Why do so many ladies not lift?
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quiksylver296 wrote: »SingRunTing 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...
Or perhaps in addition to. It's not like you can't do both.0 -
SingRunTing 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.
These things were the best money I ever spent. You won't regret it. I miss my home gym so much! (I moved and couldn't take it with me).0 -
At my gym the weights section is a bloody sausage fest. Depressing looking at blokes. I would love there to be more girls lifting instead of on the cardio machines facing the wall for an hour. My gym is like a bloody school disco. All of the men in one corner lifting weights and all of the girls over the other end doing cardio. Neither making eye contact. I've seen one girl brave enough to go into the free weight section this month and that was only to pick up a dumbbell to take to the mats over the other side of the room to do situps.0
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quiksylver296 wrote: »SingRunTing 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...
Or perhaps in addition to. It's not like you can't do both.
Not disagreeing, but she was worried about watching videos that promote bad form because anyone can post on Youtube. So, I offered another option that would likely allay that particular fear.0 -
Ya, I'm subscribed to Alan Thrall and Scott Herman.0
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SingRunTing wrote: »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.
Read StrongLifts website for all of their lifts. There are some videos along with photos. If you want more, you can youtube Mark Rippetoe and watch anything he is in.
As for the rack, just put the safeties slightly under where you naturally move with the bar. Basically, they should be there to catch the weight if you fail, but out of the way otherwise.0 -
I have started to seriously lift. I did have to build up to even be able to do the 45 lb bar. I never dreamed of doing it prior to MFP. Not because of bulking or DOMS or men only sections in the gym, but because I enjoyed my cardio soooo much. I started doing strength training to enhance my cardio, and I loved it! I am starting the SL 5X5. There are mostly men in the racks and the women there are no where close to my age. I do have DOMS. I want to bulk my arms, legs, and butt hoping it will take up some of the saggy skin space were I lost the fat. I want my boobs to shrink. Bring it!0
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Thanks everyone! This was helpful. I'm glad I clicked on this thread...0
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I am really lazy. I like lifting but hate all the setup time. Swapping out plates, etc. I lift at home without a spotter or a rack. So I've been doing dumbbell squats instead of barbell because I have no method of getting the weight I can actually squat on my back otherwise. But because I don't have enough plates for more than one set of dumbbells right now and because I hate swapping all my plates, I just use the same weights for all my dumbbell exercises (doing bent rows, goblet squats, overhead press, bench press, and triceps with a single dumbbell if I actually remember, supplement with some knee pushups). This means I'm restricted by whatever my weakest exercise is, probably the overhead press, and so my rows and squats are probably lighter weights than they should be. But I have been able to slowly increase, and it gets me lifting. Eventually I'll get more plates so I can use my second set of dumbbells and then have a lighter set and heavier set for each day. I should probably be deadlifting too with my barbell, but again lack of plates for everything, and my house is kind of a mess so it's stuck behind some stuff right now. Some day! Gotta start somewhere!0
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Personally I am a dancer. That's what I got my degree in. That's my life. So, dancing takes priority. Things like yoga are supportive of my dance training. Kick boxing can as well. Although the cardio component can sometimes lead to overuse injury for my specific situation. I wouldn't bother doing cardio in a gym, I don't think. I also walk a lot as transportation. I do lift weights. It's a great way to increase strength, fitness, and prevent injury. I have weights at home. However I have a long history of structural issues I have had to deal with and major injuries (not from dancing). So, I have a number of issues: structural, with my nervous system, etc. There are some things I can't lift heavy with. So, everyone is different. But, it's not because of misperceptions due to my gender. Plenty of men don't lift weights for their own reasons as well. It's often just personal preference.0
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Who cares?
Honestly I wish every woman would lift- because it would probably go a LONG way to improving the mass social issues of extreme low self esteem issues. ... but- most people who are having these discussions- have access to the internet- and google.
They can figure it out.
So- I say - who cares.
As long as they aren't on my squat rack getting in my way of my road to massive bulkiness- then whatever- they can lift- not lift whatever they want.0 -
Who cares?
Honestly I wish every woman would lift- because it would probably go a LONG way to improving the mass social issues of extreme low self esteem issues. ... but- most people who are having these discussions- have access to the internet- and google.
They can figure it out.
So- I say - who cares.
As long as they aren't on my squat rack getting in my way of my road to massive bulkiness- then whatever- they can lift- not lift whatever they want.
You are rocking that av @JoRocka0 -
Intimidation is probably the answer. I still feel intimidated going near the free weights area...I use mostly machines.0
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cookielover_96 wrote: »Intimidation is probably the answer. I still feel intimidated going near the free weights area...I use mostly machines.
