On paper, the gym seems like a fantastic place to meet girls.
It's packed with young, attractive women who take their appearance seriously.
Who wouldn't want to hit it up to meet someone special?
Well... there are definitely right and wrong ways to do it. Most women won't want to be approached (especially when they're mid-exercise and have headphones in).
The right way is a more methodical approach to pulling women. It's a bit slower but will significantly increase your odds of success.
We'll go over:
The best way to pull a gym girl is to gradually gauge and build interest.
Yet in most scenarios, I actually advise against this type of approach.
The reason is that putting so much hope and attention on one girl is a recipe for failure. It just doesn't make sense when most women aren't interested in you or are even single.
So why should you do it here?
The difference is that you're going to see her regularly anyway.
Most people have a set time when they consistently go to the gym.
So, you can assess on your own for any possibility that she would go out with you. There is no need to rush it.
Start by just saying "hi" the next time you walk by each other.
That's really it to start. Make eye contact, smile and say hello as you pass by.
Do it a few more times on occasion when the opportunity presents itself.
Again, you're not rushing it. If you really want to pick up girls ASAP, go cold approach at a mall or college.
Gauge if there is a positive response.
It's a green light if she gives you a big smile back or acts coy/shy.
The next step is to actually start a dialogue.
It doesn't matter what you say the first time; it's only that you actually speak to each other.
Maybe you reference something buggy about the equipment. Or, perhaps you ask her something related to her shaker bottle. Like if it's a branded type from a protein company, ask if they've tried it and if it's any good.
You can also just ask her to spot you.
It really doesn't matter.
If you're really struggling, go up and ask her if the equipment beside her is being used. The point is just to speak your first words to her.
Ramp things up to where you regularly talk to each other.
This could take weeks or months, depending on how often you see her and how fast you move with it. At this point, at least say hi most of the times you see her.
Ask for her number with relying on an "excuse."
Using excuses helps reduce the fear of rejection, since you're not technically putting yourself out there.
Maybe she has some Orange Theory shirt on that you ask her about. You can say you're interested in trying that place but a bit hesitant. You can lead that into asking if she's planning on going soon so you can try it with someone.
Another option is just asking if she follows a specific routine/program. Say you're looking for something to start and how she looks like she's using a particular regimen.
Then, add "do you mind if I were to email you if I had a question about it?"
The "email" is even easier to ask for since it's less direct, increasing the chance you'll actually go through with it. You can then more easily drop your number in a later reply.
This leads to the next point...
A "big brain" move is asking for her help.
Assuming you're not obviously jacked and experienced, asking for help with equipment is super smart (even if you know how to use it).
It's honestly genius.
It may go against "bro advice" intuition, but you're operating on another plane of existence.
However, you still need your appearance dialed in. She has to already like you enough in that way. It helps when you're reasonably confident and seem like a guy who has his life together.
There is no chance of a woman being like:
"Well I thought he was hot and wanted to go out with him. Unfortunately, I got super turned off because he didn't know what a row machine was."
This works because you're the one putting yourself in a vulnerable position.
People love to help others with something they're good at (especially with fitness and self-improvement).
Helping others work out is no exception. It's actually one of the best and most frequent examples I see of this. It makes people feel good about themselves.
So, approach her and say in a casual and maybe humorous tone:
"hey sorry to bother but do you have any idea how this machine works? I'm kind of new to gym equipment"
Lean a bit on being all aloof. Ask her if you're doing it right, etc.
You'll seem much more welcoming to her since your "only" intent is for help. In most cases, they'll gladly lend a hand.
This makes creating and maintaining a dialogue 10x easier.
It's only natural then to continue the conversation about other things. Get to know her. You can ask for her number for "help" or let the opportunity happen more naturally.
(but don't wait around forever).
Technically, you can still do this even if you look like someone who works out. You can just mention how you're new to equipment and have only lifted weights in the past.
The most challenging part of pulling girls from the gym is that you're not guaranteed to see them each time you go.
Her schedule can and likely will change from time to time. There's no way of knowing when or if it'll happen. This means you may have to move things faster than what's ideal.
With fitness classes, you will mostly see the same people each time.
In addition, if you show up a bit early, it gives you a very easy excuse to be friendly.
Being friendly enough week after week may even cause some girls to open up on their own. You'll seem easier to be around as you become a familiar face to them.
At the very least, you can start by just saying "hi" to many of them. Maybe arrive a little bit earlier to make it easier.
What classes you choose exactly don't matter too much. Whatever you fancy.
I've only personally done hot yoga. It's a decent option as there were a lot of younger, attractive people there.
What helps is that you're both into fitness.
You can lean on this when talking to any girl at the gym.
I've done a few gym approaches, but they unfortunately didn't lead anywhere.
I did, however, get a number from an employee at the gym before.
That may be an option worth considering. It is harder to read their body language though since they're supposed to be all upbeat and energetic. Still, it's worth a shot.
It's also great to get to know people for the sake of being friends.
If you have a mindset where you're not trying to get girls numbers and hook up, it becomes way easier to approach them.
Like, obviously you want something to happen between you, but she can probably tell when you're genuinely being friendly and not a creep.
It's great if you're introverted and want to get out of your shell a bit. Start lightly engaging with both men and women.
It will become less intimidating, making actual future cold approaching easier as well.