Why do so many ladies not lift?

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Replies

  • RGv2
    RGv2 Posts: 5,789 Member
    edited December 2015
    JaneiR36 wrote: »
    RGv2 wrote: »
    rainbowbow wrote: »
    RGv2 wrote: »
    rainbowbow wrote: »
    Why the stereotype here?

    I'll be honest, i'm kind of getting tired of this generalization coupled with the fact that women *must* lift weights if they want to be "cool, fit, attractive" and so on. It's perpetuated on MyFitnessPal so much that it's borderline ridiculous.

    If some woman prefers to dance, to run, to swim, to play tennis, to do WHATEVER, why is she barred from the *cool kids club*? I'm just saying.

    Let's not even get into the fact not not everyone wants to look like a bodybuilder or a fitness model.

    Well said.

    I concur! I put a lot of effort into becoming a runner over the last year, because I'd rather be able to run than lift. I am slim now, but quite fluffy, so I've done some lifting. I saw some results and I keep it up a little, but the feeling I get from lifting is nothing to the adrenaline rush and pure joy I felt when I finally ran a 25 min 5k. It's horses for courses, isn't it? If a lady doesn't lift because she's scared or intimidated, that might be sad, but if a lady doesn't lift because she doesn't want to, then what's the big deal? Sure, sculpted abs might be awesome, but give me a lung-bursting run any day.

    Why not both, especially if it means improving your 5K time. Getting more serious in the weight room definitely assisted my running and helped me break 20 min (5K)/43 min (10K), and I didn't make any changes to my cardio regimen.

    Why does it always have to be one or the other with some people?

    I hope you can see the irony in this statement.

    Enlighten me.

    I'm not sure, but the woman did say she keeps up with her lifting a little. It was the first thing that jumped out at me when I read your initial response

    A little....that what you're hanging the irony hat on......alrighty then.
  • MelodyandBarbells
    MelodyandBarbells Posts: 7,724 Member
    RGv2 wrote: »
    JaneiR36 wrote: »
    RGv2 wrote: »
    rainbowbow wrote: »
    RGv2 wrote: »
    rainbowbow wrote: »
    Why the stereotype here?

    I'll be honest, i'm kind of getting tired of this generalization coupled with the fact that women *must* lift weights if they want to be "cool, fit, attractive" and so on. It's perpetuated on MyFitnessPal so much that it's borderline ridiculous.

    If some woman prefers to dance, to run, to swim, to play tennis, to do WHATEVER, why is she barred from the *cool kids club*? I'm just saying.

    Let's not even get into the fact not not everyone wants to look like a bodybuilder or a fitness model.

    Well said.

    I concur! I put a lot of effort into becoming a runner over the last year, because I'd rather be able to run than lift. I am slim now, but quite fluffy, so I've done some lifting. I saw some results and I keep it up a little, but the feeling I get from lifting is nothing to the adrenaline rush and pure joy I felt when I finally ran a 25 min 5k. It's horses for courses, isn't it? If a lady doesn't lift because she's scared or intimidated, that might be sad, but if a lady doesn't lift because she doesn't want to, then what's the big deal? Sure, sculpted abs might be awesome, but give me a lung-bursting run any day.

    Why not both, especially if it means improving your 5K time. Getting more serious in the weight room definitely assisted my running and helped me break 20 min (5K)/43 min (10K), and I didn't make any changes to my cardio regimen.

    Why does it always have to be one or the other with some people?

    I hope you can see the irony in this statement.

    Enlighten me.

    I'm not sure, but the woman did say she keeps up with her lifting a little. It was the first thing that jumped out at me when I read your initial response

    A little....that what you're hanging the irony hat on......alrighty then.

    Literally prefaced my statement with "I'm not sure" [if that's where the irony is coming from]. You'd have to ask the lifter/runner what "a little" means in her context. Example, For a marathoner, "a little" lifting could still be a couple times a week
  • ilovesweeties
    ilovesweeties Posts: 84 Member
    JaneiR36 wrote: »
    RGv2 wrote: »
    JaneiR36 wrote: »
    RGv2 wrote: »
    rainbowbow wrote: »
    RGv2 wrote: »
    rainbowbow wrote: »
    Why the stereotype here?

