Girls, do Guys Scare You Away from the Weights Area?

Girls need to lift weights! I know a lot of girls find it intimidating going to the gym. There are buff guys taking up the whole weights area as if they own the place, so it feels safer to hide on the elliptical or bike. But lifting weights is what boosts your metabolism, builds lean body mass and decreases body fat percentage so the weights area is essential to reaching your goals.

The thing is, most of these guys don’t even know what they’re doing. They’re just full of testosterone and confidence that makes it seem like it’s their area. I’ll give you an example.

Today I had a lot of work to get done and ended up at the gym a bit later than usual. I hate the gym, but I like lifting super heavy weights so at the moment I have to go there. Unfortunately I got there right on Dickhead O’Clock. You know, the time where all these intimidating types are working out. But it was quite funny, because NONE of these guys were doing anything that should be considered intimidating. In fact, it was downright hilarious.

I started my workout with push presses and could see some guys were in the squat rack. They were quarter squatting 70kg. They were almost coming up on their toes and only lowering themselves about a quarter of the way down, not even close to parallel, let alone below parallel where you should be squatting.

I could also see in the mirror a pair of guys behind me doing some weird arm exercise. I nearly felt like asking them what muscles they thought they were working. All I can think is that they wanted a rotator cuff injury.

Next I was onto dead lifts – one of my favourite things! I was doing reps of 90kg and in the middle of a set, Mr Quarter Squatter interrupted me to tell me it was a heavy weight and ask if I lifted weights. Errrr what does it look like? And why are you interrupting me? Whatever…

Then I noticed the Rotator Cuff Injury guys were spotting each other doing shoulder presses with an empty bar. The problem is, an empty bar is 20kg and that’s not heavy enough to build any muscle, or get stronger, or reduce body fat, or whatever they were trying to do… or even to need a spotter. Not only that, but they pressed from in front of their body, then lowered it to the back of their necks, then pressed it again from behind the neck etc… for 20 reps!!! TWENTY!!!! 1 that’s not going to achieve anything, 2 behind the neck presses are a great way to strain your neck, and 3 they were spotting each other for this at a virtually non-existent weight. Whatever!

After that I set up for my metabolic circuit of rows, push ups and squats. While I was doing that, I overheard Mr Quarter Squatter tell his friend “I can’t wait to try these new fat burning pills!” OMG! Why, oh why??? I thought everyone knew fat burning pills don’t work! Eating a clean wholefoods diet will sort that out but he wanted to spend money on pills that don’t do anything! Whatever!!

As I was putting away my dumbbells I saw some guys do some barbell rows with a rounded back. It was a light weight so I guess it would not have caused them much injury but it was so bad I had to look away.

So there you have it. These guys have absolutely no idea what they are doing. As a girl you should walk into the weights area proud. Get some instruction if you are unsure of exercises and get a program from a trainer so that you have a plan that will help you get closer to your goals. Once you’re in there, you will rule the place as you will be the only one who knows what they are doing!