Why the gym feels different in 2025 — and what the data hints at Something feels different when you walk into the gym these days. The racks are still full, the weights are still missing in pairs like someone stole them for a home project, and the vibes are still “let me fix my life in 45 minutes,” but the crowd has shifted. There just aren’t as many women loading up barbells, chalking their hands, or filming hip-thrust PRs. It’s not that women suddenly stopped lifting heavy.