Eager to start, but no idea where to start

[Terii]

Hi there!

I've finally decided to get my life back on track.

Just needing some information on the best way to start an adventure down this 'bodybuilding' field.

I'm currently at a all-womens gym in Auckland. Is it important to go to a 'bigger' gym with men in order to want to competent (eventually) in a competition.

I know that I'm in for alot of hardwork, so starting off with the right foot would help.

Any advice for a complete novice would be much appreciated. :? :? :?

[bellajoshua]

Hey

Good on you-I posted pretty much the same thing today-so nice to know expert advice is on the way! anything I hear I will pass on!

Cheers

[cantygirl]

Hi Terri, good on you for making a change for the better. Let us know what your current eating is like and how much training you do for a start and when you want to jump on stage. Also your height and weight would be good too.

[morattigirl]

Hi Terri, yup i agree good on you girl for getting back into it! Good luck with your training, I can't offer any advice on bodybuilding but im sure you'll get loads of help to get you started

[Pseudonym]

I'm currently at a all-womens gym in Auckland. Is it important to go to a 'bigger' gym with men in order to want to competent (eventually) in a competition.

That's a really interesting point. I've never been in an all-womens gym (obviously) but I can tell you that being in a gym with people who have similar bodybuilding goals to you is incredibly motivating. Especially if they're one step ahead of you. :grin:

Perhaps the girls can answer this: Do many/any female competitors train in all-womens gyms?

[VampireChick]

Nope I'm at a mixed gym. It may be just me, but I didn't really like the vibe at the all women's gym I went to (Contours). I tend to feed off the men's (and a couple ladies) energy at my gym, which helps when I want to get a bit heavy with my weights.

[Chillicat]

I'm not a competitor, but I definitely prefer a mixed gym, mainly due to there being more like minded people there, interested in lifting big weights, than at women's only gyms. I only know a couple of women who have used women's gyms, and their goals were purely weight loss and their reason for choosing the women's gyms were due to location (close to home) and it was a bonus for them that they didn't have to wobble their flabby bits around in front of men These women had no need for heavy weights and the equipment there was adequate to their needs for weight loss.

From what I hear and have seen from the odd look around, the equipment isn't really geared for bodybuilding in women's gyms (eg, my gym has a row of squat racks, but I've seen other gyms where they don't even have one). Actually, even the mixed gym I used in the UK didn't have a squat rack :shock:

[teamfatboy]

My 2c worth, which is kinda what the others have been saying, is based on what I've heard from a number of female competitors - it's not about being all-women, or mixed, but about the equipment.

The gym you choose has to be suited to the kind of training you need - and that tends to mean, for body-builders, an ample supply of free weights (barbells, dumbbells) and related equipment (benches, squat or power racks and Smith Machines (the sliding-barbell-in-a-rack).

With some all-women's gyms relying on machines, it may prove harder to get the results you need than if you can get to a gym that has ample free weights.

Both VC and CC also make a point, which is as true for men as it is for women, that the atmosphere is as important as the equipment... the last thing a person needs is the negative attitude of people who can't understand why you enjoy training the way you do.

[morattigirl]

Im also at a mixed gym and love it. I used to teach BodyStep at Contours and found teaching the classes fine for all womens gym but as for working out I agree with VC, there was no atmosphere at all.

There's only one woman at my gym now that I know of competing and only a handful of us that workout on the floor using the free weights.

I'm not sure whether some women are intimidated by the men who are also using the same space?

Me personally, am not intimidated by the men in my gym. But maybe also that comes with confidence....

[TonganTerror]

Im also at a mixed gym and love it. I used to teach BodyStep at Contours and found teaching the classes fine for all womens gym but as for working out I agree with VC, there was no atmosphere at all.

There's only one woman at my gym now that I know of competing and only a handful of us that workout on the floor using the free weights.

I'm not sure whether some women are intimidated by the men who are also using the same space?

Me personally, am not intimidated by the men in my gym. But maybe also that comes with confidence....

