. I guess I better start googling some reps to do

Don't feel intimidated! Most people, if not all, are there and concentrating hard on their own workout. I never look around and judge people, unless they have terrible form and then I just want to help them... haha! But I don't. I mind my own business! Just go in and pretend to know what you're doing if you don't, nobody knows the difference

Don't get intimidated! Like everyone else said, most likely no one is looking at you, and if they are, a lot of people are really helpful. For example- I've been following the simply shredded ultimate female training program (this is my first week of it). Today, one of the exercises on my circuit was pullups. I did p90x a while back, so I'm kind of used to pullups, but I'm not strong enough to do them on my own, so I always used a chair for support. Well at my gym, the pull up bar is really high, and even after grabbing the biggest stool I could find, I was still basically starting my pullup from a full hang.

So as I was standing on my stool trying to decide what I could do instead, this awesome (who has obviously been doing this longer than I have) ran over and showed me this cool trick where you basically put your foot in a giant elastic that's attached to the bar, and it takes a bunch of the weight off so you can pull yourself up. She wasn't judge-y about it or anything, just trying to be helpful. She said that's how she did it until she had the strength for unassisted pullups. (Also, it was funny because then a guy came up from behind me and totally thought I was this total bada$$ at first, because he couldn't see the elastic )

Also, you may be surprised how quickly you become comfortable in that area. I was intimidated at first too- but if you have a program to follow it helps with that aimless, wandering feeling. And aside from the pullup story- people probably won't realize that you're new, even if they are looking at you. I had someone ask me to be their spotter for bench presses the other day, and today someone asked me if I was training for some kind of even because I seemed so hardcore.