"Manly" Women Unite!

FrauMama · January 2014

Allllright, let's just get back to pictures, shall we?? Geez.

Work hard, play hard. Man up.

devil_in_a_blue_dress · January 2014

Allllright, let's just get back to pictures, shall we?? Geez.

Work hard, play hard. Man up.

HanamiDango · January 2014

I was one of those women who thought weight lifting was for men and that women with the muscle tone was just not what I wanted to be. I wanted to be model skinny. Being on the MFP has really changed my views. Thank you ladies for consistently sharing your progress with us. :flowerforyou:
My husband and I are going to invest in weights and the books mention around the forums. We are going to compete to see who can be more manly. :laugh:

LuLuChick78 · January 2014

Hell on this site the body shaming doesn't stop.

I agree with OP. I love what lifting has done to my body and yes I have been called "manly". That being said, if body shaming is wrong then there are a few comments on this thread that are out of line and body shaming also. I guess it is ok if it isn't happening to you...

Please point out said comments. Being proud of your own body doesn't count as body shaming if no other body types are mentioned as less superior. I saw none of that anywhere. If someone takes offense to us being proud of our strong bodies that we worked for then that is an indication of their own insecurities. That's my take on it at least.

LuLuChick78 · January 2014

Hell on this site the body shaming doesn't stop.

I agree with OP. I love what lifting has done to my body and yes I have been called "manly". That being said, if body shaming is wrong then there are a few comments on this thread that are out of line and body shaming also. I guess it is ok if it isn't happening to you...

Exactly. This is why I didn't start an "Effeminate" Men Unite! thread.

I was confused why "Manly" Women would be a selling point. Maybe it was meant to be sensationalistic for clicks. Why embrace the label of "Manly" if you are a woman? I feel that being a woman is about femininity. I perceive a femininity crisis in Western culture.

Heterosexual men, no matter how beta they are, would never start an "Effeminate" Men Unite thread.

You don't seem to know what the quotations around manly represented.....if you did you would have realized I was defending those of us that some deem "manly" (there are those pesky quotations again just fyi)

Greg50by50 · January 2014

Women who work out are awesome.

I'm married, but I find fit, strong women to be very attractive.

I used to work out with my sister in law and we motivated each other.

People who judge women who build muscle as unattractive are probably intimidated by strong women.

adorable_aly · January 2014

OP Thanks for this thread, I really needed some motivation today :flowerforyou:

Greg50by50 · January 2014

I am assuming the word "manly" is a bit of sarcasm directed at the people who criticize women who are strong right?

Being strong and being female are two traits that were never meant to be exclusive of each other.

LuLuChick78 · January 2014

I am assuming the word "manly" is a bit of sarcasm directed at the people who criticize women who are strong right?

Being strong and being female are two traits that were never meant to be exclusive of each other.

Yes, there were a few threads yesterday that contained females afraid to use weights higher than 3lbs and 5lbs for fear of bulking up (haha). This was my own response to those threads. I expected some haters (which showed themselves just in the last page or so) but overall it has gone well.

wolfsbayne · January 2014

I lift and I really don't care what people think about it. To each his/her own. I'm in it for me, not anyone else. As for the comments that were referred to, there was one about wimpy chicks and one about skinny girls look good in clothes, etc., and one about girls that are afraid to lift are probably too lazy. If this thread is about celebrating women who lift, then celebrate women who lift without commenting about anyone else. Just my 2 cents.

usmcmp · January 2014

I think it is great we can celebrate what our bodies can do that may seem "manly" to some, but showing that we are still fully women. I have more of an hour glass shape now that I have muscle than I ever did before. It has taken years for me to build enough mass to become a natural bodybuilder and I'm still too small to compete as anything other other than a local amateur.

FindingMyPerfection · January 2014

This is a beautiful celebration of strength and beauty. Those who feel it has been in any way an attack on others goals have not taken this thread in the spirit it was posted in. It is perfectly fine if you don't want this type of physique. Just because some like minded people are coming together to celebrate strength does not mean we have in any way shamed or bad mouthed any alternate goals.

