Weight room intimidation

What exactly is/are the issue(s)? Intimidation is sort of a generic term. Perhaps listing the actual things will help. Although I am male, when I was young (late teens and 20s) and really out of shape, I found the guys in the weight room intimidating because I thought they would look down on me. What I discovered when I actually decided I would do it regardless of my feelings was that the two basic responses were 1) Not paying any attention to me because they were busy with their own workouts. 2) Being very friendly, encouraging and helpful. In short, just do it.

I understand the feeling as I felt this way even as a guy going over to the weight section for the first time a couple of years ago. The thing you just have to realize is that, most people there aren't worried about you. They might notice that you're there, but they're probably not going to talk to you. My recommendation would just to be, go when there are fewer people there. At my gym, that means I go first thing in the morning before work. The more comfortable you get with the space, where all of the bars are at, etc..., the more comfortable you'll be around others in that space as well. Just my $0.02

I belonged to my gym for 4 months before I was brave enough to start using the weights regularly. I was actually afraid to go. I have had some very bad experiences with "jock" types in the past.

These things really helped me:

Make an appointment with a trainer. It's much easier to feel confident when you have a routine to concentrate on and you know that you are doing it correctly.

Find a friend to work out with. It's way easier if you have a supportive partner.

Remember that MANY of the people at the gym started out timid and pudgy, too! You just can't tell which ones! I like to imagine that they are thinking, "Wow, she's really trying hard, good for her". I have had a few people even say stuff like that to me and be very supportive.

It gets easier to go very quickly. After only a couple of weeks, I stopped worrying about what other people were doing and started to enjoy myself because it feels SO GOOD to get stronger and stronger!

I totally understand this fear! I'm basically in the same place.

I don't know what your schedule is like, but I discovered that my gym is the least populated around 8-10 on weeknights. And weekend afternoons around 3-4 its like a ghost town so that's when I try to do my weight training.

I'm in the stage right now where I've been looking the equipment in the gym and learning how it works, trying it out for a bit etc. Just exploring at this point. I'm a hands on kind of girl!

Between researching on my own and trying out equipment and exercises I'm building a routine for myself that works.

Yes. This is me. I'm doing Strong Curves too, and I can't bring myself to writhe underneath a barbell at the gym to do barbell glute bridges, so I'm stuck at bodyweight glute bridges at home. I go to a super friendly gym, and I'm afraid someone will try to help me.

WHAT everyone here has said... part of creating a healthy lifestyle is developing the confidence to embrace new and uncomfortable situations...overcoming these barriers may seem difficult, but the more you seek out and overcome them, the greater your confidence and self worth become. Which will give you the emotional character to seek out even more challenging goals. YOU have made great strides just to be where you are now... it is a small thing to cross that line, take a spot at a bench or on a rack and look in that mirror to get your "stuff" done. the benefits far outweigh the negatives...that being said...I definitely recommend that before you grab some free weights... work the major muscle groups on the machines for a few weeks until you have created some balanced strength... IE so that both your right side and left side are equally strong... I also recommend walking lunges... to start...nothing builds confidence like walking with balance

most people, including men are intimidated by new things. i started lifting again about 3 years ago and yes, i was intimidated as it had been a long time and i knew i was going to be starting off with some pretty puny weights relatively speaking.

i just looked at it kind of like getting into a cold swimming pool...best thing you can do is just jump in. my first session was a Saturday morning right when the gym opened at 5 AM. I wasn't alone, but there were very few people there and it allowed me to get more comfortable with the environment and re-familiarize myself with the equipment. by the end of the hour i was kind of kicking myself for not getting in their sooner because really, it was a non event.

Anything new is going to feel odd at first. I did feel a bit apprehensive about it, but I'm over it now. I worked my way into it buy going at off times at first so I could get acclimated to everything and not have crowds of people around me. That's a big part of the hurdle... just getting comfortable being there and with the equipment.

Beyond that, yeah....no one is paying attention to you. People will look around at others while they rest (I do too), but that's all it is. Simply killing a minute before the next set.

Just get in there a few times and you'll be good to go.

listen if guys in a gym are annoying you it's normally kids 15 to 19 dont let it influence you, any respecable lifter or pretty much anyone who's serious about what they do won't look your way.

cnbbnc wrote: »

Anything new is going to feel odd at first. I did feel a bit apprehensive about it, but I'm over it now. I worked my way into it buy going at off times at first so I could get acclimated to everything and not have crowds of people around me. That's a big part of the hurdle... just getting comfortable being there and with the equipment.

Beyond that, yeah....no one is paying attention to you. People will look around at others while they rest (I do too), but that's all it is. Simply killing a minute before the next set.

Just get in there a few times and you'll be good to go.

Exactly what I was going to say. Go at off times when it's not too crowded just so you can try things out without such an "audience" I.e., less people there to see you if you, say, bang your head on something, stand backward in the squat rack (is that a thing?), or fumble around getting the weights on the bar for deadlift. Truly, once you go a couple of times, you will be able to act like you own it. Then you can go during your normal time, and feel like a pro.

quiksylver296 wrote: »

Just dive in. Once you get past your own mental-block, you'll find you were nervous about nothing. Rock that weight room!

This!

It was hard for me at first because I'm pretty damn insecure. It took some time to get over the insecurities, but its totally worth it.

And like I reminded my wife, everyone has an equal right to the equipment whether you're squatting the bar or squatting 500lbs, you just have to go in and do it!

lithezebra wrote: »

Yes. This is me. I'm doing Strong Curves too, and I can't bring myself to writhe underneath a barbell at the gym to do barbell glute bridges, so I'm stuck at bodyweight glute bridges at home. I go to a super friendly gym, and I'm afraid someone will try to help me.

Really? I would think the cable pull throughs are the most uncomfortable things in that program. That's literally the only thing I'm not keen on trying in the weight room.

Anyway, don't be intimidated by other lifters. We all start somewhere. When I see someone new I just get excited for them.

I was the only woman in the weight room today; maybe 6 men in there. Today was deadlift day...I may or may not have screamed and peed my pants. Eh, the wet spot wasn't that visible. Anyway, my point is...walk in like a boss and pee yourself if you must.

^^ that really made me laugh.

lithezebra wrote: »

Yes. This is me. I'm doing Strong Curves too, and I can't bring myself to writhe underneath a barbell at the gym to do barbell glute bridges, so I'm stuck at bodyweight glute bridges at home. I go to a super friendly gym, and I'm afraid someone will try to help me.

I do my hip thrusts in a corner. But I do them! I use a 40 lb preloaded bar right now (I should and probably could do more but I haven't seen a spare ollie bar anywhere...) I've seen one other girl doing them with a 20 lb kettlebell. It's empowering! And I hope other ladies in the gym see us and feel brave enough to do them too. But the first time I did them was on the Friday after Thanksgiving when there were like 5 people in the whole gym, which brings me to my advice for the OP-

If you can't meet with a trainer, you could ask a gym employee when their slow times are. This might mean you have to go on a Friday night or a Saturday/Sunday morning, but if you can go and run your program while there aren't a lot of other people in the gym you can take your time to learn where all the weights are, how to use/adjust all the machines, etc. then you'll feel more confident going when there are more people at the gym.