There are a lot of woman who train on the floor moratti girl they just tend to train in the morning its only the ones with full time jobs who can only make it at night like you :shock:

[morattigirl]

Im also at a mixed gym and love it. I used to teach BodyStep at Contours and found teaching the classes fine for all womens gym but as for working out I agree with VC, there was no atmosphere at all.

There's only one woman at my gym now that I know of competing and only a handful of us that workout on the floor using the free weights.

I'm not sure whether some women are intimidated by the men who are also using the same space?

Me personally, am not intimidated by the men in my gym. But maybe also that comes with confidence....

There are a lot of woman who train on the floor moratti girl they just tend to train in the morning its only the ones with full time jobs who can only make it at night like you :shock:

Ok TT but are there as many men on the floor in the mornings as there are at say between 5-7pm?

[ThePman]

In general I've found that women's gyms seem to be...well, to be nice about it, let's say that they cater mostly to stereotypes of how people think women should train. Which is to say I don't think much of the entire idea of womens-only gyms.

A good rule of thumb: if you want to improve your performance in any kind of activity, you're almost always better off around like-minded people. "Average fitness gyms" are better than nothing and certainly fine for people that are just interested in getting off the couch, but if you want to go after excellence then you aren't helping yourself in that environment, IMO.

Back when I was training female BB/figure girls, I had them training "like men", which is to say heavy and hard-out most of the time. There are a few gender differences to account for, but by and large doing "toning workouts" or whatever isn't going to take you far. Being in an environment where that's the norm isn't helpful.

You're going to find that most of bodybuilding boils down to psychology. Having the right environment is part of that.

[ANGELBRAND]

Im at configure express, and the trainers are awesome and offer lots of support, my membership is only 6 months which is good as this gym give me a good foundation and lots of help, however once i get to the point where i wanting to really start packing on muscle i will switch to a mixed gym.

I would recommend configure to those just wanting to get into shape but i i'd be hard put to find any women there that build.

on that note anyone recommend a good mixed gym? i heard les mills is good.

[Katie1309]

heya I'm at Les Mills City and use the womens gym upstairs - which has a lot of super fit woman in there athletes/bodybuilders and all the eqiupment you need. One of the female PT's that uses the gym just won s bodybulding title in the US. There is the massive mixed gym downstairs, which women do use but to be fair it mostly big guys down there! But it has all sorts of cardio overlooking so nice for people-watching There's also the Circuit gym and the two studio's for group classes. Plus I think now if you join you can use any LM in the country anytime. Some people don't like it because its got a bit of a wanky reputation but its got everything you need - cant fault the facilities at all

[ANGELBRAND]

thanks Katie i think i will switch there once my configure membership runs out!

[Katie1309]

thanks Katie i think i will switch there once my configure membership runs out!

its got sauna and spa too - plus new one opens in Britomart in April - which is gonna be the stuff of gym junkie dreams! Ill be happy to show you about if you join up heaps of good trainers there...I started with one at Takapuna LM years ago and now she's one of my closest mates!!

[ANGELBRAND]

the only thing is im in wellington not auckland but thanks anyway!

[Katie1309]

the only thing is im in wellington not auckland but thanks anyway!

gettin my replies mixed up hahah

[time in motion]

my two cents worth on the gym topic.. find a gym that has the kind of people you want to be like..the gym I go to is a mixed gym (and the only one in town so i dont have a choice there) but luckily enough for me all the competitive bodybuilders are women (two of them NZ champs) and its seeing them train and the helpful advice they were very forth coming with that inspired me to get serious ablout my training and diet and get into bodybuilding. None of the guys are bodybuilders but we have a couple of really good powerlifters and they are inspiring and helpful too.

[teamfatboy]

Im at configure express, and the trainers are awesome and offer lots of support, my membership is only 6 months which is good as this gym give me a good foundation and lots of help, however once i get to the point where i wanting to really start packing on muscle i will switch to a mixed gym.

I would recommend configure to those just wanting to get into shape but i i'd be hard put to find any women there that build.

on that note anyone recommend a good mixed gym? i heard les mills is good.

In Wellington, Les Mills is strong, so I've heard.

For women, there's a good instructor at Contours in Willis St.

City Fitness Thorndon had some great building PT's, but sadly, they've all moved on...