I am the woman in the freeweights section of the gym

Reading this thread thread helped me walk into the free weights section of my gym during the first week of May to start Stronglifts 5x5. I was so nervous on the first day that I wanted to throw up.

Fast forward to 8 weeks later... and now the men that used to curl in the squat rack see me walk in at 5am, clear their weight plates off the bar, and GTFO of my way

the only thing sexier than a girl walking into the weight room, is a girl walking out all pumped up!

When I go to a new gym I can usually tell the women that use free weights by their facial expressions. Women that use free weights almost always exude a look of confidence. I have never met a woman that used free weights that didn't love going to the gym. I've met many women who just do cardio machines and they seem to usually have a look of dread on their faces. They even walk differently. Go use the free weights, they will help you, but most importantly realize that you belong there, that you are a winner, and that you refuse to lose. Don't be intimidated, we were all beginners at one time. Go in their like you OWN the place!!!!

Well, my gym is a kind of old school and guys on weights are really experts to the last detail, some of them even compete in weightlifting. I'm glad to be there! Sometimes I feel kinda like a moron but never mind...

When I was younger, my friend and I would go to the gym with her mom. Basically we played in the pool and ate at the snack shack while said mom did the treadmill and stair climber. From that point up until the recent past, gyms have always felt like the place where men went to lift and grunt and women went to cardio and scowl. I know it's not the case as much now, but it's definitely hard to break away from the notions and what once was the norm.

I know now, lifting will be an absolute must in order for me to reach the level of fitness I desire. The machines have never looked like fun (wipe sweat off, apply sweat, wipe sweat off) but the free weights have always intrigued me. I feel as if they look like they would do you more good if done correctly as you have to be in control of every aspect of the exercise, likely developing things like better coordination, posture, and balance.

Reading this topic has absolutely boosted my desire to try and I have a gym that is open at midnight (when I get off work) so the chances of weights/lifting situation being available and unintimidating are very good. I know what it's like to feel a lot fitter/stronger than my current state, but I've never known the wonder that is regular strength training strong. Sounds lovely.

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!