Try planet fitness. big mix of ages and gender and they mean it when they say they do not allow lunks.

What gym are you going to? I have lifted weights for 2 decades ( God, I am old) and while outnumbered, have always been in gyms with a few other women. Look for a gym that is one large open space maybe. Mi have found gyms with a small separated free weights room, some of the men roll thier eyes when a female walks in. But honestly, those same guys do. It want anyone but themselves in there.

Anonymous wrote:The men just stare. A glance is one thing but full on staring like they've never seen a woman before...ugh. I tried to go many times and just couldn't deal with it anymore.

Now I do weight lifting at home.

+1

I do find that if it has a younger crowd, men tend to mind their own business after a look, because they're a little more adjusted to the idea of fit/athletic women doing their own thing.

Gyms with an older crowd tends to have more staring older (50+) men, who are gross and old fashioned, and can't conceive of the idea of women working out for their own pleasure - except to look good for a man. So they try and chat you up and don't leave you alone.

We don't touch your oven dials. Don't touch our weightroom

Because of the way the men use the weights. I love lifting, I don't like lifting when men are around. They are obnoxious and discourteous.

Anonymous wrote:Even in the weights area? I mean there were a ton on the cardio machines today but that was it at my place.

I'm the YMCA commenter and yes, the weights area is still evenly split M/F whenever I go. I've belonged to 2 different Washington Sports Club locations; 1 had a good mix of men and women in weights; the other was completely female-free whenever I went in. I'd recommend touring a couple of gyms in your area to scope them out. The common denominator I've had in gyms that were mixed with regards to M/F is that they had a range of ages and fitness levels in their clients.

Anonymous wrote:The men just stare. A glance is one thing but full on staring like they've never seen a woman before...ugh. I tried to go many times and just couldn't deal with it anymore.

Now I do weight lifting at home.

I think it depends a LOT on the gym you go to. I've been lucky and have had no problems at the gyms I go to, people are minding their own business. I went to one when I was traveling and some dudes were seriously gawking. When I was starting out I would even ask people to critique my lifts or spot me (I still ask for a spot sometimes) and they are always nice about it.

The men just stare. A glance is one thing but full on staring like they've never seen a woman before...ugh. I tried to go many times and just couldn't deal with it anymore.

Now I do weight lifting at home.

I've always called it "the boy room." My friends and I joke about it. The ratios at gold's are typically about 1:10 in the boy room. It was intimidating at first but you get used to it. Just keep on going!

You being in the weight area will draw more women to it. I used to be the only one but over time, a lot more women have started lifting. I'm not taking the credit for it as I know other women come in at different times of day, but I know that every time I saw a woman over there, it gave me the courage to get over my fears and start lifting again.

Depends on when you go. Why does it matter who's lifting beside you though? I'm completely in my own world unless I have a partner. Don't notice or pay attention to anyone around me.

My gym's weight area is pretty evenly split M/F. Much more so than when I was younger; more women seem to lift now.

Even in the weights area? I mean there were a ton on the cardio machines today but that was it at my place.

My YMCA is pretty equally split between men and women.

I'm just getting back in the gym after the holidays and want to start some weight lifting again. Went today and it was like a man pit. Can anyone recommend a gym where I won't be the only female using weights? I know it shouldn't matter but somehow it does.