What are you thoughts on women only gyms?

[superqt4u2nv]

Hey Ladies,

What are you thoughts on women only gyms, I was discussing it with a girlfriend of mine the other day. I couldn’t understand for the life of me why she would prefer it. Most woman only gyms I have seen are wimped out versions of real gyms.
Plus last night it sure seemed to get me through my cardio staring at the fine ass and legs on the man in front of me on the treadmill.

 

[Seashell]

Initially I thought women-only would be better, because I find it annoying when people talk to you during your workout, and it's been only men doing that so far... Also, there'd be less waiting for equipment.

But I think watching some of the guys is inspiring, and it definately makes me work harder, so for that reason, I prefer co-ed. Also, like you said, the women-only areas rarely have all the proper equipment..

 

[superqt4u2nv]

I have a real issue with casual conversation at the gym, as well people should only speak to you if they are giving you advice. Correction if they are giving you knowledgeable well informed advice other than that shut up and train hard or go home.

 

[Seashell]

I have a real issue with casual conversation at the gym, as well people should only speak to you if they are giving you advice. Correction if they are giving you knowledgeable well informed advice other than that shut up and train hard or go home.

Agreed.

And "Why aren't you smiling?" doesn't qualify as knowledgeable well-informed advice for the record..

 

[superqt4u2nv]

I wish I could give you more Karma... they telling to spread it around. I hate that so much that is just rude like your a Bimbo that should smile all the time can't be serious.

 

[Daisy_Girl]

And "Why aren't you smiling?" doesn't qualify as knowledgeable well-informed advice for the record..

OMG - I got that the other day. This guy told me I was really pretty, so I should smile more. I was so perplexed - I am at the GYM, why do I have to smile? I'm working HARD! As much as I enjoy it, it's not fun! Sometimes I can barely breathe, let alone make sure I am smiling and being pretty. lol. And he made me take off my headphones for comment.

Whatever.

 

[bignate73]

if some ladies are intimidated to begin, then it has its merits. gyms can be intimidating, or very testosterone filled at times, if this makes working out seem less daunting or "manly" then so be it.

the problem is, with half the intensity, chances are there are half the results as well.

 

[spatts]

I think most of them perpetuate ignorance and mediocrity. Guess it depends on what you're there to accomplish.

 

[jenscats5]

I've never been to or seen a women's only gym but the 2 gyms I have belonged to have as much casual conversation & lolly-gagging from men as well as women.

As Spatts said, I guess it's what you are there to accomplish and how each environment suits your needs.

 

[NorthNPrincess]

I think women's gyms are GREAT!

1. They smell better
2. I personally can focus on my work out and not the men
3. Don't have to worry if I look like shit...no makeup hair etc....
4. I find the classes are more fun and funky....knowing men wont be attending, they spice it up
5. Women aren't rude when waiting for equipment....sometimes guys act like you don't belong there, so get the f*^# out of the way.
6. I love the amenities in the Locker room

 

[RottenWillow]

OMG - I got that the other day. This guy told me I was really pretty, so I should smile more. I was so perplexed - I am at the GYM, why do I have to smile? I'm working HARD! As much as I enjoy it, it's not fun! Sometimes I can barely breathe, let alone make sure I am smiling and being pretty. lol. And he made me take off my headphones for comment.

Whatever.

One of the many reasons I love to train alone in my stepdad's home gym. I can wear very little, sometimes even nothing, with no sexual subcontext. No music playing that I dont like, no one using equipment I need. No "advice" in the middle of one of my sets from members less knowledgeable than myself.


And all this reminds me of why I am often branded a bitch. If a guy says something stupid I usually just stare at him. The energy required to spare his ego with a coquettish reply just isnt worth it.

"Hey! Why are'nt you smiling pretty girl "


"We are never going to have sex, go away"

 

[superqt4u2nv]

And all this reminds me of why I am often branded a bitch. If a guy says something stupid I usually just stare at him. The energy required to spare his ego with a coquettish reply just isnt worth it.

"Hey! Why are'nt you smiling pretty girl "


"We are never going to have sex, go away"

LMFAO
I am so going to use that sometime... well if I ever have the energy to do more than just stare at them.
Daisy Girl
If someone would have made me take my headphones off to say something that stupid to me I would have freaked for sure.
As for being labled a Bitch at the gym or anywhere else I could really careless. I am who I am. I go to the gym to train it is serious hard work. I don't care how I look doing it just as long as I get the results I want in the end.
If you take a look around the people that are doing the least amount of talking are generally the ones in the best shape.

