Emily!

Yes! I had a lot of problems at first! A few trips back to the store to see what I was doing wrong, and I even had an offer from Speedplay customer service to send me ones that were already broken in. But, after a few nights of practicing in my living room, it just 'happened' - it became pretty easy. A few drops of lube might help too. Apparently, they are known for being very stiff at first. Stick with them!

I love the pedals - I get just enough float to make my knees happy, and I can set the release angle/float limit to be just outside of where I need them for riding.

For what it's worth, I'm 5'4", and weigh between 115 and 120. I thought the same thing, but it seems much better now that they're broken in.
Leslie2