This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UNH chapter.
There’s a long-time stigma in the fitness world that women should stick to cardio and men should lift weights. The idea that females need to work out with the goal of “shrinking” while men need to work out to grow big and swole. As a woman, entering the weight section at a gym is intimidating! Meat heads everywhere grunting and moaning as they’re amped up on protein shakes and pre-workout. Here are three ways I became comfortable in the weight room at my college gym!
- Have a gym partner. My gym bestie and I try to work out together at least three times a week. Walking into the weight room with someone by your side is way better than entering alone. Someone who has your back and isn’t afraid to confront any creeps who are staring at your butt while you’re doing your sets of squats. Other than that, your gym partner motivates you. You both encourage each other to push your limits and have the most effective workouts. It’s way easier to try out new exercises and new equipment with your gym partner by your side. You’re able to be vulnerable while laughing things off when they don’t go as planned.
- If you’re just getting into weightlifting and are terrified of trying it out with a packed weight room, try going at the gyms least busiest hours. On a college campus, the weekends are always your best bet. Friday and Saturday mornings are prime newbie time at the gym. Most people are too hungover or catching up on sleep from their busy weeks to hit the gym in the morning on the weekend. If you’re one of those people, try Sunday nights. Most student are grinding out homework to go to the gym on a Sunday. Even better if it’s during football season as all the guys are watching whatever games are on that night. Trying out the weight-lifting world is so much easier when the gym is empty and you’re able to be vulnerable and not worry about all the people around you.
- Speaking of people around you in the gym- trust me they aren’t judging you! I know it’s hard not to think “they’re judging my form,” or “everyone is staring at me” when working out. If anything, they’re zoning out as they recover from whatever exercise they were doing. Every person at the gym is there to better themselves in one way or another- you are one of them! I promise you they aren’t judging you unless you’re doing some absurd movements on the elliptical. Everyone is at the gym to better themselves; they aren’t worried about what you’re up to!