Some Women Avoid the Gym for Fear of Being Judged

A recent survey has been produced that suggests a shocking 65% of women avoid the gym because of the fear of being judged. The study surveyed 1000 people across the US by Fitrated, a platform for gym equipment reviews.

To be clear, this isn’t new and it is certainly not that uncommon between both sexes. I suppose the stunning stat is the fact that the number is so high. 65% is seriously high and it suggests that this the way a vast majority of women feel.

Note: All of the issues I’m about to list are also very common with men too. We are highlighting women because that is what this particular study is about.

So what are women anxious about?

Am I doing this right?

Unless you a veteran gym-goer, it is sometimes hard to work out whether you are using a piece of equipment correctly. 

Even if you have been shown previously, the fear of doing wrong looms large in women’s minds. This isn’t just a vanity thing. If you are using a piece of equipment in the wrong way, you could quite easily injure yourself.

Also, if you are not using a piece of equipment properly you could find yourself exercising the wrong the muscles and no one wants to tone and build muscle in the wrong places.

Are People Staring At My Sweat Stains

To most people, this is quite a trivial problem. However, there are a lot of women that are quite conscious about their sweat stains. 

I think because you equate sweat stains with starting to smell and the last thing women want to be known as is that “smelly person.” Again, others may joke about this, but it is really quite a serious problem for a lot of people.

All Eyes On Me

Walking into a gym or walking into a room of strangers can often make you feel intimidated. Even if it is a gym that you go to every week. 

Often times you never really feel that comfortable. Especially if you are going to start lifting weights. Are you lifting enough? What sort of face are you making when you are really straining. 

This can be a problem for a lot of women.

So how can you make life easier for yourself?

Plan your workout

If you feel a certain level of anxiety when you go to the gym, one of the ways you can alleviate this problem is to plan your workout in advance.

So before you even step into the gym, read up, calculate and work out a gym routine that will take the guesswork out of exactly what you will do once you reach the gym. 

What could help is downloading an app like MyFitness (there are several other different ones you could choose) that help you work out both a meal plan and exercise regime that can help you plan your gym sessions.

Alternatively, what you could do is speak to the local fitness instructor or personal trainer at your gym who could also help you work out a regular routine. 

Practice at home

Now, to be clear, I’m not suggesting that you workout at home from now on. Just practice with a few of your own weights and home gym so you can get used to doing a certain exercise. That way you should feel confident enough going back to the gym knowing full well how to confidently do certain exercises.

Know your equipment

This point is similar to the last one. The only difference is, your best bet is to get hold of a local trainer at the gym who can go through every piece of equipment you want to use and show you how to use it properly.

The fact that you are being shown how to use the equipment and with practice, you should feel a lot more confident using the machines. The more confident you are the less pressure and stress you’ll feel then next time you are in the gym.

Another important thing is trying out different types of equipment so that you know which ones are more comfortable for you to use. Once you know which ones you like and feel comfortable with, stick to those until you feel you can try alternatives.

Watch YouTube Videos

Did you know there are fantastic videos on YouTube that show you a whole range of different exercises and machines you can use? 

They also show you the best way to use them and how to get the most out of them.

Be a follower

If you intend of going to exercise classes, then don’t feel the need to stand at the front of the class in plain view of everyone. 

Quick tip - Go to the class on time and you will find that most people will arrive early. That means the only space available is at the back of the class. 

Now, the fact that you are at the back means you just need to follow what the instructor and everyone else. If you make mistakes or struggle to keep up, it doesn’t matter. Only the people beside you will see.