Why women don't want to lift big - one reason at least

I had to go to a different branch of my gym because mine is closed for a week.  At the other branch, the free weights are in a separate room, 3 floors above all the other stuff.  I was the only woman (I'm getting used to that, and I'm ok with it) amid crowds of "muscle men". 

It was pretty busy - people were waiting for turns and working in with each other.  But one guy insisted on using two areas at once, and he totally flipped out when another guy tried to work in with him.  It must have been horrible for the other guy, because he was not buff like the others and he probably felt intimidated enough already. (I would shrivel up and die if this happened to me.)  The first guy ended up throwing the weight plates off the bench press bar onto the floor.  Then other people started stepping in and I thought there was going to be a fight!  So here's the reason - Too much testosterone!!! 

It's nicer to hang out by the 'small weights' where everyone says please and thank you and excuse me!

Most people are really nice, but it sucks when a jerk has to ruin it for everyone!

No, what sucks are the gyms that are so busy that a typical 1 hr workout ends up being 2-3 hrs ...with over half of it wasted, standing around..waiting. Where in CA are you, generally speaking?

I guess it's all in what you want - since most of the time [although I know not all the time], there are choices...a place to socialize and workout a little..or a place to go and get a killer workout, ya know?

fitnessgirl, I'm in Toronto, Canada, I'm not sure why my profile says CA as in California.  I like my gym just fine - its not usually too busy, today was different because I had to go to a different branch of the gym 'cause mine was closed for renos.  I'm also pretty brave about asking people if I can work in with them.

Yeah, love the dudes who spread out across two or three areas, though I've yet to see a fight break out. 

Also love the ones that throw their towel across the squat bar (or whatever) to "mark" it and then disappear for the next 10 minutes. 

And at my gym, I think I'm one of maybe three people who actually rack the weights after lifting.  Nothing like having to pull a bunch of 45lb plates off a bar that's practically over my head before I can lift.  (I know, the solution here is to grow several inches taller and be able to squat 250+, obviously.  )  Actually, I wouldn't mind so much if the bar was lower so that I wasn't straining my back at an awkward angle to pull off the plates--bonus workout, right?

Original Post by flybee:

So here's the reason - Too much testosterone roids!!! 

One of the many reasons I like working out at home. Although I'm going to be starting Stage 7 of NROLFW with 30 sec rest, and my fiance is doing NROL Fat Loss II with 45(?) sec rest... and we only have the one weight bench.... this could get ugly...

that's weird - I'm a little girl, but the guys at my gym are polite and always ask if i want to work in.  Maybe because its my regular gym and I go in the AM when its not crowded so everyone (the regulars, at least) knows each other.

Original Post by amethystgirl:

... and we only have the one weight bench.... this could get ugly... 

The rumble in the jungle basement.

Original Post by floggingsully:

Original Post by amethystgirl:

... and we only have the one weight bench.... this could get ugly... 

The rumble in the jungle basement.

Oh, it's on.

My money's on the girl FOR THE WIN!  :p

Amethystgirl, we have the same problem at home. My bf got mad at me last night because I was spending too much time on the bench.

While I was on Stage 5 (with 120 rests), we were able to alternate our sets. But now... we'll see tonight how it works out.

You can take him, girl!

I'm doing the special workouts at the end of stage 1, doing as many reps as I can, so I spent an overwhelmingly long time on the bench. He asked me how long I was going to be on there, and I said 1 minute. I think I got off it in 45 seconds, (25 reps), but apparently, I was a machine hog.

I workout at home.  When I was doing NROLFW and hubby was doing NROL, he wanted to workout together, but I totally refused!  I didn't want to have to wait for him.  That's the beauty of working out at home!

I like hanging out by the "small" weights too.  I feel less observed there.  So I go get my 22.5 lb weights out of the "mens" area (don't get me wrong, there are some women there sometimes too) and take it to the "women's and children's area"  which is usually less crowded and muscley, to do my workout.  I don't know if people think that it's weird to do that, but I feel more comfortable where I feel less observed critiqued.

Of course, I have to do my squats and deadlifts in the men's area, and no one has told me I'm doing them wrong yet (even when I was deadlifting and pushin the bar up over my head)

Eh, I think part of the fun of being a girl in the weight room is learning to flex our staredown muscles. 

There is no "mens area"!  Get that out of your head and you'll stop feeling so awkward.  Besides, those men aren't looking at you, they're looking at their muscles to check if they're getting any bigger.  No worries :)

Original Post by puh8suwrux:

I like hanging out by the "small" weights too.  I feel less observed there.  So I go get my 22.5 lb weights out of the "mens" area (don't get me wrong, there are some women there sometimes too) and take it to the "women's and children's area"  which is usually less crowded and muscley, to do my workout.  I don't know if people think that it's weird to do that, but I feel more comfortable where I feel less observed critiqued.

Of course, I have to do my squats and deadlifts in the men's area, and no one has told me I'm doing them wrong yet (even when I was deadlifting and pushin the bar up over my head)

 I work out in a tiny little weight room at the community college ( hey its free what can I say) and on some nights I'm the only female in there and there are 2 regulars who have watched me progress thru the NROWFW since January and one of them has even started to do deadlifts - before all it seemed these guys would do is bench press and all upper body stuff.

Last night in fact the weight room attendant was telling this guy he should check out the program I am doing LOL!!  I told the guy there is a NROL that I'll be doing after I finish the women's program.  But its pretty awesome to be a role model for a male in the weight room hehehe!!!

Original Post by sugarshocked:

that's weird - I'm a little girl, but the guys at my gym are polite and always ask if i want to work in.  Maybe because its my regular gym and I go in the AM when its not crowded so everyone (the regulars, at least) knows each other.

 Same thing happens to me but I am not little (5'10.5"). They are more polite to girls than other guys. It makse sence: the real (evolutionary) reason most males lift is to attract females and fend off rival males.

Original Post by danielle860:

There is no "mens area"! 

Just like there is no "popular girls' table" in a middle school cafeteria. 

Luckily most adults aren't as horrible to each other as most adolescent girls.  (My apologies, young teens and parents of lovely adolescent girls. I'm a teacher; they're pretty mean to each other!)

Original Post by amethystgirl:

One of the many reasons I like working out at home. Although I'm going to be starting Stage 7 of NROLFW with 30 sec rest, and my fiance is doing NROL Fat Loss II with 45(?) sec rest... and we only have the one weight bench.... this could get ugly...

Awww... he let me go first - such a sweetie! Til I realized that it means I'm done first, so I have to cook dinner - damn him! Sneaky bastard.