The Weights Area is a Scary Place

Just for a bit of context, I'm a girl, the kind who really likes girly stuff, so never did I think that I would be into the (gasp!) manly pastime of lifting weights. Since then, it's no longer just a pastime, but a passion. Here's my experience in the weights area, and how you, whether you're a girl, or anybody thinking of trying weightlifting, can do just the same. 

The first time I decided that I wanted to lift weights, I was terrified of going to the weights area in the school gym. As far as I was concerned, it was filled with sweaty boys who hissed and grunted a lot while they heaved dumbbells that sometimes seemed too heavy for them. It was more than a little terrifying, because here I was, a total newbie when it came to lifting, and I wanted to try lifting weights, but I didn't know what weight to use or what to do with it. 

My mind was paralysed with fears, mainly to do with embarrassing myself since I didn't know what to do or how heavy a weight I should carry. "What if I drop a dumbbell on my foot/face/hand/head?" "What if the boys just keep staring and wondering why I'm standing in the weights area? It's not a place for girls!" "What if my pants rip when I bend over?" 

Since I've been lifting for over a year, nothing truly embarrassing has really happened to me, and I've come to realize that some guys in the weights area are equally self-conscious, and most don't really notice girls there or care anyway. I've also done the following things in the gym:

• Drop weights/plates on my finger/hand/toe/foot while using them (still happens all the time);

• Trip on my own feet while walking and fell down;

• Jumping awkwardly while attempting to grab the pull up bars, and missing;

• Put a little box in front of the pull up bars so I can grab them, then falling off the box after letting go of the bars;

• Sit in the squat rack, then knocked my head on the barbell when I got up;

• Hit my boobs with a dumbbell while doing rows; and

• Bench pressed with no spotter, got stuck on the last rep, panicked for a while, then rolled the barbell down my chest, stomach and legs with great difficulty and managed to sit up and get the bar off. 

All sorts of embarrassing things can occur, whether you are in the gym or not, and sometimes no one really notices or cares. The point is, none of this should ever stop you from going to the weights area and doing what you want to do. You are your biggest critic. 

Nevertheless, the first time stepping into the weights area can still be scary, so here are some tips. 

1. Go prepared

Go to the gym with a plan in mind. Know what exercises you want to do, and how to perform them. Write it down on a piece of paper, or bring the book you are referring to, and just use a really light weight first. If it's too light, you can always increase the weight. 

2. Go with a friend

Ask one of your guy friends if you can join him, and ask him to show you which weights to use, or how to perform an exercise. You could go with a girlfriend too, but it's more likely that both of you can be equally lost if it's the first time in the weights area for both of you.

Yeah! Curl together! 

3. Go early in the morning or at non-peak hours

Less people to get in your way. Or if you are really worried about embarrassing yourself, then less people to see you embarrass yourself.

The SMU gym is empty in the mornings

4. Ask the gym staff

Ask one of the gym staff to show you around or how to use the equipment. They're more than willing to help you out, and they know their way around.

What guys think

I started in the gym alone, and I've gotten accustomed to just getting in the gym, getting my workout done, then getting out. You don't really need to notice other people there, nor be concerned with what they think. Everyone is simply there to do their own workouts.

However, over time I've gotten to know some guys in the gym and it's been nice to learn that despite the prima facie scary grunting, they are nice people when they're not grunting. Some of these people are now my training buddies, I've asked them to weigh in on what they think about seeing girls in the weights area:

"I feel that every girl out there shouldn’t be intimidated by the weights that the guys are carrying. Be confident of yourself when lifting those weights and the only way to build that confidence is to keep repeating those actions until it becomes a habit. As time goes on, you will realize that this confidence will have a major carryover in your daily life because it reflects how strong you become not only physically, but mentally as well.  Also, do not be afraid to ask or seek opinions about your technique. Practice makes permanence." – Daniel Ong

"Strength is not gender based. As long as he or she is looking to improve, we welcome them equally. For every douche giving a girl a weird look or a hard time (behaving like a girl shouldn't belong there in the weights section) is a guy who is there to help correct her form and pass on the correct knowledge. Yes the gym can be intimidating at times but everyone starts somewhere. Same goes for guys. Everyone is there to get their workout in and if you are there to get yours done, don't be affected by what others do." – Max

"There is no such thing as gender in the weight room. Besides dumb jocks and douches, one thing that encompasses the weight room is respect. It doesn't matter if you're male or female, what colour your skin is, whether you're bulking or cutting, you will always get a spot if you need one, some friendly advice if ever your form seems off. This may seem to contradict my first sentence, but i have even more respect for girls who lift (as compared to guys). If you're willing to venture into the unknown, ignore the judging (or pervy) glances from douchebags, and lift, then you enter a universal fraternity of men AND women who have decided to take control of their physical condition. And that commands respect, even from the curling douchebags. 

You know the saying; "if you've got it, flaunt it"? In the weight room, that only applies to your strength, not your assets, no matter how ample. Dressing like a hooker in the gym only serves to allow guys to objectify you and judge you as such. Also, you do NOT stand around and talk chit chat. It's distracting, annoying, and can wait for after the training session. With the don'ts out the way, DO ask for training advice or a spot if you need to. Guys might look physically intimidating, but you must understand that in the weight room, even the most aggressive, bad tempered person has a channel for release: the weights. So no, just because the atmosphere is testosterone charged does not mean the guys are aggressive or unapproachable." - Abel

"There are so many myths being perpetuated about women lifting weights in this day and age that most females relegate themselves to the confines of the treadmill and stairmaster. This is a gross injustice to themselves, as many of the myths are not only false, but logically unsound. Although many of the guys at the weights area may seem intimidating, it's nothing more than a gruff facade, as many of us would actually be more than happy to oblige any woman that comes to us for advice regarding lifting." – Twain

"I think that it is great to see girls breaking out of the norm- cardio, and start lifting some weights because it takes a lot of courage for them to do so, venturing into unknown territory, and they deserve respect for that. One tip I would give is to practice good form with lighter weights first, ask the gym staff for help if you're unsure or you can check with Youtube, there is tons of information out there. Do not be afraid to ask for demonstration of good form!" – Sam

"Girls who lift weights kick ass because they are showing us guys that they can train just as hard in the gym! That is a huge inspiration for guys to train harder! Don't worry about other people looking at you and judging you in the gym. If they do that, they are either curious or just wasting their own time. Don't sweat over other people's opinions, the only thing you should be sweating over is your own workout!" – Tim

"Girls who lift tend to develop a sense of independence and tenacity, both qualities I have much respect for. I think guys understand how much effort it takes just to step into the weights area, so don't be afraid to ask if you need help with anything." – Bryan

As you can see, guys are really not that scary nor mean, and they can be very helpful if you ask. So don't let the guys in the weights area scare you off from trying to lift weights, because life is too short for you to refrain from trying something you want to do because you fear what others think of you.