I am the woman in the freeweights section of the gym

This post inspired me to start weight lifting. I am now on week 3, and today I added 5 lbs. to my bench press.

I was always intimitaded, as so many women have mentioned, but my brother was kind enough to take me to his gym and show me the ropes. However the first day I got to my gym, the machines were different and I chickened out and did the limited weights in the womens room. I was really disappointed with myself.... so I got on Youtube and watched the same exercise on different machines. Practiced my form in front of the mirror at home, etc...

The next time I went to the gym I vowed I was going into that weight room come hell or high water. I, afterall, pay my membership as well as the men do, and I refuse to be intimitaded. I must say, we are our own enemies! Nobody at the gym cares or pays any attention to me, but I get the feeling that if I needed a spotter, or advice, I'd have no problem finding it.

I love lifting. I found it shocking how it got my heart rate up and got me sweating! I love feeling more confident and toned already, but most of all I love feeling strong! I look forward to the day I can benchpress 100 lbs, which to me will be a huge accomplishment! DO IT LADIES!!!

Just saw this thread. I have been lifting off and on for years but have been 4 times a week for the last 3 months. I love lifting.

I kid you not. She was spotted by 4 men.

I'm trying to do math on how many plates that is. SHEESH that thing must have been maxed out. Our leg press will only accommodate 12 plates on the sides, and 4 up top.

I started lifting in May, thanks to this site and the many awesome women here. My gym doesn't have free barbells, only the Smith machines, so I've been doing what I can with the dumbbells. I'm so excited by the changes in my body due to lifting, though, that I finally ordered my own bench and barbell so I can lift at home. :drinker:

I kid you not. She was spotted by 4 men.

I'm trying to do math on how many plates that is. SHEESH that thing must have been maxed out. Our leg press will only accommodate 12 plates on the sides, and 4 up top.

This isn't that far out there. I remember in the highschool weight room, Maxing out leg press at 500-600 lbs. Legs are beasts. Especially if you already weigh 200+ and your legs are used to supporting that sort of weight constantly.

great ,really love it

Cautious hello. I'm not on the forums here much these days, but am into lifting so why not!

I've been overweight a long long time, but gained A LOT of weight over the winter and decided I had to do something about it. I joined a gym in April and have been going 2-4 times a week, whatever fits around life with a small child and a partner who works very long days.
A fortunate side effect, though, is I've fallen in love with lifting. I never would have imagined it, but it's a real thrill seeing how much you can lift and lift well. I have a shiny new barbell at home and have started Stronglifts 5x5 this week, after struggling to fit an actual routine around my random gym visits.

I haven't lost any weight - in fact I've gained a stone :embarassed: - but I've been watching the weights go up instead. I feel so much more awesome too.

if im in the weight room alone and a woman comes in and her expression is OH NO. I say hello and then leave. It's uncomfortable I get that so I find something else to do. If a woman comes in and there are other guys besides me in there I stay.
No one likes being oogled or stared at. Ive had people come up to me and tell me i was doing a set wrong. its like thanks for the tip STRANGER. gyms are weird for everyone not just women. Go enough times and you'll get used to it.

After seeing so many women get awesome results lifting, I wanted to try too--but I was scared. Read this post and began trying to work up the confidence to move over to the squat rack. FInally after 3 weeks of hemming and hawing about it--I did it!! It was the best feeling. Totally fell in love, and have been going strong for 4 months now on StrongLifts. I am 45 years old. I have had a couple younger guys tell me I have great form on my squat, and let me say that is better than getting carded for alcohol!! It is scary to try something new, but the results are worth it!