As the number of women who weightlift increases nationally, a club on campus is making sure girls at LSU feel empowered in the gym.
Girl Gains LSU is a student organization with a mission to promote female weightlifting and women’s empowerment. Started in 2022 by a current LSU medical school student, Girl Gains has become increasingly popular as more women get involved with weightlifting. The organization teaches students about weightlifting, promotes body positivity and connects them with other women who work out.
“Generally it is harder to find girls who lift in such a male-dominated scene, and can be intimidating,” said Alison Rocha, the president of Girl Gains and a junior studying psychology.
With the intimidating workout machines and heavy lifting, some may refrain from getting involved in the gym. However, Girl Gains hopes to break students out of their shell by promoting a healthy lifestyle through various events, including a self defense class, meal prep days and even a “find your swolemate” event.
“We want to help make women feel seen, safe and comfortable in the gym,” said Britney Toblar, the director of membership for Girl Gains and a psychology junior.
Earlier this month, the organization hosted a “Build Your Own Work Out” workshop where each member got to personally make their own workout schedule. The members will use the schedules to stay on track with their fitness goals.
After everyone built their personal workout schedules, members went from machine to machine demonstrating proper form and how to load and unload weights. Students were able to ask questions to become more familiar with the machines, a practice that increases a beginner weightlifter’s confidence.
“I’ve been inspired to stay consistent with my workouts, and if I ever am confused I always have someone I can reach out to to help me,” said Moriah Hargraves, a freshman studying communications disorders.
Group workouts are the favorite aspect for most Girl Gains’ members, as having a close knit community with the same interests helps build confidence throughout the group. The organization meets every other Thursday and remains a strong, growing community open to new women weightlifters.
“I am now more comfortable than ever working out with a group of girls who are always there to help me and support me,” Noble said.
A previous version of this story erroneously misstated Moriah Hargraves’ name. The mistake has been corrected, and the Reveille sincerely regrets the error.
