Scared to lift!

Do they offer any classes at Golds Gym? I belong to a small town fitness center and they offered body pump classes. It would be a good class to start out with (just my thinking) then you can work into the heavy lifting as you feel more comfortable. Great music is a huge motivator for me. Go for Girl!!!!

I used to lift a ton in high school.

This is the reason why you can lift anywhere and no one will make a fuss or stare at you. Because you have experience and familiarity with lifting. You may be a little rusty, but it'll come back to you within a couple of weeks. And you can always ask for assistance/advice from other experienced lifters at the gym. But I'm certain your past experience will make it so that you're practically invisible to the other experienced lifters.

Edit: Invisible until other experienced lifters ask you to spot them.

Start out smaller until you're comfortable. Who cares what they think anyway (they'll probably be more impressed that you're lifting at all)? You're there for YOU!! Go get em tiger!

^^^ Best advice
Do it for yourself. Maybe a couple of sessions with a personal trainer to get you back in the groove. You can do this.

My 43 year old coworker lifted for football in high school, quit playing/lifting when he graduated, and didn't touch a weight for 25 years. I dragged him to the gym with me a few weeks ago and got him started on a lifting routine - he started light, but he had near-perfect form on everything. You don't lose memory of how to do things like that when they're that ingrained in you. Don't worry about that part, and DEFINITELY don't worry about what the guys in the gym are thinking. No one cares what you're doing - you're there for you, they're there for them. I think the hardest part will be your frustration that you can't lift as much weight as you used to.... Just accept that and start working to get back to where you were. You can do it

find a squat rack, claim it, and do your thing.

I'm usually the only girl in the weight room at my gym, and I'm old enough to be most of the boys' mother (age 47). I just put my headphones in, ignore everyone else, and do my thing.

As a side note, I did have a little bit of a humorous thing happen on Friday.....I was going to do deadlifts and added the weights to the barbell....forgot to subtract the weight of the bar. I struggled through 3 reps before I realized my mistake. I'm sure I looked like a doofus, but ya know what?....no one even noticed. All the boys were too busy doing their own workouts to see what the old lady was doing.

All that to say.....for better or for worse, no one will pay any attention to you. Just get in there, get it done, go home and eat some protein.

Best thing about "buff crazy dudes" is that they are paying attention to themselves and what they are doing, NOT YOU! Have at it and you will be suprised how quickly it will all come back to you.

I used to lift a ton in high school. Actually, I didn't take P.E I took weight training. I was in the 600lb club. I loved to lift.. but now I am way overweight after having my kids... weak... and just embarrassed and nervous to step foot near the weights at Gold's gym because of all the huge buff crazy guys... I will be short, fat, and weak... I am getting butterflies just thinking about it... I want to cry! I am also nervous I wont remember how to do anything! Its been about 6-7 years since I have lifted... (my sophomore year)

To be honest, no one will even be paying attention to you at the gym. Girls who actually lift at my gym get more positive feedback then negative, and those "huge crazy buff guys" are the ones helping them out. It's just a stereotype...

Just do you!

After a while it will get easier as you get more comfortable with your routine. My husband just won a one year membership for the two of us at that chain. After two kids, I have about 75 lbs to lose. I used to lift when I was younger... I traded personal training from the owners who were active competitors for web design in high school. I remember feeling the same way your describing after being a few years off program. There is a book called "The Body Sculpting Bible for Women" (and a version for men) that tells explicitly how to do the exercise correctly and how to prevent injury. It's good for dumbbells and machines. It comes with a dvd if you get the paperback edition but it's also available on kindle. That helped when I needed a refresher before I became pregnant with my first. I've had people compliment my form from it. I'm reviewing it again before I start up later this week and I'm glad I have it as a reference. I believe what is written in it is valuable enough and missed in many videos. When your doing exercises right, results are exponentially better. If you have a reference you like this much, it can help restore your confidence.

As for what others think, I bet people are more worried how they look and if they do think of you, there are other things that will change their focus such as what they are doing or will do next or their own insecurities and/or stressors. If you see the same people, they might comment on your positive changes over time. Some might even offer help if they notice your form is off. Use them as motivation and focus on you. Not everyone there always looked that way. You can do this -- after a while you will become more comfortable in your own skin. Hope this helps! Good luck

I'm dealing with this same thing.... I"ve been trying to find times when not many guys are there but it seems that there is always a couple hulks skulking around. They intimidate me....not because the say or do anything...just their presence. I went yesterday and ended up in a little room with little 12lb weights when what I really wanted to do was play with the squat rack and try deadlifts.

Just go for it, I lift at a Gold's no one is paying attention to anyone but themselves, maybe if you are doing something really stupid like hanging upside down and trying to do curls someone might, but otherwise don't slam weights and no one takes a second look.

It's like riding a bicycle.. You don't forget how ever in your life

Just go to Gold's. And leave your ego at the door. Start ridiculously light...no, even lighter than that...now a little lighter. Yeah, right there. Assuming you knew what you were doing in HS, it'll come back to you quickly. If not, use a trainer. But don't push yourself...yet. There will be plenty of time for pushing your limits a few weeks/months from now once you're acclimated to the work again.*


(* From someone who struggles to follow his own advice and assumes (incorrectly) that he can just pick up where he left off 15 years ago...)

See if you can afford a trainer for a couple of sessions just to show you the ropes and if you are really uncomfortable about others ask you gym what their slower days and hours are and go in then at first til you are comfortable.

PS Lifting is awesome! So much better than cardio!