The real reason lots of women avoid weight training...

Awkward30
Awkward30 Posts: 1,927 Member
edited October 1 in Fitness and Exercise
So I went up to the weight room tonight intent on pushing my weights up so that I could no longer comfortably do 12 reps. While I was up there, some guy started talking to me and he seemed nice, so I was friendly... But then he followed me to every machine telling me the "right" way to use it... And giving me advice that I didn't want: like I should lower my weights and do higher reps to get cut. And last but not least came the ever cheesy "it's hard to workout when beautiful women like you are around"

I had to leave because I couldn't work out! Thanks for the ego boost, but sheesh... I have a personal trainer for advice, don't need you!

Replies

  • Kelly_Wilson1990
    Kelly_Wilson1990 Posts: 3,245 Member
    or the gym period!
  • dracobaby82
    dracobaby82 Posts: 380 Member
    Wow that's hard :( Never had anything like that happen, then again don't use the weightroom because I really don't know what I'm doing in there, and don't want to hurt myself LOL but ya that would be frustrating!
  • hazelnut861
    hazelnut861 Posts: 390 Member
    Right! Lol. Or assuming that the weight plates are just so heavy they have to stop what they're doing to help you lol. It's just the way they are :)
  • Erykah3584
    Erykah3584 Posts: 324 Member
    Thats why I dont go to the gym period! I took a tour of the gym that I was considering going to and there was nothing but guys there! There was a "womans" section upstairs and it was so small! Plus the rooms (where they held classes like zumba and kickboxing) had glass walls so everybody could see in. I didnt like that. :(
  • xraychick77
    xraychick77 Posts: 1,775 Member
    i've never seen this happen..perhaps get a better gym
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,990 Member
    So I went up to the weight room tonight intent on pushing my weights up so that I could no longer comfortably do 12 reps. While I was up there, some guy started talking to me and he seemed nice, so I was friendly... But then he followed me to every machine telling me the "right" way to use it... And giving me advice that I didn't want: like I should lower my weights and do higher reps to get cut. And last but not least came the ever cheesy "it's hard to workout when beautiful women like you are around"

    I had to leave because I couldn't work out! Thanks for the ego boost, but sheesh... I have a personal trainer for advice, don't need you!
    Schmuck. Obviously he wasn't there to workout. I workout by beautiful women all the time. I only notice them when I leave though.
  • RoanneRed
    RoanneRed Posts: 429 Member
    I own a small gym and have one 'casual' exerciser who insists on complimenting me on how I'm looking (even when nothing's changed) - sometimes when I'm looking particularly unattractive in my workout gear and doing squats and lunges!

    I'm waiting for the next time it happens so I can explain to him that he should NEVER comment on how a woman looks while she's working out and probably not even outside the gym if it implies that he was looking IN the gym - for crying out loud, the whole reason women only gyms exist is because the vast majority of women don't want to feel men are purving on them while they're exercising!
  • taso42_DELETED
    taso42_DELETED Posts: 3,394 Member
    Sheesh, that sounds annoying. Maybe try something like telling him, "thanks, I think I can manage on my own". Or, "thanks. no offense but I can't chat with you. I'm concentrating on my routine". If it continues, complain to management.
  • wendybird5
    wendybird5 Posts: 577 Member
    I love weight training, but I do admit to sometimes feeling so awkward being surround by guys that sometimes I try to be more butch than I am.

    One time I dropped a weight on my foot. I was in so much pain, but because I was surrounded by guys and was trying not to be a girly-girl, I pretended like nothing had happened, picked up the weight, put it away and continued to work out for ten more minutes. Finally I went into the locker room, took off my shoe and my toe was a bloody mess. A woman who had happened to see it happen while she was on a cardio machine told me that if it had been her, she would have just screamed and cried.

    But I love the results I get with weights so much, I won't let anyone scare me off.
  • shelbym87
    shelbym87 Posts: 122 Member
    Hahaha sounds like you had a run in with the growing population of creepers! Aka creepasaurus. I live in Fresno, CA and girl let me tell you that's all we've got! I don't even use my gym membership because there are always jersey shore cast wannabes trying to talk. I'm out of breathe and sweaty, I'm more likely to punch you than talk to you. •sigh• this is why I do DVDs.
  • VegGrrl
    VegGrrl Posts: 336 Member
    If you want to be super nice, all you have to do is look at your watch (or the clock) and say "Wow, I really need to get this workout done! So maybe we can chat another time. Nice talking to you!" and stare at him 'til he leaves, or you can walk away.

    Or you could be more blunt and say exactly what you posted - "Thanks for the advice but I have a trainer and I'm really happy with him/her!" Then stare at him 'til he walks away, or you can walk away.

    Or better yet, you could just look so focused and/or intimidating that no one will even try that cheezy *kitten* with you. (That last one works best IMO.)

