women and free weights area in the gym

beggars_bush · 15-11-2012 10:31PM

WHIP IT! wrote: »

Totally. As a lifetime GAA player myself, what really makes me scratch my head is the amount of lads who wear their GAA socks in the gym?! Why?!

maybe they like the socks.

dirty sleeveless tee-shirts/vests

hate the sight of them.
at least the GAA lads have washed before they come in.

beggars_bush · 15-11-2012 10:32PM

rubadub wrote: »

I would say they are just curious about what you are up to, rather than the lack of weight. I doubt many are doing lunges. One of the few times I was in a gym I got lads looking at me doing chinups on a squat rack with have a specific knurled chinning bar on it, I figured they just never saw people do it before (they were not waiting to use it either).

negative pull ups.

that always gets me funny looks.

boogle · 15-11-2012 11:44PM

Stench Blossoms wrote: »

It's more than likely just my gym. How do I say this.... there em, isn't many Irish people there so maybe that has something to do with it?

Have to agree with you here. I've had a few smirks and impatient sighing/toe-tapping while I'm using bench etc. BUT it's only ever been from non-Irish men. In fact, a few of the Irish lads in my gym have been very friendly when I'm in the weights section - offering to spot me and general chat etc.

Nervous Wreck · 16-11-2012 12:47AM

Lots more women lifting in Raw these days. Great to see. Especially the odd one or two who can out-squat most of the lads in the gym. Gas.

Mellor · 16-11-2012 09:07AM

WHIP IT! wrote: »

Totally. As a lifetime GAA player myself, what really makes me scratch my head is the amount of lads who wear their GAA socks in the gym?! Why?!

Possibly for deadlifts

hollypink · 16-11-2012 10:16AM

Just an update; went back to the gym last night to go through my program with an instructor and as I was leaving I spotted a woman barbell bench pressing and then squatting in the squat rack. And this morning, another woman was doing squats and deadlifts. So between that and the responses on this thread (thanks guys), I'm feeling a bit more confident

WHIP IT! · 16-11-2012 10:40AM

Mellor wrote: »

Possibly for deadlifts

If it is I've never seen it! A gaa-sock-wearing gaa man doing dead lifts that is...

Furious_George · 16-11-2012 10:53AM

Stench Blossoms wrote: »

Nah unfortunately it's not just me. I was there with a friend and she thought the same. We spoke to the manager about it and he said that they are aware of the problem but can't really see any quick solution to fix it.

One girl was there once and wanted to do a squat. Having only just started lifting weights she decided to try it with just the bar. Sniggers and laughing from the other people there. Was horrible.

Edit: Just to add. I go to another gym to do personal training sessions (it's not a full gym, just a class based gym) and use the free weights there. I like to lift 'heavy' but wouldn't be comfortable doing it in my regular gym when it's busy.

I would be absolutely amazed by any sort of sniggering in free weights section. I have been in various gyms over last ten years and never experienced this. Im a guy and at times have been pretty big from weights. I currently am training kickboxing so i am a bit lighter and occasionally i would do squats or the likes with just the bar just to work on technique, conditioning or warming up for other exercises. Now if people were going to snigger at anyone for squatting with just the bar id imagine itd be the 6'3'' 15 stone lad not the lady.

My gf feels the same tho with free weights. Not realising that the lads are prob just admiring her (polite way of saying checking her out) not judging how she lifts weights.

Sugar Free · 16-11-2012 11:34AM

I would echo the others, personally never seen any sniggering, rolling of eyes or any other type of arsehole behaviour.

On the other hand, I've often got odd looks from other guys when I do certain exercises. I'm convinced one fella thought I was mad when I was doing floor presses, almost as if he thought I was too impatient to wait for a bench so used the floor instead!

Pull throughs get some funny looks too.

Sorcha16 · 16-11-2012 12:27PM

xgtdec wrote: »

GAA jerseys in a gym..ive said it before..its just plain wrong!!

What difference does it make to you what anyone wears to the gym? Seriously, you're there to get on with your own workout, not judge people on what they're wearing.

I've used the weights section in a particular college gym before and the stench of testosterone was overwhelming. I was very actively stared at incredulously as though I'd just landed from Mars, to the extent that the guy I was working out with apologised for taking me in there.

Whether the guys meant it or not, I have no idea (I'm sure they didn't) but I found it quite intimidating and have never strayed from the cardio section since

Bruce7 · 16-11-2012 01:10PM

I go to a large commercial gym early in the mornings and there are usually one or two women using the free weights area to do barbell exercises.

There are always quite a few women in the dumb bell area though, and they would outnumber the men on most mornings. And there are always PTs in this area with female clients.

