I am the woman in the freeweights section of the gym

I just want to pop in to tell everyone here that because of these boards and all the amazing success stories I've seen on here, I decided to start lifting with free weights. So Friday night I went to the gym and walked right up to the squat rack and started doing squats with the bar. Yeah, I was a little intimidated and yeah I was a little concerned I looked stupid but as I looked around I realized that no one cared what I was doing. And it was great.

Special bonus - when I finished with my squats, every squat rack was busy and they were all filled with women. And most of those ladies were lifting serious weight.

Get it girls. I can squat more than my 220 lb boyfriend and he brags about that to people. Benching is another story, a sad story :sad: but I keep at it even though it feels impossible sometimes.

I can bench 40 lbs and that's it. I have am not good balancing the bar. I need to spend more time on the bench to get better. :grumble:

How's your form? I find arching my back so that just my lats and butt are touching the bench allows me to lift a lot more weight than I thought I was capable of. I figured this out by watching videos of 130 pound powerlifting women benching 300 lbs.

Please excuse me but I have not read everybody's post or reply's but I used to work in a gym so here's my take on things.......

.First of all a lot of guys will feel intimidated by the girls who have the brass to walk into the free weights area

. Secondly they will also feel intimidated if you walk in and start squatting like a mean machine or doing any kind of technical exercise not only with perfect technique and full range of movement but also with some weight on.

.Thirdly to reach your goal you should be prepared to do what ever it takes - Which is more than chest and biceps lol, more than half the guys in the free weights area will be wearing track suit or jogging bottoms - there is a reason for that lol!

.If you have a good body and feel a bit intimidated in that way with young men looking at you my advice would be to square up to them in front of everybody and ask them if they want a picture, tell them your only willing to do this as an exchange deal...... For example if you have a good rack or nice bum tell um you'll do a pic exchange for there quads lol, Then watch there face deflate like a led zepplin.

The guys who look good probably do so as they put a lot of time in and train correctly - unless there on juice of course but if they are training properly and have a full look about them there vanity will overpower watching you lol

You could also wear some loose clothing and ditch the make-up, Speaking from personal preference I always had and still have time for the girls with no make up, Its not a fashion show, You don't care about the blonde on the Cross trainer who is caked up in make-up updating updating to facebook and instagram every five minutes in between wiping every little drop of sweat away as god forbid it could make her make up run!

Train properly you will attract attention but the right kind from people in the know, People will approach you and start correcting your technique, you can then build up a rapport and maybe even get a quality training partner.

Just my take on things and yes I am looking for somebody as committed as me in the Leicestershire area lol. That's the UK! - But I have a passport and a sports holdall so can travel!

Keep it real, Train Hard and UP THERE'S lol!!!

I have never been intimidated to enter the gym room because "girls don't go there."

I've been intimidated from a general lack of knowledge, my personal goals, and body image issues (something that has kept me out of the gym, too).

My personal goals are not to be a body builder. Personally, I don't get why women want to be body builders, but each her own. But weight machines have seized to provide any benefit to my workouts to where I don't get stronger on the appropriate weight and still can't do the next weight. I've seen more improvements in my physique & strength and felt like I was accomplishing something learning to do free weights.

I have no desire to do heavy lifting, I have no desire to enter the swimsuit competition, I'm not cross-fit or whatever. I just want increased strength and a stronger metabolism. I want to be FIT.

I loved this post!

I just started with a trainer on Monday and he took me straight to the free weights. I was completely intimidated! It doesn't help that on his off time, he is a drill sergeant.... Anyway - Once my legs stop shaking I'll be back in the free weight section trying it again. I just hope it doesn't take me as long to recover!

Bodybuilding. Com can help you out with how to properly lift and different types of
exercises.

I don't know what's the big deal about being a woman in the weights room actually. I never feel intimidated. I've never got bad stares, I just got some compliments:)

In for the Free weights and myth busting! Personally, I love being in the Free weight section. I've been working with a trainer for almost a year now and I've made serious gains on my lifts. For example, when we last tested I deadlifted 225#, that's an increase of 100#'s since I started. There is a group of really great guys at my gym who are super helpful and very courteous.

I have an appointment with a trainer tonight to show me around the free weight section. I'm still nervous though. This post has helped me though.

I'm been going to the free weights section for several weeks now, and I have to be honest - sometimes I still get a little nervous when I notice on I'm the only woman over there. But just like it's easier for me to go over if there is a woman there already, I think it's easier for other woman to come over as well.

In particular, I feel very lucky because the guys there have never made me feel "rushed" just because there is a shortage of equipment, etc. They will bug each other but tend to let the women have their space and have whatever they want. But that might just be a Texas thing. I go to a Gold's Gym.