 

[slobberknocker]

My girlfriend trains in one of those. The P.T.'s there are a bunch of douchebags who don't know their ass from a hole in the ground and spend their time hitting on the women. Except for my gf, of course. I make sure they see me when I pick her up, lol.

The only reason she trains there is because she got a ridiculous deal on it. Other than that, it sucks.

 

[Smurfy]

I think it can be a good place to START if you are a true beginner and maybe feel self conscious about training around others of the opposite sex. Its better than not training at all. I find that most people who start out at all female mediocre gyms usually move on to the co-ed gym one they become more familiar about training

 

[Sassy69]

I joined one briefly while my Gold's Gym was changing locations. It was kind of annoying because most of the women in there were scared to use more than the 5 lb pink weights or would go through the motions of a circuit training session on the machines (e.g. leg extension w/ 10lbs), walk on the treadmill for 10 & leave. I couldn't find heavy enough weights for what I was trying to do.

I think they are great for the beginner who is overwhelmed by regular gyms & the testosterone, however I think many will tend to perpetuate the Victorian idea that women are generally helpless and breaking a sweat will hurt them. Or they just support co-dependence between trainer & trainee to bitch & whine about how much they ate today and how much they aren't losing weight while the trainer counts out reps for the trainee.

I dunno - what do you want? It was in Boca. But there were lots of quality face lifts & boobs in there.

 

[Robert Jan]

a hardcore womens gym would be nice. thats about it

 

[Raina]

Most of the gyms for women in my area are of the "curves" variety. I think that a lot of those set ups aren't too effective. I don't think I could do light circuit resitance training for 20 minutes 3 times a week and look fantastic. It's better than sitting on the couch though.

As for guys approaching women at the gym, I wear headphones even if they're not on just to avoid others. I'm not there to prance around looking cute and flirting. I'm there to sweat and go home.

 

[wilson6]

I'm fine with women only gyms. Gives those that have no business in serious fitness facility someplace to go versus getting in the way of those that want to train hard, male or female.

W6

 

[JJFigure]

I think it's a good approach to help very self-conscious women ease into a gym. Training with/around men can be very daunting, especially in the free weight area. I've had issues with men acting like I was wasting a bench, and I've never exactly been a light lifter. You just have to be able to find a gym you can train at comfortably, and for many women, that environment doesn't include men.

 

[Shak]

a good friend of mine finds it baffling that i can work out at a gym with men. she would never step foot in a coed gym.

if it wasn't for all-women gyms, i don't think she'd workout at all, so i think they're a good thing.

 

[superqt4u2nv]

Yeah I guess for the shy it is a good thing something is better than nothing.
My girlfriends point was that you could fart and no one would say a word at a womens gym. She was doing some crunches a few weeks ago and there was a woman really getting into her squats and she let one fly. No one said a word acted like it never happend. My friend thinks that would not be the case if men were around.

 

[pharmguy]

This has been an informative read:

I have always felt that women probably don't want to talk to us guys at the gym in general, It is a rare occasion that I have spoken to a female out of the blue, and that is only if I really had something worthwhile saying.
One thing I notice though, And it could just be my perception, but I will ask to work in on a machine with a woman just as I would with a man if that was next in my routine. I get that look like I am trying to hit on them or maybe they think I wouldn't have asked to work in if it was a guy, now that is frustrating. (my gym is not too big and can be crowded at times). I guess some women feel they must be defensive, but given some of the moron guys at my gym, I can't blame them.

 

[superqt4u2nv]

This has been an informative read:

I have always felt that women probably don't want to talk to us guys at the gym in general, It is a rare occasion that I have spoken to a female out of the blue, and that is only if I really had something worthwhile saying.
One thing I notice though, And it could just be my perception, but I will ask to work in on a machine with a woman just as I would with a man if that was next in my routine. I get that look like I am trying to hit on them or maybe they think I wouldn't have asked to work in if it was a guy, now that is frustrating. (my gym is not too big and can be crowded at times). I guess some women feel they must be defensive, but given some of the moron guys at my gym, I can't blame them.

I don't really see someone asking me to work in as being hit on. That does not really bother me. I prefer not to cause I find it slows me down a little, but normally I will do it.

