Men, how do you feel when you see women in the

How do you do leg press on an assisted pull-up machine?

And I totally wore makeup to the gym yesterday.

You know how your knees go on the bench part? People put their FEET there and hold themselves up by the pull up bars and then push down with their feet. I saw this once, and I, too, was like "WTF?"

When I first started going into the "man cave", they just stared, after a week of just being watched, I got a nod, then a "hey", after another week, they asked me my name, another week, they asked me to leave the 125 on the squat rack so they could use it. Now we help each other all the time. Other girls look over from the Cardio Hell area longingly and I can see it in their eyes, they want to be brave and join us, but they never do...just me and the boys.

Much respect to the ladies that hit the weights and do the right lifts. They are the 1%s of their gender.

I think most women are intimidated by weight rooms which is really sad. Maybe gyms should do a women's only weight room and see how that goes. Have a trainer there to teach them proper form.

This is me! I wish someone could show me. I can't afford a personal training session once, let alone continual work with a trainer. I have only ever used the barbie weights, and that while doing a ball fitness class. I have no clue on form or what weight for which exercise. I took a group power class about 6 months ago, did half the class and then puked. Clearly doing something wrong, but with no knowlege, i am no about to try that again.

All the trainers I know if they are there and not with a client or their client is doing a cario burst on the treadmill or something are always willing to help people with their form. What they are thinking is "hey this person might not be able to have a personal training session right now but if I help them now and I am friendly they might be able to get sessions later." So go ahead and ask one if you are doing it correctly.

Ironic this topic was posted. I have a little story to share. Last night in my gym's free weight room, I was searching for the other pair of the 25 pound dumbbells to do my shoulder presses. There were 3 guys working out together. The first guy (who intimidates me) saw me searching and found the missing 25-pounder and nicely gave them to me. The second guy was lifting 15 pound dumbbells for his shoulders (I'm assuming he was injured perhaps-- he looked strong. I was surprised when I saw him lifting such low weight). The second guy jokingly made a comment "Do you want to use these?" (the 15 pounders). I felt humiliated and wanted to cry and physically felt like I was about to (in my mind I was thinking-- yep, that's exactly why I get bad anxiety walking into the weight room because I fear of comments like that). The third guy (whom I've always found intriguing and attractive) defended me and firmly said to the guy "That's f-ed up. That weight is too low." I couldn't believe it; that made me feel so special and respected (I'm usually the only girl in the free weight area). I'm not sure if he knew I heard him (I had my ipod on and back was facing him)...but I'd like to thank him for defending me..meant so much. It also made me feel special that these guys were paying attention to how much I'm lifting.

Aside from the physical transformation from lifting heavy from the past year, there's also been an emotional transformation. I'm 5'2, petite, shy, low self esteem, look very young for my age (25 but look like I'm in my teens still)....but the weight room has given me so much confidence...a high...a sense of feeling powerful...guys who show me respect. I was that girl in grade school who got picked last in PE class; was teased often; didn't have a date for senior prom; etc....but here I am lifting heavy with the big boys! I never imagined this would even happen! I love the double glances I sometimes get when they see a little girl in the free weight room...or the confusion...or trying to look at how much weight I'm lifting...or seeing a girl doing compound lifts..haha.

Well said.

I love lifting weights! And that goes for free weights, and using the machines. Unfortunately there are mostly men in the weight room, so I do get some odd/suprised looks sometimes when I'm the only woman pumpin iron with the dudes.

I got mad respect in HS for being able to squat more than the football players. Lol. Not so much now, 10 years later, but I'm thinking of adding some of DH's weights to my routine. Not doing it at the gym, though. Maybe when I'm in better shape.

It depends on what they're doing, and mind you this goes for both men and women. If I see a woman half-assing a work out on a piece of equipment I wouldn't mind using, then I just want them to hurry the hell up and get out of the way. However, if there's a woman who's benching/squatting/deadlifting more than me there....its all good.

To answer the original question, I think "please don't be a Pink Dumbbeller, please don't be a Pink Dumbbeller...."

And when/if she goes for something that isn't the 2.5 lber to do curls or presses, I smile to myself and return to what I was doing. If she does, then she's out of my memory like any of the other men & women on the cardio machines lazily strolling along while Facebooking on their phones. :huh:

Given that you have no idea what level that woman is at, or where she started out, I just don't understand why people look down on the "barbie dumbbells" so much. When I first started working out I would use cans of ravioli because it was what I had in the house to use. And that was HARD! I was that weak!! I now have sets of 2, 3, 5, 8, and 10 lb dumbbells at home, and I use what is appropriate for each exercise based on my current level of strength, buying a new, heavier set when my heavy ones start to feel light.

I get that some people just go for the light weights and do way too many reps with those and aren't making any progress, and that's obviously not desirable. But... you can't just assume that because she reaches for the "pink dumbbells" that she's someone who needs to be labeled as lazy. Everyone has to start somewhere, and unfortunately the fear of being judged this way keeps many people from starting at all. I'm still afraid of using the weights at the gym for this reason, so I do only cardio at the gym and I do strength at home.

same here
my upper body is very very week
and im afraid to start weight training because i WILL have to use pink dumbells.
so i do body pump class right now hoping that there, working out with other women, ill get to the point where i can lift enough not to be afraid to do it in men section
it's kind of sad, i know
i should get over this, i know
but i will be the only women there, the pressure is just to high.

how do i feel? i feel my shorts getting tighter.

As long as they're actually lifting and not in there just taking up space I think its awesome.

To answer the original question, I think "please don't be a Pink Dumbbeller, please don't be a Pink Dumbbeller...."

And when/if she goes for something that isn't the 2.5 lber to do curls or presses, I smile to myself and return to what I was doing. If she does, then she's out of my memory like any of the other men & women on the cardio machines lazily strolling along while Facebooking on their phones. :huh:

Given that you have no idea what level that woman is at, or where she started out, I just don't understand why people look down on the "barbie dumbbells" so much. When I first started working out I would use cans of ravioli because it was what I had in the house to use. And that was HARD! I was that weak!! I now have sets of 2, 3, 5, 8, and 10 lb dumbbells at home, and I use what is appropriate for each exercise based on my current level of strength, buying a new, heavier set when my heavy ones start to feel light.

I get that some people just go for the light weights and do way too many reps with those and aren't making any progress, and that's obviously not desirable. But... you can't just assume that because she reaches for the "pink dumbbells" that she's someone who needs to be labeled as lazy. Everyone has to start somewhere, and unfortunately the fear of being judged this way keeps many people from starting at all. I'm still afraid of using the weights at the gym for this reason, so I do only cardio at the gym and I do strength at home.

same here
my upper body is very very week
and im afraid to start weight training because i WILL have to use pink dumbells.
so i do body pump class right now hoping that there, working out with other women, ill get to the point where i can lift enough not to be afraid to do it in men section
it's kind of sad, i know
i should get over this, i know
but i will be the only women there, the pressure is just to high.

I agree with this. I feel like a huge douche because I still have to do knee pushups, but I do em anyway because that's the only way I'll ever work up to regular push ups. Baby steps, everybody has to start somewhere!

kinda tingly

I have respect for anyone wanting to improve themselves !