It can nerve-wracking at first, but people are usually focused on themselves and some gym goer's would be more than willing to show you the ins and outs of lifting.0 -
I wasn't interested in lifting because I thought it would make me bigger so I never used more than 5 lbs. at first.
A friend bought me The New Rules of Lifting for Women book and it completely changed my thought process and I begun reading and researching further.
Eventually I joined a Body Pump type class. While I increased my endurance, I found that I needed more so I left the class. Looking back it was more cardio than strength-training IMO.
I slowly started building up my home gym with heavier weights, various equipment and exercise dvd's. Chalean Extreme was the first at home weight program I used. I loved it and saw some nice results.
Before I knew it my body was changing. I slowly started getting tighter, the wobbly bits were getting firmer, my posture improved and inches were melting off of me from everywhere. This motivated me to keep going.
Later on the scale stalled. After much frustration I hid the scale and kept doing what I was doing because I was loving my results and was starting to develop that "V" shape in the back that I admire on other fit women.
Lifting (and fast walking) has given me my dream body of having a healthy mix of lean muscle and solid curves. I believe it has also made me have no major loose skin issues after losing and keeping off 80 lbs.
Lifting leans out the body, it doesn't bulk it up for women. That takes a lot of work and discipline. There are so many benefits, especially as we get older. However, if someone is not interested, that's okay too. We all have to find activities we enjoy.
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Skip to 40 seconds to get to the point...
https://youtu.be/QHwgXjfBsaY?t=40s 0 -
blues4miles wrote: »I am really lazy. I like lifting but hate all the setup time. Swapping out plates, etc. I lift at home without a spotter or a rack. So I've been doing dumbbell squats instead of barbell because I have no method of getting the weight I can actually squat on my back otherwise.
I lifted at home for years without a rack, and then finally got one about 3 years ago. It makes a HUGE difference. It's way easier and more convenient. I can't recommend a rack enough, and even a cheap WalMart one is fine unless you plan on lifting 400+ pounds.
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summerdaze120 wrote: »Skip to 40 seconds to get to the point...https://youtu.be/QHwgXjfBsaY?t=40s
Ya...good video0 -
I LOVE weight training....I always do cardio as well but dont enjoy it nearly as much as lifting. Sometimes I have to slow myself down lol0
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I know more than nothing about the process of gaining muscle and training and anything to do with anything (I'm just being honest, I'm such a newbie it hurts) but I think it's that:
1. Women don't want to get muscly/bulky and etc.
2. They don't find any need/want to lift. Most women want a flat stomach and a nice booty, and most assume that lifting heavy weights isn't going to give them that tight belly and butt so they skip the dumbells and such and start on their crunches. Not many people get educated in fitness, they do what they've heard/think will work. Also could be that they simply don't find a need to work their arms and so on (again, lack of knowledge in a lot of people).0 -
Sabine_Stroehm wrote: »I think it is often because of misinformation:
afraid of bulk (this is still in the media)
or just not knowing it's good for you
or just not knowing how to start
I was lucky. I joined a pretty good gym in 1996 to work out with a friend who was a serious lifter. I hired a trainer right off the bat, and worked out with my friend. I was able to learn a ton and move forward from there.
I do see more women lifting "for reals" than I did in 1996.
But even now, with the media, it's a challenge. I clicked on a tab about the importance of strength training for women and was immediately bombarded with pictures of women in tights with 3Lb weights.
Lifting heavy is about lifting heavy for YOU. Maybe those 3lb weights are really heavy for them...?
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I started lifting heavy none of this 8 lb stuff 8 weeks ago. I hAve dropped 6.8% in body fat and 11lbs. I eat 6 meals a day all With protein and lift mon wed Friday Tuesday Thursday Saturday cardio spinning or running
Running on the treadmill and spinning on the bike doesn't do the trick. Sorry. Try it you might like it. Squats, deadlifts, thrusts, over head press and more!0 -
Here gyms in Asia, lifting area are dominated by guys. You're lucky to even see any girl around there. And being Asians are more conservative and shy, it's hard to go to area fully dominated by male without getting stares at you. Very very awkward.
So this is my difficulty.0 -
Here gyms in Asia, lifting area are dominated by guys. You're lucky to even see any girl around there. And being Asians are more conservative and shy, it's hard to go to area fully dominated by male without getting stares at you. Very very awkward.
So this is my difficulty.
Ya, it's too bad that this is the way the gym is. I guess you just have to not care what others think and do your own thing.0 -
Bump0
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Because not everyone likes to lift? And like someone else said perhaps they're doing their lifting elsewhere. Just because you don't see someone doing it doesn't mean they're not.0
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