I know I am generalising based on a few observations, but to me the issue appears to be that women tend not be shown how to do barbell exercises by gym staff and personal trainers - in large commercial gyms at least.

Bruce7 · 16-11-2012 01:16PM

I have noticed that some women are extremely self-conscious in the gym though. I tend to walk around between sets, not paying attention to anyone or anything apart from getting my breath back, or checking the clock, and can't help but notice that some girls are almost policing the entire place to make sure nobody is looking in their direction.

It's a bit like when you are walking along at night and there is a girl on her own up ahead. You aren't paying her any heed at all, but then you realise she is hyper-alert to your presence, and you have to speed up and pass her out to put her at ease.

16-11-2012 01:21PM

Bruce7 wrote: »

I know I am generalising based on a few observations, but to me the issue appears to be that women tend not be shown how to do barbell exercises by gym staff and personal trainers - in large commercial gyms at least.

That's actually a good point. I was a member of Crunch Fitness, I was given plenty of cardio and some weights machines. I dared not enter the free weights section - I wasn't even made aware of its existance (many years ago!).

When I joined Westwood, same thing, plenty of cardio and weights machines.

Then I got a personal trainer - in westwood but he didn't work for them - he got me almost completely away from the cardio floor and while I did some machines, it was mostly free weights. There were plenty of women there section, but they were virtually all there under his guidance.

He left and set up his own private training gym and I followed, a big number of his clients were women and some of them could certainly give the lads a run for their money

lorrim · 16-11-2012 01:58PM

It is really a case of the fear of the unknown for most women. I've only experienced on guy snigger when I was setting up the squat rack... I couldn't have cared less, he'll be checking out my hot ass in a few months

the_syco · 16-11-2012 02:02PM

In the Glenroyal both women and men lift the dumbbells, but not side by side.

The men would lift these weghts in the main weight section;

But the women would usually lift weights in a small side section which would be full of these weights;

xgtdec wrote: »

GAA jerseys in a gym

WHIP IT! wrote: »

what really makes me scratch my head is the amount of lads who wear their GAA socks in the gym?!

People wear clothes of their fave team in public? NO WAEEEEE!

LivingInColour · 16-11-2012 02:17PM

the_syco wrote: »

In the Glenroyal both women and men lift the dumbbells, but not side by side.

The men would lift these weghts in the main weight section;

But the women would usually lift weights in a small side section which would be full of these weights;

See it's this sh1t here that causes the issue in the first place. If gyms didn't make women feel they had to stick to sh1tty paperweights a specific area, then they wouldn't feel intimidated or 'different' for wanting to pick up a barbell.

WHIP IT! · 16-11-2012 04:48PM

the_syco wrote: »

People wear clothes of their fave team in public? NO WAEEEEE!

People make light-hearted remarks about the things they see in their gym on a Fitness Forum?
NO WAEEEEE!

john_cappa · 16-11-2012 05:35PM

LivingInColour wrote: »

See it's this sh1t here that causes the issue in the first place. If gyms didn't make women feel they had to stick to sh1tty paperweights a specific area, then they wouldn't feel intimidated or 'different' for wanting to pick up a barbell.

Bit of a catch 22 as many women want their own separate area.

Storm in a teacup really.

Dotcomdolly · 16-11-2012 08:12PM

My gym has a "Ladies Weights Area" and a sign "no weights over 10kg in this area" :rolleyes:

Doc Daneeka · 17-11-2012 01:31AM

A lot of these feelings are probably common to both men and women the first times they use a free weights section. A bloke is going to be self conscious too wandering in and worried about people looking at them as they try to figure out a squat rack or something.

Few sessions in as others point out you see everyone is just doing their own thing and don't care what your up to. Stick with it and lift heavy!

Ki ki · 17-11-2012 10:40AM

I have to say, I found the free weights area of my old gym quite unwelcoming. I don't know if it was down to sexism or just a general lack of consideration for other users.

I am short (5'2) and used the Smith machine for squats. I would often find it left loaded with 100kg+, almost out of my reach. Out of pure stubborness, I would unload it myself, sometimes wobbling with a 40kg weight overhead. I know some of the guys were watching yet none of them would offer to help (not that I would have accepted it anyway

).

Maybe I should take the lack of chivalry as a compliment?!?

Just plug in the earphones, walk in with your head held high, use whatever weights/equipment you want and enjoy your workout

gymfreak · 17-11-2012 10:56AM

The problem isn't the men..or the women...or the gym and how it is laid out...the problem is peoples perceptions. This topic could be debated over and over..but in the end it will get nowhere until people start to change their perception with regards to weight training. The only way that this can happen is if women start leading my example. Very simply I think that any woman that would like to use weights..should do so..lead by example and others will follow. Easier said then done...but it's done..by lots of gals! So give it a try!!!

