any GIRLS who lift weight?

so everytime i go to the gym, my usual work out is cardio and then hitting the weight room. everytime im there, i feel like all the guys around me look at me kindda weird? even tho i know they're not. but. i have this self-conscience feeling that since im not lifting as much as they are, they just kindda.. look down on me a bit. and since im a girl, i try not to do as much as they are because i feel like that's gonna make me look like a poser -.-

but anywayz.

just wondering if there are any girls here who lift weights n stuff .

share your experience!

I lift weights with my swim team, and it's really not a big deal at all.  I tend to do the weight machines as opposed to free weights because that's just what I prefer.  Don't feel self-counsious about it!!  So what if you're lifting 20 pounds to their 75... you're getting healthy and doing something good for your body. :)

I'm a freshman girl in college and like to weight lift.  I completely understand that it can be a little intimidating when there are lots of guys around lifting really heavy.  But really, if anything, they would be more impressed because you're weight lifting because most girls don't.  In fact, they're probably loving it because they think they have an audience now!!  Don't let it bother you too much, but what I used to do was bring a friend/roommate and I wouldn't feel as awkward.  I actually enrolled in a weight training course so I know a lot more exercises and how to use the machines.  I was always scared to try new exercises in fear of looking like an idiot.  I'm always intimidated to go the bench press/squat station because the guys there lift SO heavy and then I can hardly unrack the weights from the bar LOL.  But, proud of yourself for wanting to be healthy, because weight lifting rocks!!

Yo, I love it. I need a gym membership because I've been using a Soloflex in our basement, my boyfriend and I work out together - I prefer real weight in all honesty, I break the resistance bands like once a month.

lifting weights is what i do for most of my workouts, and i can definitely see where you are coming from.  but like berrykiss said, you shouldn't be intimidated.  i honestly think the guys like it when there are some girls pressing iron in the weight lifting area.

have you ever considered lifting before doing cardio?  i heard that it's more effective, because after cardio, you have already burnt out a lot of your energy.  if you lift before, you will be able to exert more energy and lift more weight.  just a suggestion.

happy lifting!

When I was in high school, I used to lift weights with my volleyball team after practice.  I absolutely loved it!  We would do a lot of basics with the bar in one room with the boys basketball team and then circuit through all of the weight machines in another girls-only room.  I felt so powerful and strong!  But now in college, it's really intimidating at our rec center.  All of the guys are huge and the machines are all mixed in with the free weights, and I don't like feeling like I'm watched!  I miss lifting, but I can't convince myself to do it at our rec center here.  I'm too embarrassed!  

Haha this post makes me laugh because I feel exactly the same way.

When I walk into the weights room everyone looks up and STARES. And it's not like im super goodlooking or anything its just cause im a girl and its so awkward! And they all lift about 30943069kg and then I lift these 5kg dungbells and BATTLE through it!

Its embarassing, but funny.

Waaaay too much testosterone in the weights room..

I lift weights too. But I do not go to the gym. I have a bench at home. I did, however, start boxing this week. WOW!! I know what you mean about intimidated! Not only do I feel like the guys look at you funny but I am the only girl...period! I have not seen a woman in there yet! You know what? Just lift your head up high and be proud that you are doing it! Maybe they are the ones that are intimidated. Keep up the good work!

Weight Training is imperative!! Don't let some douche-bag boys look at you weirdo-like for entering "their" realm. In fact, bring a girlfriend, or two, and all of you should simultaneously lift. I love doing sets with my girlfriends... and yeah, all the while in my head I have that song going "my milkshake, is better than yours, damn right, it's better than yours" LOL. It's the weights that give you the shape... cardio just makes us thin out. Don't omit it from your game plan and never let these dumb-ars dudes catch you slipping! Lift and kick butt!

My personal fav is picking up the dumbbell right after a guy has put it down. Usually only happens with new guys in my gym tho... at Gold's the guys are all beefy and I can't compete quite frankly. lol. But it's nice to try ;D

Yep, I really don't think you're alone on this one! Luckily when I go to the gym in the morning there aren't more than 4 people there (including myself and the guy that works there). I started bench presses for the first time last week. Turns out I can only bench the bar (45 lbs) so yes, that's embarassing! At least I don't have to re-rack many weights as I go around...

Yes, I lift weights at the gym.  I've just resigned myself to the fact that I always lift about half of what my workout buddy does. 

weights are great. just small amounts w/ many repetitions for toning.

International chick are you effing kidding me? wrong wrong wrong wrong

i squat 165, deadlift 130, dumbell bench 25 per arm, bench 75. I do maximum weight possible without sacraificing form. almost to failure every time. 5x5 per exercise. i grunt like a guy, make some pretty scary faces, and you know what?...... my body rocks. i dont look like a linebacker. im firm. im "toned" (banish tht word from your vocabulary, as a verb it doesnt exist and never will) 

ive lost 10% bodyfat with bare minimum cardio, and lifting like a man.

i lift a lot. 4 times a week. boobs to the wall.

get with it. weights are the answer. low weight/high rep is BULLCRAP

Low weight/high rep is just a different kind of workout.  It is true though, if you're doing high weight/low rep you're not going to gain mass unless you're pounding the protein shakes like the guys, too.

Original Post by mercy_bobcat:

International chick are you effing kidding me? wrong wrong wrong wrong

i squat 165, deadlift 130, dumbell bench 25 per arm, bench 75. I do maximum weight possible without sacraificing form. almost to failure every time. 5x5 per exercise. i grunt like a guy, make some pretty scary faces, and you know what?...... my body rocks. i dont look like a linebacker. im firm. im "toned" (banish tht word from your vocabulary, as a verb it doesnt exist and never will) 

ive lost 10% bodyfat with bare minimum cardio, and lifting like a man.

i lift a lot. 4 times a week. boobs to the wall.

get with it. weights are the answer. low weight/high rep is BULLCRAP

 LOL! I couldn't agree more. Take steroids if you wanna bulk... but protein shakes won't do it. Heck I "pound" one daily... and took creatine... nothing happened (except I'm not blubbery anymore). And I look darnnnnn good ;)

Shhh!!! Don't tell the guys in my office, they'll be heartbroken!    Seriously, I don't know how they can stand drinking the stuff three times a day.  *gags*

idk I think partially it's a combo of what tastes good (there is a lot that's just nasty) and then there is the acquired tastes... like I started with musclemilk (which is like the beginners protein powder) and now I just love ISOpure.... amazing. Plus you gotta mix it qwith stuff....

optimum nutition 100% whey is da bomb. soooo many good flavors

ha. I love lifting weighting, in fact I was in a girls weight lifting class in my school. I was up to 130 bench, 95 clean, and 220 squat. I went to the gym and squated and the gyms seemed rather impressed. Dont worry either lifting alot won't make you big and bulky. Girls have less and different hormons so the only way your going to look like a body builder is if you take steriods and weight lift 6 hrs everyday.

I'm 13 and I lift weights, I like it!

People dont even belive me whe i say i lift.

Original Post by aunt_amanda90:

ha. I love lifting weighting, in fact I was in a girls weight lifting class in my school. I was up to 130 bench, 95 clean, and 220 squat. I went to the gym and squated and the gyms seemed rather impressed. Dont worry either lifting alot won't make you big and bulky. Girls have less and different hormons so the only way your going to look like a body builder is if you take steriods and weight lift 6 hrs everyday.

 you squat 220?? No offense but you don't look like your that muscular... I squat 80/90 + bar (140-150lbs) and I'm pretty tough. How tall are you?? Like 6 foot??