LuLuChick78 · January 2014

I lift and I really don't care what people think about it. To each his/her own. I'm in it for me, not anyone else. As for the comments that were referred to, there was one about wimpy chicks and one about skinny girls look good in clothes, etc., and one about girls that are afraid to lift are probably too lazy. If this thread is about celebrating women who lift, then celebrate women who lift without commenting about anyone else. Just my 2 cents.

I don't recall seeing the "wimpy" or "lazy" comments (I could go back and look though...) but the "skinny girls look good in clothes" is a common quote that I have seen over the years. I don't think it was intended as anything other than that...and don't all girls want to look good in clothes? Sorry for the compliment I guess.

ETA: I didn't write any of the comments you mention, so if you desire any further clarification you will have to message the person that did.

LuLuChick78 · January 2014

This is a beautiful celebration of strength and beauty. Those who feel it has been in any way an attack on others goals have not taken this thread in the spirit it was posted in. It is perfectly fine if you don't want this type of physique. Just because some like minded people are coming together to celebrate strength does not mean we have in any way shamed or bad mouthed any alternate goals.

Thank you for that. That is exactly how it was intended. :flowerforyou:

FindingMyPerfection · January 2014

I lift and I really don't care what people think about it. To each his/her own. I'm in it for me, not anyone else. As for the comments that were referred to, there was one about wimpy chicks and one about skinny girls look good in clothes, etc., and one about girls that are afraid to lift are probably too lazy. If this thread is about celebrating women who lift, then celebrate women who lift without commenting about anyone else. Just my 2 cents.

I don't recall seeing the "wimpy" or "lazy" comments (I could go back and look though...) but the "skinny girls look good in clothes" is a common quote that I have seen over the years. I don't think it was intended as anything other than that...and don't all girls want to look good in clothes? Sorry for the compliment I guess.

ETA: I didn't write any of the comments you mention, so if you desire any further clarification you will have to message the person that did.

The lazy comment was in reference to women who think lifting will turn them into massive body builders. The comment was something like: don't worry about it most are to lazy to reach that point. I think it is on the first or second page.

wolfsbayne · January 2014

I lift and I really don't care what people think about it. To each his/her own. I'm in it for me, not anyone else. As for the comments that were referred to, there was one about wimpy chicks and one about skinny girls look good in clothes, etc., and one about girls that are afraid to lift are probably too lazy. If this thread is about celebrating women who lift, then celebrate women who lift without commenting about anyone else. Just my 2 cents.

I don't recall seeing the "wimpy" or "lazy" comments (I could go back and look though...) but the "skinny girls look good in clothes" is a common quote that I have seen over the years. I don't think it was intended as anything other than that...and don't all girls want to look good in clothes? Sorry for the compliment I guess.

ETA: I didn't write any of the comments you mention, so if you desire any further clarification you will have to message the person that did.

Just to clarify, I don't think that the poster referring to the comments said it was the OP that stated them. She just said that a "few" comments. I *did* go back to find the comments I thought she was referring to and they're there. Like I said, I lift and I think it's great that women do it, but to each her own. Like you said in the original post, if you don't want to do it, don't. I couldn't care less what people think I look like. As I posted earlier, why not just celebrate lifting women without the snarky comments about those who don't? *shrugs*

Clarification: I was just pointing out the comments that the poster was referring to in the body shaming comment. I know you didn't make those comments. I think you look great and all of these women that have worked their tail ends off to get the body that they desired look great. My hats off to anyone that takes the initiative to do what it takes to get the body *they* want.

docbrox87 · January 2014

I am sick and tired of reading that girls with muscles are manly. If you personally do not like it, then don't attempt it!