And with regards to the feelings of intimidation..I think that this is more of an awareness of a lack of knowledge. As in the more familar you are with a routine and where the equipment is the less intimidated you'd feel.

Goat the dote · 17-11-2012 11:00AM

I'd personally just feel like a lemon going in lifting my 1-2 kilo weights and there's be lads lifting my weight. That's just me. I exercise at home, but I'd be a bit of a hermit like that anyway

Oryx · 17-11-2012 11:07AM

Goat the dote wrote: »

I'd personally just feel like a lemon going in lifting my 1-2 kilo weights and there's be lads lifting my weight. That's just me. I exercise at home, but I'd be a bit of a hermit like that anyway

Off topic I know, but consider heavier weights. You lift 1 - 2 kg all the time in everyday life. Those light weights are not going to help you much. Plenty of help and advice here on how to increase.

tomgaa · 17-11-2012 11:13AM

in my gym theres on girl who regularly hits the weights, she has her routine, looks organised and man does she leave everything in there..... dont think anyone ever stares or says whats she doing in here..... i think what scares women is that " i dont want to get bulky" look, its not going to happen you'l just get fit looking. that girl in my gym has a great set of abs but not the over the top look, and has a great figure. i see some of the women in the gym over at the womens area with the smaller weights and i can see that they are well able to lift those but they nevr progress or i never see that real determination in their face that they should have when there struggling to bang out the last 3 reps. its not that you went to the gym today its what did you do at the gym today!!!!

Nervous Wreck · 17-11-2012 11:31AM

gymfreak wrote: »

The problem isn't the men..or the women...or the gym and how it is laid out...the problem is peoples perceptions. This topic could be debated over and over..but in the end it will get nowhere until people start to change their perception with regards to weight training. The only way that this can happen is if women start leading my example. Very simply I think that any woman that would like to use weights..should do so..lead by example and others will follow. Easier said then done...but it's done..by lots of gals! So give it a try!!!

And with regards to the feelings of intimidation..I think that this is more of an awareness of a lack of knowledge. As in the more familar you are with a routine and where the equipment is the less intimidated you'd feel.

Except for the gyms with "women's weights" areas signposted as per examples given here. In those cases, the gyms need to cop the fuck on. Other than that part, completely agree with this.

The Davestator · 17-11-2012 03:29PM

I introduced a ladies only weights section in the gym I run. It's not because I didn't want women in the main area, or I don't think women can train alongside men,
it's just because its still an unfortunate reality that women get intimidated in the male dominated area of a traditional weights section.

Do I simply tell women not to be intimidated? No, I give them a choice. A separate area where they can grow their confidence if they wish.

Regarding weights- the dumb bells in our ladies gym go up to 30 kg and I'd hate any place that out max 10 kg weights in a ladies section!

By the way, it's not only nervous women who use the ladies gym, serious trainers have surprised me by training there

DM_7 · 17-11-2012 03:30PM

Don't worry about what other people are thinking just get in an do your exercise.

As a man I found going in and doing some classes (spin or pump) intimidating as it was mostly women who went but once I stopped wondering what others were thinking I started enjoying the exercise.

Also when I first started I found the weight area intimidating, but again once I just focused on my exercise I soon forgot about it and in the end became friendly with a lot of the other gym goers and found it to be a supportive area of the gym. After all most people are there for the same reasons.

EDIT: Just seeing the post above, its a good idea for weight areas for women so they can feel more comfortable and get some confidence. I would love to see more promotion of weights for women by gyms. Where I work many of my colleagues are female and through conversations with them they are genuinely afraid of using weights in the gym in case they bulk up.

the_syco · 17-11-2012 09:19PM

LivingInColour wrote: »

See it's this sh1t here that causes the issue in the first place. If gyms didn't make women feel they had to stick to sh1tty paperweights a specific area, then they wouldn't feel intimidated or 'different' for wanting to pick up a barbell.

Weights go from "sweet f**k all" to "stupid weight" in that section. A few lads sometimes take the two 20kg weights if the other ones are being used, and 20kg are in no way the heaviest.

The only woman I've seen in the big weights sections is the gf of one of the body builders, and she'd be lifting 2*5kgs weights with the 8kg bar.

I've seen many lads use the weights in the other section, so I won't cal the other section the ladies section.

butthatsjustme · 17-11-2012 10:12PM

Was inspired by this thread to get the gym instructor to teach me how to do barbell squats today!

Only 25kg but really enjoyed it!

Usually find the idea of going into the mens area quite intimidating, but gym was quiet, and I ended up being too busy doing my own thing to look at anyone else!

Enjoyed it so much I went back at the end of my workout to do more, and there was a girl doing deadlifts

women and free weights area in the gym

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