What are people's true thoughts of "strong women"?

Strong women look great! But for what ever reason they always look p***ed off at the gyms I go to... I still say hi when I pass them, but rarely get a response. Maybe it's those angry looking strong women that give the rest a bad name. You know, like the stereotypical "meatheads" give any guy with a decent muscle build a bad name.

Are you sure they're pissed off and not just extremely serious? When I'm at the gym, all of my attention is focused on my lifting. When I'm resting, my full attention goes towards visualizing that next set.

Is it possible that you (perhaps unintentionally) come across as unfriendly? There's a chick at my gym like that....

I think if you spend too much time on BB or fitness sites you get a flawed idea of what the general public think about women with a very defined musculature.

It might be celebrated here but most people don't actually like it that much from what I can gather and find it off putting and threatening.

You will hear "gross" "ewwww" or "disgusting" more than you will hear "that's amazing".

Sad, but that's just the way it is...

I wish fit, strong, independent women was more the norm everywhere. There's only a handful of women that ever use my gym. It's a shame.

you didn't.
They just became gym wimps.

Your so right! Hang in there lady, people are weird

I think they are great.

CAN SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME WHERE THE GYMS ARE WHERE PEOPLE STEER *AT* OTHER PEOPLE?

How do you think other people are living? Do you see complete strangers walk in your gym and start getting high fives for the other lifters? Do you think that there are people that can barely get their workout in because everyone keeps coming up to them and asking for their autograph mid-set?

It's a gym. Everyone is there to workout. At my gym, I talk to my workout partners and on rare occasions someone right next to me. But usually I'm not making eye contact and other lifters aren't making eye contact with me. It's a friggin gym, not a kegger at some frat house. When people are "steering clear" of me, I don't make assumptions that it's because I'm big, or I'm male, or I'm black, or I'm anygoddamnthing. I assume they are giving me space to work out, just like I'm giving them space to work out. BECAUSE IT'S A GYM.



*97.5% of the time when I see threads like this, people are waiting for other people to come up and make nice with them. Y u no initiate conversation urself?

^^ This.

I go super early in the morning. I see the same 6 or 7 people every day. In spite of that familiarity, I seldom have conversations. I'm focused on what I'm doing and I assume they are as well.

Now that I think about it, the only people I ever talk to are going slow on cardio machines. I figure anyone else is working too hard to chat.

I am in no means the fittest girl at my gym, but I do cross fit and lift heavy (for me). The reason I started was because of the freaking rock stars on the cross fit games and because I want to be strong.

That being said, that's not everyone's goal. My friend Liz and I have been the "two crossfit girls" at our gym for about 2 months now and we talk to others all the time about it. We invite girls to join in--none have accepted the offer but we always are making fun of each other, laughing, and having a killer workout.

I think it's all about the vibe we put off.

Some people are saying the gym isn't social--and for them they might be right. I like to be social almost everywhere. So if you want to come off as a crazy I am only here for muscles chic, that's your right--do it!

We, on the other hand, just smile and talk to people about the sweet lifting/burpees/kipping we are doing.

Either be there and just focus on you, or be there and try and smile a little. I think you'll notice a difference. Good luck and great job on the success!

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It's a GYM, not a BAR. People are there to workout, not socialize. Get over it.

Said it like the boss!

Girls with muscles and strength?! Gross!

What's next? Women with brains?!

What if I have both?

Then you are a liar!

You hurted my feelings. :frown: I do so have muscles. They're just little, still. Give me some time, I'm working on it.

How long do we have to wait? You have had decades. THEY AREN'T GOING TO GROW

Oh, you're goin down now, boy!

Prove me wrong.

When I survive the Spartan Sprint in June, I shall come back to boast of my speed, strength and general awesomeness. And then you will cower before my awesomeness and beg forgiveness for your impertinence.

I don't get men. I have read on various forums that some men like "muscular/ strong" women. At my gym, men are "scared" of me. Just because I can lift more than 1/2 the guys at the gym or can actually do real pull ups, dips, etc. does not mean I'm "intimidating" or a "bXXch".

Most women don't want to talk to me. Those who do actually realize that I'm pretty nice. I just work out hard. One women "cowarded" away from and moved away from me during kickboxing class. I was not even that close to hitting/ kicking her. I even told her that I can control my kicks and punches and will NEVER hurt her.

I don't think I look intimidating.... I'm 5 feet Size 4 w/ muscular and defined arms and legs. (Abs... another story ... pregnancies do a number on the abs). I'm pretty "girly" too.. wearing skorts instead of gym shorts etc.

So when did I become the gym bXXch?

I think you meant "muscular women" since you'd have to actually do something to show strength and some women who don't look very muscular at all, are strong. I'll even go further and say that you probably mean lean women since at that point you can see some of the muscle that would ordinarily be under that fat on most women.

I personally respect and acknowledge any women who go the extra mile to get themselves in shape for sports or fitness. It's clearly easier for anyone sit on the couch, eat corn chips, watch HD TV for hours and complain that there is absolutely no way they could find the time to ever work out (plus they can't find anyone to go with them since they need their hand held throughout the whole process).

I guess I'm fortunate in that I don't go to a gym, but a karate school for kickboxing and kettlebell so there is never any feeling of disrespect or intimidation.

I do remember when I used to go to the gym, feeling intimidated by the guys in the free weight area, mostly because they were young guys who weren't very good at sharing the weights with a woman!

The guys at my gym share fine, but they usually only clean up their mess when asked. :-P

I don't get men. I have read on various forums that some men like "muscular/ strong" women. At my gym, men are "scared" of me. Just because I can lift more than 1/2 the guys at the gym or can actually do real pull ups, dips, etc. does not mean I'm "intimidating" or a "bXXch".

Most women don't want to talk to me. Those who do actually realize that I'm pretty nice. I just work out hard. One women "cowarded" away from and moved away from me during kickboxing class. I was not even that close to hitting/ kicking her. I even told her that I can control my kicks and punches and will NEVER hurt her.

I don't think I look intimidating.... I'm 5 feet Size 4 w/ muscular and defined arms and legs. (Abs... another story ... pregnancies do a number on the abs). I'm pretty "girly" too.. wearing skorts instead of gym shorts etc.

So when did I become the gym bXXch?

Maybe it is the vibe you give off and has nothing to do with your looks or abilities. Your post alone sounds like you kinda have a chip on your shoulder. That could be their first impression.

Just a thought.

I go to the gym very early - 5 AM. Everyone there is working, a few will work together but mostly everyone works, finishes and gets out. I don't really care if anyone pays attention to me or not. Actually, that was my biggest issue with the last gym I went to. I could only go after work and as someone else said, from 7-9pm ist was more like social hour. I had to tell people to move out of the way in order to work out. It was annoying.