I work my freaking *kitten* off trying to build muscle. As a woman who doesn't use steroids to do so it is a VERY slow process. It takes time, effort and dedication. To hear other women fret about looking "manly" and how they don't want to wake up one day ripped to shreds with bulging muscles is very insulting, naive, uneducated, etc, etc, etc.....

Please educate yourselves before making broad generalizations about a body type that you seem to know nothing about nor wish to attain.

Here are my "manly" muscles. I am quite proud of what I have accomplished in just one year of lifting. I look like this flexed, but unflexed you wouldn't really notice my arms....just saying.

End rant.

We have a saying in Glasgow - " GAWN YERSEL HEN!" which loosely translates as "sack what anyone else says/thinks and do yer thing!"
You look awesome! Wish I could be as ripped as this!

Lisa1971 · January 2014

You look great, OP! FABULOUS!

FindingMyPerfection · January 2014

This is a beautiful celebration of strength and beauty. Those who feel it has been in any way an attack on others goals have not taken this thread in the spirit it was posted in. It is perfectly fine if you don't want this type of physique. Just because some like minded people are coming together to celebrate strength does not mean we have in any way shamed or bad mouthed any alternate goals.

Thank you for that. That is exactly how it was intended. :flowerforyou:

Your shoulders are amazing!

LuLuChick78 · January 2014

This is a beautiful celebration of strength and beauty. Those who feel it has been in any way an attack on others goals have not taken this thread in the spirit it was posted in. It is perfectly fine if you don't want this type of physique. Just because some like minded people are coming together to celebrate strength does not mean we have in any way shamed or bad mouthed any alternate goals.

Thank you for that. That is exactly how it was intended. :flowerforyou:

Your shoulders are amazing!

:blushing:

AZ_Gato · January 2014

I am sick and tired of reading that girls with muscles are manly. If you personally do not like it, then don't attempt it!

I work my freaking *kitten* off trying to build muscle. As a woman who doesn't use steroids to do so it is a VERY slow process. It takes time, effort and dedication. To hear other women fret about looking "manly" and how they don't want to wake up one day ripped to shreds with bulging muscles is very insulting, naive, uneducated, etc, etc, etc.....

Please educate yourselves before making broad generalizations about a body type that you seem to know nothing about nor wish to attain.

Here are my "manly" muscles. I am quite proud of what I have accomplished in just one year of lifting. I look like this flexed, but unflexed you wouldn't really notice my arms....just saying.

End rant.

What a beautiful body you've sculpted LuLu. Love the example you've set for other manly ladies on here ; )

Keep killing it you sexy beasts!

Briargrey · January 2014

Speaking of awesomely muscular woman, my daughter and I were walking down the stairs from the 4th floor free weights room to the basement locker room when the crossfitters overtook the stairs to run. One of the women had SUCH amazing muscle tone and looked SO fabulous I wanted to run after her and let her know I thought she looked awesome. I was super envious of her calves and thighs.

I didn't because...

1. It might be unwelcome and seen as creepy
2. Dear freaking god, she was in shape and no way in HELL was I going to be able to catch her.

So hey, if you do crossfit, you're in central WA, and you workout at the Y and were on the stairs today - you look amazing. In a non-creepy way. Totally.

Fit is hot. All the pix here prove that! [Non-fit can also be hot, not saying otherwise - I got plenty of appreciation regardless of my weight from my other half (and the random stranger from time to time)].

PghPensFan69 · January 2014

The January vs July pic is awesome!

anji888 · January 2014

I would consider myself lucky to be as manly as you are by this time next year.

People are dumb. I ignore them (and vice versa, I'm sure). Keep up the great work!

karllundy · January 2014

This thread has made profile creeping for hot beautiful women so easssyyyyy

lol joking!

No, you're not

I'm not either...
:happy:

MicheleWE · January 2014

I think you all look fantastic! I've been working at it for a year now and I know how much hard work has to be done to get where you are, or maybe I don't know because as hard as I have worked I still am not anywhere near where I'd like to be. So my hat is off to you!