Ladies - crossing the line into the free weights room

LollipopViolet
LollipopViolet Posts: 121 Member
edited November 12 in Fitness and Exercise
OK, I've been doing a lot of stuff with dumbbells recently, and enjoying it. But I got my best results and most enjoyment when using a 10kg barbell. In my old gym, not a problem, we had an integrated weights area and it was always quiet.

My new gym, I have a problem.

It's a totally separate free weights area - full of men who look like they could pick me up and bench me. I'm a little scared to go in there.

But, I want my heavy lifting days back (yes, for me, 10kg is heavy!). So, come on, tell me it won't be so bad, that the guys won't be staring at the 5 foot 2, 177lb girl attempting squats and lunges and whatever else I can think of... actually, anyone got any more ideas of what to do with a barbell? Preferably stuff that doesn't require a spotter as I don't have one...

I go to the gym tomorrow, I am fairly certain right now, that I will go in there, I'm just nervous!

Replies

  • UponThisRock
    UponThisRock Posts: 4,519 Member
    Careful, it makes you grow chest hair.
  • three36love
    three36love Posts: 38 Member
    I just suck it up and venture over there. Most of the guys are nice, or will just ignore you. My fitness means more to me than feeling like an idiot in front of them. who knows, maybe you'll make friends!
  • jtintx
    jtintx Posts: 445 Member
    If they're anything like the guys at my gym they're too busy looking at themselves in the mirror to notice anyone else. :-)
  • MonkeyFlower
    MonkeyFlower Posts: 92 Member
    It will be fine…they will all probably be very friendly and actually impressed that a 5”2 girl has ventured over there :smile:

    Do know how you feel though…way waaaaay back in my pre children days I used to be into doing weights and I could deadlift 100kg as a 5”4 woman (was impressive for me )…and I still used to get really nervous going into the weights side of the gym…so silly but I used to get embarrassed by all the grunting noises I made while trying to lift the heavy weights!

    BUT no one ever did laugh at me and they wont at you - go in there make some noise and do your weights and then you can swagger back to the other side of the gym…you might even find you motivate some other women to come over to the dark side ;-)

    In fact you have totally just motivated me to start up weights again!! :love:
  • CoryIda
    CoryIda Posts: 7,870 Member
    I was *terrified* of the free weights. Every time I went into the gym, I would stare longingly at them while I did my thing on the machines.
    The machines serve a purpose, but they are NOT the same, and I wanted SOOOO badly to do free weights.
    I was too chicken until a friend offered to come with me and show me the ropes.
    It was fabulous and I was hooked, and the other people there don't care what you look like, although there were a couple of really nice men who came and helped me with my form.

    I can't wait for the hot date I have planned with the free weights after work today.
  • gemmaldavies
    gemmaldavies Posts: 379
    I just suck it up and venture over there. Most of the guys are nice, or will just ignore you. My fitness means more to me than feeling like an idiot in front of them. who knows, maybe you'll make friends!

    i agree. or they r 2 busy looking at themselves. 2 b honest i bet if u asked their advice if u needed it (proper technique) they wud b more than willing 2 show/help u. dnt b shy. u may find the odd d1ck but just ignore them - not worth ur effort. i know what u mean thou it is daunting but people r 2 worried about themselves. let us no how u get on ;o)
  • seekingstrengthX2
    seekingstrengthX2 Posts: 771
    If they're anything like the guys at my gym they're too busy looking at themselves in the mirror to notice anyone else. :-)


    Yes... this. Dont worry about it. I used to be scared to, now I act like I belong. They will secretly admire that you have the balls to be over there. :)
  • LollipopViolet
    LollipopViolet Posts: 121 Member
    Well, I did it!

    Unfortunately, I'm nowhere near as strong as I was last year (not working out regularly = bad!) and couldn't even manage 10kgs, so it was back to the dumbbells upstairs til I get some of my strength back!

    It actually wasn't too bad in there, I went at a quiet time though.
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