Why Do Guys Stare At You At The Gym? (8 Reasons!)

It can feel uncomfortable when you’re working out in the gym and notice a guy starting at you.

That’s why in this article, I explain the different reasons why guys stare at you in the gym, as well as what you should do if you catch someone staring at you.

Why Do Guys Stare At You At The Gym? (8 Reasons)

From my 10+ years’ experience of working out in a gym and from hours of research, I’ve found 8 common reasons why guys stare in the gym:

• You’re a woman.
• You’re doing an unconventional exercise.
• You have an impressive physique.
• You’re doing an exercise incorrectly.
• You look familiar.
• You’re lifting a lot of weight.
• They’re waiting for you to finish with the equipment.
• Pure coincidence.

Let’s explore these in more detail.

You’re A Woman

There’s a good chance that someone’s staring at you because they find you attractive and they like what they see.

While you may find this creepy, it’s ultimately a man’s primal motivator to find an attractive partner and perhaps they’re just checking you out.

This is more likely to happen if you’re wearing tight and/or revealing clothing which highlights certain parts of your features, like your glutes or chest.

You’re Doing An Unconventional Exercise

Since women often prioritize different muscle groups to men, there’s a good chance that you’re doing an uncommon exercise that someone hasn’t seen before.

In this case, they could be staring at you out of curiosity and they’re intrigued at what exercise you’re doing and what muscles it works.

They may simply want to learn more about the exercise and see if it fits into their own training program.

You Have An Impressive Physique

I’ll happily admit as man that I’ve admired other people’s physiques in the gym – both males and females.

If you have an impressive physique and you catch someone staring at you, it could just be that they’re motivated by your body.

From personal experience, seeing someone who’s in much better shape than yourself can give you that extra motivation to take your own physique to the next level.

You’re Doing An Exercise Incorrectly

If you’re in the middle of an exercise and you notice a guy staring, there’s a possibility that you’re doing the exercise incorrectly.

I often see newbie lifters make many gym mistakes, like lifting a weight that’s too heavy, or using a machine incorrectly.

When this happens, I’ll politely advise them on how to do the exercise properly. You’d be surprised at how receptive newbie lifters are when it comes to lifting advice.

You Look Familiar

Another common reason why guys stare in the gym is that you’re recognisable from somewhere.

Perhaps the person staring at you vaguely remembers you from high school and are unsure whether it’s actually the person they’re thinking of.

Or perhaps they’ve seen you out in the club a few times, but didn’t have the confidence to introduce themselves.

You’re Lifting A Lot Of Weight

If you’re squatting an impressive load, then don’t be surprised if you catch people staring at you.

The gym is a motivational and inspiring setting, so if someone sees you lift a huge weight, then they’re going to be intrigued by it.

Take it as a compliment!

They’re Waiting For You To Finish With The Equipment

In my opinion, there’s nothing more frustrating than someone who’s using the same machine for their whole workout.

That isn’t to say that you should feel guilty if your workout requires you to use that same piece of gym equipment for your whole workout.

After all, you beat them to it!

It’s just that if they’re waiting to use the equipment, they may become impatient and frustrated.

In this instance, they may be staring at you as they’ve been waiting to use the equipment for a while and are ready to pounce on it as soon as it becomes available.

Pure Coincidence

Eye contact is in human nature and is vital to how we communicate.

If you lock eyes with someone in the gym, they may not have even been staring at you and it may be pure coincidence that you both looked at the same time.

What To Do If A Guy Stares At You At The Gym?

It’s important to clarify that in most instances, guys who stare at you in the gym don’t have any malicious intent.

However, I do appreciate that it can make you feel uncomfortable.

So, here are 7 things you can do if you catch them looking at you.

• Ignore it.
• Stare back.
• Ask them if everything is ok.
• Train at a different time.
• Find a workout partner.
• Work out at home.
• Switch gyms.
• Alert the staff.

Let’s look at these in more detail.

Ignore It

You need to remember why you’re at the gym in the first place – to improve your physique!

The moment you start giving your energy away to the person staring at you is the moment your workout starts to suffer.

All your energy and focus should be on exercising to the best of your ability, so in most cases, you should just ignore it and carry on with your workout.

Stare Back

If a guy has been staring at you for a while, or on multiple occasions, then stare back at them to see how they respond.

If they smile, then perhaps they just want to introduce themselves to you but are too shy.

Or if they quickly look away, then they may feel intimidated by you.

Ask Them If Everything Is Ok

Ah yes… that thing us humans used to do before Social Media took over our lives – talk to each other.

By simply going over to the person and asking them if there’s a reason why they’re staring, you’ll hopefully be able to clear the air and remove any worries.

Train At A Different Time

If you notice the same guy staring at you each time you work out, and are feeling a bit creeped out by it, then you may want to train at a different time.

Chances are, you won’t see them again and you’ll be able to focus on your workout without worrying about their intentions.

Find A Workout Partner

Having a workout partner is great for many reasons.

They can help you squeeze out a few more reps, can help motivate you to strive for more, and can keep your mind from worrying about external factors, like people staring at you.

Work Out At Home

Back in 2020 when pretty much every gym closed thanks to the global pandemic, many people resorted to home workouts.

Depending on your fitness goals, these can be just as effective as working out in a gym.

If you do feel scared by guys looking at you while you exercise in a gym, then a home workout might just be exactly what you need.

Alert The Staff

Gym staff are there to ensure your safety while using their facilities.

If you feel threatened by someone who keeps staring at you, then you might want to inform someone who works there.

They’ll hopefully be able to resolve the matter by speaking to the individual and reminding them that gym is supposed to be a place where people feel safe.

Switch Gyms

As a last resort, another option is to change gyms.

Female-only gyms are becoming more and more popular, so if you do get creeped out by guys staring, then you may want to consider one of these.

Conclusion

In summary:

• Guys stare at you in the gym for many different reasons, and most of these reasons are nothing to be concerned about.
• If you do feel uncomfortable, then ask the person why they keep staring and explain to them how it makes you feel.
• If someone won’t stop staring at you and you feel creeped out by it, then speak to gym staff who will be able to resolve the matter.

That’s all for this article, but can you wear crocs at the gym?

Hope this helped!