    I'll be honest, i'm kind of getting tired of this generalization coupled with the fact that women *must* lift weights if they want to be "cool, fit, attractive" and so on. It's perpetuated on MyFitnessPal so much that it's borderline ridiculous.

    If some woman prefers to dance, to run, to swim, to play tennis, to do WHATEVER, why is she barred from the *cool kids club*? I'm just saying.

    Let's not even get into the fact not not everyone wants to look like a bodybuilder or a fitness model.

    Well said.

    I concur! I put a lot of effort into becoming a runner over the last year, because I'd rather be able to run than lift. I am slim now, but quite fluffy, so I've done some lifting. I saw some results and I keep it up a little, but the feeling I get from lifting is nothing to the adrenaline rush and pure joy I felt when I finally ran a 25 min 5k. It's horses for courses, isn't it? If a lady doesn't lift because she's scared or intimidated, that might be sad, but if a lady doesn't lift because she doesn't want to, then what's the big deal? Sure, sculpted abs might be awesome, but give me a lung-bursting run any day.

    Why not both, especially if it means improving your 5K time. Getting more serious in the weight room definitely assisted my running and helped me break 20 min (5K)/43 min (10K), and I didn't make any changes to my cardio regimen.

    Why does it always have to be one or the other with some people?

    I hope you can see the irony in this statement.

    Enlighten me.

    I'm not sure, but the woman did say she keeps up with her lifting a little. It was the first thing that jumped out at me when I read your initial response

    A little....that what you're hanging the irony hat on......alrighty then.

    Literally prefaced my statement with "I'm not sure" [if that's where the irony is coming from]. You'd have to ask the lifter/runner what "a little" means in her context. Example, For a marathoner, "a little" lifting could still be a couple times a week

    "A little" lifting, for me, means working out once a week with weights, progressive loading, and once or twice a week bodyweight work. I am also running two or three times a week. I only have access to free weights once a week. It's not exactly "all or nothing", but I am prepared only to fit 4-5 half hour exercise sessions into my week. Exercise is a priority, but I don't want to make it any more of a focus. However, I am prepared to accept slower (or no) progress because of that. I have chosen to focus more on running, because I feel like I get more out of it, physically and mentally. There's one other reason I initially started with running- I really wanted to be able to catch my kids in a game of tag and not be out of breath in the first 10 seconds. Perhaps that's just what I should have said first off!
  • LKArgh
    LKArgh Posts: 5,178 Member
    edited December 2015
    kimiuzzell wrote: »
    Justin Bieber????? Ohhhkaaaay.....!!!

    I had to pick some dude with no muscles - he was the first one that came to mind LOL

    I am definitely not a fan, so I was not even sure how he looks and you made me google him. He does not appear like a good example of a no-muscle boy. I suspect the average teen stepping in a weight room would be more than thrilled to eventually look like him.
  • BinaryPulsar
    BinaryPulsar Posts: 8,927 Member
    I think this is often a worry of the significant others of women. I know my hubby thinks I'm going to get bigger muscles than him LOL. My response... "you better lift too so you can stay ahead of me."

    I lift the weights. And then my husband lifts me.
  • RoseTheWarrior
    RoseTheWarrior Posts: 2,035 Member
    aggelikik wrote: »
    kimiuzzell wrote: »
    Justin Bieber????? Ohhhkaaaay.....!!!

    I had to pick some dude with no muscles - he was the first one that came to mind LOL

    I am definitely not a fan, so I was not even sure how he looks and you made me google him. He does not appear like a good example of a no-muscle boy. I suspect the average teen stepping in a weight room would be more than thrilled to eventually look like him.

    He must have started working out since the last time I saw his pic. He was a skinny dude with stupid hair - that's what I remember : :p
  • mbaker566
    mbaker566 Posts: 11,233 Member
    joinn68 wrote: »
    aggelikik wrote: »
    moyer566 wrote: »
    Many women lift here

    I don't lift, I don't want to. I lift myself and have no interest in weights
    23571433661_52be5de1c0_n.jpg

    I am so jealous ! I have wanted to try this for so long, but I suffer from vertigo which I have been told is one of the very few reasons not to try aerial yoga :( I have a friend who teaches, and even she would not let me.

    Until I saw your comment and had a second look, I thought (and wondering why) the picture as upside down B)

    I do love inversions
    14229650093_235ebeca70_n.jpgr
  • LKArgh
    LKArgh Posts: 5,178 Member
    aggelikik wrote: »
    kimiuzzell wrote: »
    Justin Bieber????? Ohhhkaaaay.....!!!

