Anyone notice this at the gym? It always seems to be more men than women. Maybe its just my area? Even when I'm running at the track, I tend to see more men than women, working out hard.

When I used to go to the local Y I found that there was a pretty even distribution of men and women there. I did find that there were more men in the free weights area and more women in the cardio section. I don't go to the gym anymore, but I do run outside and I would say that it is still about 50/50. Maybe it is the time of day or location of the gym?

you know, I think I noticed it used to be like that years ago, but now at my gym, a lot of the women are definitely keeping up with the men and even surpassing them. I see them in the weight lifting classes, TRX, on cardio machines and in the free weights area. they're doing bootcamps, sweating it up on the courts ... and then picking their kids up at daycare I love it!

Well, I think it depends on where in the gym you are going and what other exercise women are doing from men.

Exercise typical for men, that I notice, anyway: lifting weights in the gym, using bikes, elipiticals and treadmills. At home, shooting hoops, playing golf, lifting weights, running, walking.

Women: taking aerobic classes and yoga classes and weight lifting classes, using the treadmills, and other aerobic machines, playing tennis (maybe) and doing aerobics or fitness videos as well as running and walking.

I think women tend to find more "other" types of activities than the gym, especially the free weights area of it. AND, more women are tied down with home and kids - an excuse, maybe, but we're TIRED - so working out at home is more appealing. Plus, women are very social and we like to do things together - which I think is the appeal of the "class".

Men, it seems, are less likely to join in on a class. They typically prefer to do their own thing, so that will be using the machines and free weights. Guys are more likely to want to play in competitive sports for exercise - football leagues, baseball leagues, soccer, etc. They like to do things with buddies, but in that competitive way, unlike the more social "everyone get along" way women do.

And, of course, these are generalizations, but it fits into the whole hunter gather thing - men are more aggressive, women want to work in a group.

With that said - these are GENERALIZATIONS.

I believe men have a much easier time losing weight therefore stay motivated. Just my opinion.

I've noticed that it varies depending on the time of day. Morning hours- lots of women at our local YMCA (babysitting hours available, kids at school, etc). Lunch time there are lots of men (maybe on lunch break from work), evenings have more men in the weight room and on cardio machines, but lots of women in the classes. I think that it's often more difficult for women to find the time to exercise, or that we're just so spent at the end of the day that exercising drops on the priority list.

I see an even distribution of men and women at the park across from our house; and I love that it's always so active with families keeping fit.

95% + at my gym/studio are women.

I find that there are usually mostly men in the weights section, mostly women in the cardio section, and mostly women in the classes, especially weights classes.

The lower level of my gym is 97% men. This area includes the weights along with a couple of cardio machines.

The upper level of my gym is 97% women. This area includes the weight machines (not the free weights like on the main level), most of the cardio machines and the running track.

With that said, my gym sucks for the fact that is is 99.9% really hot collage aged people in perfect shape. Ofcourse that is because its at the university, but it sucks being one of the few overweight people there and what seems like the ONLY girl to wear pants and an actual shirt.

very interesting...

Sounds like it depends mostly on the gym and the type of exercises in that part of the gym.

Another possibility is that women can be quite self-conscious...and women's only gyms.

I think it depends on when you go. I'm at a life time athletic club on weekdays usually between 9-10am, and it's about 75% women.

My gym is 90% male - it's a dirty inner city boxing and MMA gym.

YMCA locally is 50/50. The closest Gold's Gym is probably 60/40 male/female.

Mine is probably 70/30 in favour of guys. It's a hotel gym too though so there's an unusual amount of children in the pool area!