 

[spiderwoman]

I belonged to a spa lady [all women] and enjoyed it. It was not until I belonged to a gold's gym, however, that I realized how cool having muscles is. I think both kinds of gyms have their benefits, depends on your goals I guess. For women who feel really intimidated, a women's gym is better, as long as they go and use the facilities.

I never talk to anyone at the gym [unless I already know them outside the gym] just because I am too shy and I don't want to bother people during their workouts.

 

[wend]

I'd love a women's gym if it was hardcore. (There are no women's gyms around here, that I know of, so I've never even seen those mythical pink dumbells.)

I do find it annoying that the men seem to think they own the frickin place (like, why aren't I doing the nautilus circuit like all the other chicks?), especially when I'm lifting more than some of them (and with better form...there's a helluva lot of sternum bouncing going on...I swear, someone's gonna stop their own heart with that crap). And I hate having to wear my headphones all the time and hone my tunnel vision...I'm normally pretty friendly, but for some reason, when I was friendly at the gym, some of guys took that to mean I was hot to trot or something.

And dang, I'd rather smell a man's sweat in the gym than be choked by cologne. Save it for someplace where folks aren't having to breathe deeply, please.

 

[jenscats5]

Wend, that's funny and a good post!

My gym is co-ed & we do have a set of pink dumbells. The couples working out there are the most pain -- men/men & men/women couples. They take up a lot of space (our gym is small) and do things wrong, so you just shake your head.

There is one big guy at our gym & he & I have the "nod" to each other going on. All the other men & can pretty much lift heavier than them. The men/women couples (especially the new ones) look at me like I'm weird cuz of the weight I lift.

I would love to open a gym that has all the stuff I want in it with food, spa services, BIG locker room & lots of weight lifting room.

 

[PhysicalGirl]

I work and train in a fansy expensive gym filled with "Sex in the City" Model type people. Most of the men there are of average size trying to be lean and fit. I came from a Hardcore Gym "WORLD GYM" that was full of Bodybuilders. BIG DIFFERENCE between the two gyms.


The fansy gym has alot more gossiping and even has DRAMA like Who slept with Who conversations.

I preffer Co-Ed gyms. I like to challenge men. I'll let them work out with me to see if they can keep up. I burn most of them out.

They think they're stronger so they try to go heavier than me but they end up getting burnt out way before I do. Even if the men try to do the same weight as me they still get burnt out and end up quitting. I just have more of a muscle endurence and strength combination than they do. Thats show who is more conditioned.

 

[MsBeverlyHills]

a hardcore womens gym would be nice. thats about it

doesnt exist.

 

[Nonerz]

I think the market is there for a reason...but the answer they came up with is not the best.

Too bad I couldn't come up with the perfect women's only gym...

 

[Woody]

Women's hardcore gym?

Is there enough of a market for a small women's only hardcore gym? Catering to H.S. athletes, runners, tennis players, and other women who are not beginners? I just opened a large personal training studio (Amazon Fitness) and had in the back of my mind of eventually heading that way, but have to pay the bills now and most of the clients are beginners (middle-aged women wanting to lose weight). Would love to serve the women's hardcore market as it's ignored now. So...what's your opinion on the size of the market? How many women in your gym are hardcore and might go to this type of gym?

 

[Daisy_Girl]

I have a bunch of hardcore girls in my gym and I doubt any of them would go to a Women's Only gym. I know I wouldn't.

The thought is tempting, since many guys don't understand the concept of 'personal space' and view girls in the gym as easy pick-up targets! But honestly, I do enjoy the atmosphere of a co-ed gym, and think that when you ignore the assholes, you can gain so much by the useful (helpful) men in the gym.

I just wear my headphones and try to look mean.

 

[goddesseve]

I work and train in a fansy expensive gym filled with "Sex in the City" Model type people....The fansy gym has alot more gossiping and even has DRAMA like Who slept with Who conversations.

That sounds just like the gym I used to go to in NYC. A whole bunch of beautiful ppl - it was annoying because none of the girls ever broke a sweat in front of the boys. I couldnt stand it! I prefer a gym where Im anonymous - I just want to go in there, work hard, and get out. At the gym I go to now ppl look at me weird when I sweat & make too much 'argghhh!!' noises - really starts to make me feel uncomfortable after a while. My fantasy gym would be a 'hard-core' womens boutique type gym with all the nice extras but with girls who know what a w/o is beyond pilates (altho i do like pilates too).