    I had to pick some dude with no muscles - he was the first one that came to mind LOL

    I am definitely not a fan, so I was not even sure how he looks and you made me google him. He does not appear like a good example of a no-muscle boy. I suspect the average teen stepping in a weight room would be more than thrilled to eventually look like him.

    He must have started working out since the last time I saw his pic. He was a skinny dude with stupid hair - that's what I remember : :p

    Stupid hair still there :)
  • codsterlaing95
    codsterlaing95 Posts: 221 Member
    I think this is often a worry of the significant others of women. I know my hubby thinks I'm going to get bigger muscles than him LOL. My response... "you better lift too so you can stay ahead of me."

    I lift the weights. And then my husband lifts me.

    Haha!!!
  • codsterlaing95
    codsterlaing95 Posts: 221 Member
    moyer566 wrote: »
    joinn68 wrote: »
    aggelikik wrote: »
    moyer566 wrote: »
    Many women lift here

    I don't lift, I don't want to. I lift myself and have no interest in weights
    23571433661_52be5de1c0_n.jpg

    I am so jealous ! I have wanted to try this for so long, but I suffer from vertigo which I have been told is one of the very few reasons not to try aerial yoga :( I have a friend who teaches, and even she would not let me.

    Until I saw your comment and had a second look, I thought (and wondering why) the picture as upside down B)

    I do love inversions
    14229650093_235ebeca70_n.jpgr

    Not sure I'd do that myself.
  • dbanks80
    dbanks80 Posts: 3,685 Member
    I lift everyday. Although I hate the burn feeling I see benefits in my body
  • ForecasterJason
    ForecasterJason Posts: 2,577 Member
    dbanks80 wrote: »
    I lift everyday. Although I hate the burn feeling I see benefits in my body
    I'm not sure I've seen that reason stated before in this thread, but I suspect that could be another valid answer to the question of why many women don't lift.

  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    dbanks80 wrote: »
    I lift everyday. Although I hate the burn feeling I see benefits in my body
    I'm not sure I've seen that reason stated before in this thread, but I suspect that could be another valid answer to the question of why many women don't lift.

    What? Because we are famous for having low pain thresholds or something? :huh:

    Women cope as well with DOMS as men do, and tbh they're not limited to lifting nor are they necessarily the result of a workout
  • BinaryPulsar
    BinaryPulsar Posts: 8,927 Member
    Women have higher pain thresholds. Scientifically.
  • ForecasterJason
    ForecasterJason Posts: 2,577 Member
    edited December 2015
    rabbitjb wrote: »
    dbanks80 wrote: »
    I lift everyday. Although I hate the burn feeling I see benefits in my body
    I'm not sure I've seen that reason stated before in this thread, but I suspect that could be another valid answer to the question of why many women don't lift.

    What? Because we are famous for having low pain thresholds or something? :huh:

    Women cope as well with DOMS as men do, and tbh they're not limited to lifting nor are they necessarily the result of a workout
    No, what I meant was her comment about not liking the burn feeling. In other words, maybe that's something that deters more women from lifting.

  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    rabbitjb wrote: »
    dbanks80 wrote: »
    I lift everyday. Although I hate the burn feeling I see benefits in my body
    I'm not sure I've seen that reason stated before in this thread, but I suspect that could be another valid answer to the question of why many women don't lift.

    What? Because we are famous for having low pain thresholds or something? :huh:

    Women cope as well with DOMS as men do, and tbh they're not limited to lifting nor are they necessarily the result of a workout
    No, what I meant was her comment about not liking the burn feeling. In other words, maybe that's something that deters more women from lifting.

    Are we talking about soreness? What burn? I've never felt burning.
  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    jemhh wrote: »
    rabbitjb wrote: »
    dbanks80 wrote: »
    I lift everyday. Although I hate the burn feeling I see benefits in my body
    I'm not sure I've seen that reason stated before in this thread, but I suspect that could be another valid answer to the question of why many women don't lift.

    What? Because we are famous for having low pain thresholds or something? :huh:

    Women cope as well with DOMS as men do, and tbh they're not limited to lifting nor are they necessarily the result of a workout
    No, what I meant was her comment about not liking the burn feeling. In other words, maybe that's something that deters more women from lifting.

