Chicks on the Boys side of the Gym....

I was intimidated the first two workouts. Part of it was the macho man territory but most of it was that I didn't know what the heck I was doing and unlike women classes, I didn't want to look like a fool here. That wasn't gonna stop me. I went in with a plan and my book. It was obvious I was new.

Yeah, 2 things happened that were slightly embarassing. I realized I had to do WALL push ups in front of everyone. The second is I didn't yet know about the power cage so my first time out I decided to just try squatting with a barbell by itself. It wasn't challenging on my legs but I cringed when I realized I couldn't lift the 45lb weight off my shoulders to get it back to the squat rack. Luckily I figured out that I could turn it sideways and lift it back into position that way. Crisis adverted. I should have asked for help. I kinda did. I mentioned it to someone on MFP and he alerted me about the power cage. MUCH BETTER!

By the end of my second workout, I started to feel comfortable and knew what to do. I relaxed.

Every B workout day, I actually talk to the big manly guys. Why? I'm too short to put back the swiss ball. I can bump it out to get it down but when I throw it up, it bounces all over the room.

Even though I was very intimidated at first, that didn't stop me from asking if I could watch someone because he just happened to be showing someone else how to perform the move I was going to do next. (I cross checked it with my book too). Thank goodness I did because I found out there are clamps that you can put at the end of the weights to keep them on the bar! Who knew!

Now I'm actually enjoying being in the room. Today I picked up a good tip too!

For the guy who goes to aerobics classes, I do admit I watch the guys when they come. It's cute. (Don't hate me for that word). I'm secretly impressed they are doing it. Classes like Zumba where everyone modifies and has looked like a fool at one point or another, I'm doubly impressed. I like having guys in there. By the way, it's not about what you look like, it is about your confidence and even better if you seem to be enjoying yourself.

One guy came to yoga one day and was a bit lost so I went and got a mat for him. Just last Friday I ran into him again. He saw me searching for equipment and without me asking, he returned the favor.

My whole gym is a boys side. It's a powerlifters/bodybuilders gym and I think in 2 years I've seen a woman there about 10 times, only 1 looked regular/serious (I think she's somewhere else now) the rest were just there just to tag along with their bf's/husbands by the look of it.

I guess I felt a bit shy at first, but I went with my bf and that helped a lot. By myself I probably would've chosen a different gym. After a bit though I started going by myself, especially when my bf's work schedule would always clash with mine, I've HAVE to go myself or not at all.

They all know me there now, say hi to me and some I speak to quite regularly about training and stuff. One guy asked me to spot him the other day on bench (which made me happy to be asked, for the first time) and I've asked random guys to spot me loads of time, they all have no problem with it.

Basically it's all good, as long as your serious about it they won't care, and you may make some new gym buddies From my experience in other gyms too, the guys are always nicer and easier to talk to anyway.

I don't believe that there is a "Boys" side to a gym.

My gym is gigantic so there are a few different areas, including a women's weight area. However, I refuse to use that part. I LOVE lifting with the boys. It definitely took some getting used to, and was super intimidating, but I really frustrated using the smaller training area as it didn't have all the stuff I needed. Just hold your head up tall and rock it out!

At my gym, women can come into the weight section AFTER they have asked permission from each male member currently working in the area.

This is standard practice at my gym as well.

LOL!! Can you believe anyone actually took this seriously??

Much less seriously enough to write a freaking comment in reply with 90% caps in it?

Excellent trolling my friend .

I prefer the boys side. All the men/boys at my gym have been super helpful I started lifting a few months ago and had NO CLUE what I was doing at all. I walked in all the stations where currently in use so I just stood beside the first one and asked if I could watch to see form and once I said that they offered to walk me threw the stations and I NOW have no problem at all asking for a spot Love the men and boys at my gym ( Its a YMCA gym so lots of high school boys along with adults ) all very sweet and helpful.

I never looked at any of the gyms I've belonged to as being segregated this way. Cardio isn't just for girls as weights aren't just for males. I understand some being intimidated, but that thinking is a little silly. I prefer to lift and couldn't care less what a dude thinks. I pay just as much for my membership. I've also seen some guys who need a lesson or 2 in lifting.

There are a lot of female bodybuilders at my gym so there really isn't a "boy's side" just a cardio side and a weight lifting side

I think it is a little intimidating, especially since I'm not very familiar with a lot of the machines. I have an iPhone app called iPTrainer and it give me a work out each time I use it, some of the things it has me do I'm like really with people around think I'll edit that exercise. There are not a whole lot of people in the gym when I go at 0415-0430 hrs. but still is mostly if not all men in the weight room.

This seems like an odd gym. At every gym I've been to, there's a Men's and Women's label on the locker rooms and restrooms....and no where else. Certainly not in any section of the workout areas. In 20 years of lifting, I've never heard any man refer to the free weight side as the Men's area, and during that same time I've never looked at a women and thought GTFO and I've never heard another male say anything to a woman along those lines. Never. Ever.

Ladies, I'm going to suggest it's in your head. I'm betting if someone you know referred to the free weight section it was another female, not a male, and certainly not an employed of the gym. And the "what are you doing over here" looks I'm seeing in some of these posts? Those are probably just looks, not GTFO Looks or anything like that. The human eye tracks movement, so we look at you when you're in there the same way we look at another guy who's lifting around us. You see a person, maybe make a mental note of they are doing something curious and move on. We don't have blinders on and there's a lot of downtime between sets so you will look at other people around you.

I'm not insensitive. I do get that women may understandably be uncomfortable and possibly intimidate in that environment. But trust me, we don't care. Come on in, set up your station, and get your workout on just like we are.

The reason why women tend to avoid the 'boy's side?

Because when you use the machines you are no longer part of a crowd.

If I'm taking a step class and I fall off, or kick the step across the room (both of which happen often) -- I can feel anonymous in the group.

If I mess up on the machines, everyone will see/know.

If I'm taking a class and feel like going half speed on some of the moves, I'm still moving.

On the machines, you can't dog it.

When I take a class, if I don't get the moves right away, I can fake it and watch what others do until I get it.

On the machines, it's just me.

The classes are scheduled, so if I don't go I will miss it.

Machines are self-propelled; easier to put off going.

When I take a class, I don't feel as if I am holding up anyone else's workout -- no-one is waiting for me to finish so they can have my spot.

Machines? Thought we were talking about the weights room?

My gym is huge, and it usually seems like there are just as many women in the weight area as men. Sure, there are women who just do cardio or go to group classes, but men do that as well. I personally don't get the whole intimidation thing when it comes to women lifting at the gym. We pay our dues just like the bros, so what's the big deal?

I don't find it too intimidating. I think the best thing to do is to just focus on say 3 or 4 machines at a time and rotate. I hate when people come into the weights area and they jump from machine to machine and then 15 machines later they are all dirty. When people see you are serious about it they take you serious

The reason why women tend to avoid the 'boy's side?

Because when you use the machines you are no longer part of a crowd.

If I'm taking a step class and I fall off, or kick the step across the room (both of which happen often) -- I can feel anonymous in the group.

If I mess up on the machines, everyone will see/know.

If I'm taking a class and feel like going half speed on some of the moves, I'm still moving.

On the machines, you can't dog it.

When I take a class, if I don't get the moves right away, I can fake it and watch what others do until I get it.

On the machines, it's just me.

The classes are scheduled, so if I don't go I will miss it.

Machines are self-propelled; easier to put off going.

When I take a class, I don't feel as if I am holding up anyone else's workout -- no-one is waiting for me to finish so they can have my spot.

Machines? Thought we were talking about the weights room?

In the weight room, you are the machine!

:laugh:

i like this