Lies in the gym: The weight room is "no girls allowed"

If you frequent the gym (heck even if you've only been a handful of times), you don't have to be a rocket scientist to notice that there aren't very many women/girls in the free weight area. When I work out, I am usually the only girl in sight while in the weight room. Occasionally there will be another woman in there, but it isn't often. This is partially because I go to the gym at a time when there are less people in general, but I would say it mostly has to to with the fact that many women are intimidated by the weight room.

I get it, I really do. When I first started going to the gym regularly I stayed far, far away from the area in the back of the gym with the free weight and sweaty grunting men. The area is more of a separate "room" in the back of the gym, it is secluded, therefore it seems as if you need permission to enter. There are men in there with huge muscles throwing around heavy weights and giving you side eyes, daring you to get in their way. The free weight room is intimidating, there really isn't any way around it.

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Now though, looking back, I almost laugh at myself for being so silly. The weight room is open to anyone, I don't need permission to go in there. And those guys? They never gave me a second thought (well there was one guy but that's another story). It definitely took a few weeks of consistantly using the weight room by myself before my self-conciousness went away. If you just joined a gym, or have been a member for a while but are a little unsure about venturing into the weight room, here are some things you can do to make the transition:

Have a plan
I cannot stress the importance of this one point enough. With anything we do, we always feel more confident when we know what we're doing, right? The same goes for in the gym. You're going to have a much better time (and better workout) if you go in there with an agenda instead of wondering around trying to figure out what to do next. You can write it down, save it on your phone, or (if you're good enough) commit it to memory.

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Familiarize yourself
Along with having a plan, you need to know the layout of your gym and the weight room itself. You need to know which end the lighter weights are on versus the heavier weights. You need to know where the leg press machine is, or if there's more than one. Having a plan isn't going to help you any if you aren't able to find your way around.

Go with a friend
Working out next to a bunch of guys is intimidating, and when you're doing it alone you feel like EVERYONE is staring at you (they really aren't). But it helps to have a partner, whether it is your boyfriend or another girl, to chat with between sets and to spot you so you won't have to ask a stranger!

Wear headphones
Personally, I don't work out with headphones. They get in my way and I don't have one of those cool arm band things and stuffing my phone in my bra isn't that much fun. BUT I think more people work out with music than without. Not only will the music help pump you up, but wearing headphones is the easiest way to convey the message that you aren't here for chit chat.

Get in the zone (aka ignore everyone)
Not saying you have to be rude and not speak when spoken to, but the less you watch other people, the less you'll think about them. When I am working out the last thing I'm worried about is anyone else. I'm usually staring off in to space or at myself in the mirror, and guess what? So are all of those sweaty, grunting men. Unless you are dressed scandalously or doing some thing really crazy awesome, they aren't giving you a second thought. I am continuously repeating myself to guys in the weight room ("Excuse me, are you using this bench?") because they aren't paying any attention to me at all.

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Just remember that everyone is at the gym for the same reason, to work on their personal fitness. If you've never stepped foot into the free weight room then I challenge you to give it a try the next time you're at the gym instead of spending that hour on the elliptical machine.