    Are we talking about soreness? What burn? I've never felt burning.

    Only if I took too much PWO.
  • ForecasterJason
    ForecasterJason Posts: 2,577 Member
    jemhh wrote:
    Are we talking about soreness? What burn? I've never felt burning.
    dbanks80 wrote: »
    I lift everyday. Although I hate the burn feeling I see benefits in my body

    My guess is she's referring to the acidic buildup in the muscles (see this article). Granted, this isn't exclusively limited to weight lifting.
  • summerdaze120
    summerdaze120 Posts: 425 Member
    edited December 2015
    For me, I never really thought about lifting heavy as a way to lose weight. I was always under the impression that to lose weight you had to move your body and eat less. It seemed to me that everyone in the weights section was already in shape and was just "toning up" for the hell of it. I guess I thought they had lost weight from cardio and then went to weight lifting. Also, as others have said, once I realized how beneficial weight training really was, I was still apprehensive to try it by myself - that's why I got a PT to show me the ropes. I lift heavy 3 days a week and I am loving every minute of it! Super addictive once you see your body transforming.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    moyer566 wrote: »
    joinn68 wrote: »
    aggelikik wrote: »
    moyer566 wrote: »
    Many women lift here

    I don't lift, I don't want to. I lift myself and have no interest in weights
    23571433661_52be5de1c0_n.jpg

    I am so jealous ! I have wanted to try this for so long, but I suffer from vertigo which I have been told is one of the very few reasons not to try aerial yoga :( I have a friend who teaches, and even she would not let me.

    Until I saw your comment and had a second look, I thought (and wondering why) the picture as upside down B)

    I do love inversions
    14229650093_235ebeca70_n.jpgr
    Not sure I'd do that myself.

    I'm a yoga teacher and while I know nothing about aerial yoga, this looks to be easier on the body than a traditional handstand.
  • codsterlaing95
    codsterlaing95 Posts: 221 Member
    For me, I never really thought about lifting heavy as a way to lose weight. I was always under the impression that to lose weight you had to move your body and eat less. It seemed to me that everyone in the weights section was already in shape and was just "toning up" for the hell of it. I guess I thought they had lost weight from cardio and then went to weight lifting. Also, as others have said, once I realized how beneficial weight training really was, I was still apprehensive to try it by myself - that's why I got a PT to show me the ropes. I lift heavy 3 days a week and I am loving every minute of it! Super addictive once you see your body transforming.

    Amen, although I never use the word "toning up"
  • LKArgh
    LKArgh Posts: 5,178 Member
    rabbitjb wrote: »
    dbanks80 wrote: »
    I lift everyday. Although I hate the burn feeling I see benefits in my body
    I'm not sure I've seen that reason stated before in this thread, but I suspect that could be another valid answer to the question of why many women don't lift.

    What? Because we are famous for having low pain thresholds or something? :huh:

    Women cope as well with DOMS as men do, and tbh they're not limited to lifting nor are they necessarily the result of a workout
    No, what I meant was her comment about not liking the burn feeling. In other words, maybe that's something that deters more women from lifting.

    I experience a much more intense burn feeling when sprinting, or swimming fast or doing a large volume of bodyweight squats than when I am lifting heavy, so this makes no sense to me.
  • 47Jacqueline
    47Jacqueline Posts: 6,993 Member
    Have you ever seen a guy in a cardio class? They rarely last the entire hour.

    With weights and women, the perception that they're going to bulk up is incredibly pervasive no matter how many times they hear they won't or even see that we don't.
  • LivingtheLeanDream
    LivingtheLeanDream Posts: 13,342 Member
    I never thought of lifting prior to finding MFP, its not something people know much about, we are inclined to think body builders I guess?.... then I read all I could about it on the forums, saw how others had achieved great results, started lifting and haven't looked back! Lifting rocks :smiley:
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    Have you ever seen a guy in a cardio class? They rarely last the entire hour.

    With weights and women, the perception that they're going to bulk up is incredibly pervasive no matter how many times they hear they won't or even see that we don't.