    I hate the thought of women being "afraid" of the the weight room or the gym because of crap like this! Assert yourselves, ladies! We need to be hitting the weights and we shouldn't be allowing anyone to stop us from doing so...
  • ChantalGG
    ChantalGG Posts: 2,404 Member
    I dont understand the problem? lol

    I would of just told him thanks but i can handle it.
  • RoanneRed
    RoanneRed Posts: 429 Member

    Or better yet, you could just look so focused and/or intimidating that no one will even try that cheezy *kitten* with you. (That last one works best IMO.)
    Yep - don't make eye contact, you never know who's a weirdo!
  • manjingirl
    manjingirl Posts: 188 Member
    Please don't let them put you off. I had two guys start telling me how to lift weights so I asked them if they were qualified and were they allowed to be acting as PTs in the gym? Well they didn't like it much, but one of them came over later and apologised! I refuse to be put off my health program because some people think they know everything.
  • avaloneternal
    avaloneternal Posts: 216
    I just wear my headphones. I work in customer service and am antisocial when I workout. No one approaches me ;P
  • Missevanston
    Missevanston Posts: 361 Member
    Sounds like you have gotten some great advice! Stay focused, nose to the grindstone, and look like you are not trying to talk to someone, just there to get your work out done....

    Following you around is a bit over the top, yuck! Report him!
  • tonilizzy88
    tonilizzy88 Posts: 920 Member
    I just wear my headphones. I work in customer service and am antisocial when I workout. No one approaches me ;P

    snap i even have them in walking from machine to machine.... however my gym has 2 floors and upstairs is were the men tend to workout as its free weights and down stairs is massive and full of cariod machines and 'woman' weights. its the first gym ive ever been a member of that i like. designed well.
  • BuffTexan
    BuffTexan Posts: 270
    I agree with buffniner.. the gym is for working out, it's not a coffee shop to talk about the days' events. I go in, do my exercises, and leave. Lots of pretty women all around but who cares?! About the most I've said to a woman is just asking her if she's using the bench I would like to use, as to not be rude.

    I know this may be weird, but telling the staff is the best way to make that guy stop. Once he gets on the radar of the employees, he's toast if he keeps bugging women.
  • Jenlwb
    Jenlwb Posts: 682 Member
    Ewwww skeevy dude. Makes me feel lucky that in my part of the world there is always a separate women's gym! Anyway I always give off such an unapproachable vibe in those situations, and wear headphones, that only the most moronic even try. Then I have fun getting rid of them....!
  • Fit_ClaudiaQ
    Fit_ClaudiaQ Posts: 95
    & that's why I go to an ALL WOMENS gym..
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    You know what's kind of funny, yesterday there was a thread from a male poster ranting about women not working out their legs. It began with him offering "help" to a woman at the gym and being told "no thanks, I just run". Then there was a rant (his words) about women not doing strength leg exercises, when it's just as likely that she was simply blowing off his unwanted advice. Men!!
  • arw060310
    arw060310 Posts: 256 Member
    AMEN! I completely agree with this. All the gyms I have free access too I can't go to! They are full of soldiers (Army post) and they make me uncomfortable =[ It's unfortunate
  • cheri0627
    cheri0627 Posts: 369 Member
    That's one of the things I really like about my gym. It's not a traditional gym with equipment and such, but a CrossFit box with Spin and Kettlebell classes. At this point, all of the trainers are women. There are a lot of men that come to classes, but none of them have that attitude at all.

    AND

    I'm taking an Olympic weightlifting class. It's almost always women only that attend. I think in the last 2.5 months, there have been men in the class three times. I love it. Strong women learning to do something cool and different.
  • dad106
    dad106 Posts: 4,868 Member
    or the gym period!

    Thats a little harsh.. Gyms are wonderful places if you can find the right one and don't mind working out with others around.

    Op:
    Sorry that happened to you. Me personally, would have told he creep to F-Off and went about my business. I did have a guy follow me from the cardio area to the studio once where i do my free weights and I was a bit freaked out by it. If it happens again, go talk to one of the staff members.
  • AnnaPixie
    AnnaPixie Posts: 7,439 Member
    You need to be more assertive girly, just tell the guy politely that you prefer to workout alone! I'm sure he would leave you alone after that. The curse of being beautiful I suppose :wink:

    Good luck :flowerforyou:
  • ClaireShepherd
    ClaireShepherd Posts: 9
    I always have ear phones in and stare past people - sometimes I don't even have an mp3 player attached :O)

    I go to the gym to work out not to make friends or anything else!
  • HappyHealthyHolly
    HappyHealthyHolly Posts: 84 Member
    Try not to let him bug you too much. There's a lot of great advice here!

    I'm definitely a fan of headphones! Even if there's no music playing at the moment, I still leave them in!

    If someone tries to talk to me & I'm not interested I do my best to be polite & get involved in something, quickly!

    If all else fails, I just say, "Thanks, but I got this!" And then show them up!
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