    Awesome New av @47Jacqueline
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    I don't really talk about exercise with that many people IRL. However, the people in my office (all women and all pretty outspoken) know that I lift and nobody has ever said anything like "oh you'll get bulky." I'm not sure if that is due to good manners, not thinking that lifting weights = bulkiness, or the fact that I've lost weight (gotten smaller) while lifting.
  • mbaker566
    mbaker566 Posts: 11,233 Member
    edited December 2015
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    moyer566 wrote: »
    joinn68 wrote: »
    aggelikik wrote: »
    moyer566 wrote: »
    Many women lift here

    I don't lift, I don't want to. I lift myself and have no interest in weights
    23571433661_52be5de1c0_n.jpg

    I am so jealous ! I have wanted to try this for so long, but I suffer from vertigo which I have been told is one of the very few reasons not to try aerial yoga :( I have a friend who teaches, and even she would not let me.

    Until I saw your comment and had a second look, I thought (and wondering why) the picture as upside down B)

    I do love inversions
    14229650093_235ebeca70_n.jpgr
    Not sure I'd do that myself.

    I'm a yoga teacher and while I know nothing about aerial yoga, this looks to be easier on the body than a traditional handstand.

    it is. i have a form of myalgia and that why i started doing it. it supports when i need it too and then there is all the body lifts that you have to do. here is an article that just came out. and an album of basic-ish moves we teach. it's great. I teach a more restorative aerial yoga version wednesdays. last week, we did aerial yoga for headaches :)
    and from here, you can move on to the aerial arts where there is even more body weight work.
    //endhijack but this is why i don't lift
  • SingRunTing
    SingRunTing Posts: 2,604 Member
    I want to lift. My husband and I are saving up to buy a house right now and we've already talked about buying some home lifting equipment. He wants an olympic barbell with weights and a bench. I said we should add a squat rack.

    In my head, I know that to lift at home without a spotter I can do it safely with proper form and with the rack. But that's the extent of my knowledge. I have no idea what "proper form" looks like or how to use the rack. No clue. And youtube has a ton of shady videos and I don't know which ones to trust or not.

    It would be helpful (and might already exist) if there was a group here with links to youtube videos for the basics of lifting. What proper form looks like for each movement and how to set up the safety bars or whatever for squats, bench presses, etc. I'd like to know what is or is not a reputable video that I can trust.

    In the meantime, I've been following the "You are your own gym" program to build some base strength. I mean, I can't even do 1 pull up, so at this point anything is better than nothing.
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    I want to lift. My husband and I are saving up to buy a house right now and we've already talked about buying some home lifting equipment. He wants an olympic barbell with weights and a bench. I said we should add a squat rack.

    In my head, I know that to lift at home without a spotter I can do it safely with proper form and with the rack. But that's the extent of my knowledge. I have no idea what "proper form" looks like or how to use the rack. No clue. And youtube has a ton of shady videos and I don't know which ones to trust or not.

    It would be helpful (and might already exist) if there was a group here with links to youtube videos for the basics of lifting. What proper form looks like for each movement and how to set up the safety bars or whatever for squats, bench presses, etc. I'd like to know what is or is not a reputable video that I can trust.

    In the meantime, I've been following the "You are your own gym" program to build some base strength. I mean, I can't even do 1 pull up, so at this point anything is better than nothing.

    I have found that the following people on youtube are helpful to watch: Alan Thrall, the Buff Dudes, and Scott Herman. There are others for sure but I tend to get more out of their videos than others.
  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    jemhh wrote: »
    I want to lift. My husband and I are saving up to buy a house right now and we've already talked about buying some home lifting equipment. He wants an olympic barbell with weights and a bench. I said we should add a squat rack.

    In my head, I know that to lift at home without a spotter I can do it safely with proper form and with the rack. But that's the extent of my knowledge. I have no idea what "proper form" looks like or how to use the rack. No clue. And youtube has a ton of shady videos and I don't know which ones to trust or not.

    It would be helpful (and might already exist) if there was a group here with links to youtube videos for the basics of lifting. What proper form looks like for each movement and how to set up the safety bars or whatever for squats, bench presses, etc. I'd like to know what is or is not a reputable video that I can trust.

    In the meantime, I've been following the "You are your own gym" program to build some base strength. I mean, I can't even do 1 pull up, so at this point anything is better than nothing.

    I have found that the following people on youtube are helpful to watch: Alan Thrall, the Buff Dudes, and Scott Herman. There are others for sure but I tend to get more out of their videos than others.

    Or watch videos on bodybuilding.com rather than youtube...