"Toning" aka fear of lifting heavy

MrsCon40

Ladies... please take a look at my profile picture. I am not really looking to lose any more weight but I am looking to reduce my body fat a little more.

I like looking like a woman - and I think my curves are beautiful.

If you looked at my pic and thought that my routine includes "toning" you would be wrong. My routine includes lifting weights heavy enough that 10 reps are difficult to complete. I have been at it for a few months now. I have stopped losing weight but I am going through pants sizes faster than my paychecks arrive.

Please don't be afaid of lifting weights. It will not make you look like a man and will very like cause drastic shrinking - not bulking.

Throw away those pink dumbells and join me in picking up things made of metal and solid rubber.

:flowerforyou:

ETA: my husband has proclaimed that our family's new favorite past time is punching me in the stomach. he wasn't prepared for what he'd hit the first time and honestly hurt his hand. HAHA

Matt_Wild

Well said. The only way you will grow lifting heavy is when you have a calorie excess and when you are dieting, this is impossible.. You WON'T get bigger going heavy, just more shapely.

addisondisease2

Marry me, oh wait i am already married to a hottie who squats atg and dead-lifts... well a man will be very lucky to have you.

STRONG IS THE NEW SKINNY!

infamousmk

I LIFT HEAVY THINGS! And I have 50+ pounds to lose. That's also totally okay, and probably really smart.

hottottie11

I started heavy lifting and looked what happened to me:

I went from this in 2009:



To this...and there is less than 10 lb difference in weight:







And these legs can press 270 lb and squat/lunge 120 lbs

CakeFit21

<---- lifts heavy things and eats lots of FOOD.

scott091501

As someone who is just about done with his NASM cert what kills me more are the trainers who perpetuate this. Makes my head spin Exorcist style when I see it in the gym.

funkycamper

Totally agree. I went down a pants size in the last month but have only lost 1#. All due to lifting heavy (well, heavy for me, not really heavy yet). And I only do it once or twice a week and do HIIT and other exercising on other days.

Yanicka1

<

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lifting heavy gave me a flat belly after giving birth to 6 babies

addisondisease2

Lifting heavy means lifting heavy FOR YOU. A year ago 150 pounds on a dead-lift was heavy for me, a few months ago 365lbs was heavy, now 455 is heavy. But you ask a pro powerlifter and 700-900 is heavy for them. "Heavy" is relative, as long as you are trying hard you will see progress.

Leave the pink plastic weights where they belong... in the trash.

HeidiMightyRawr

Well said!

<<<<<<< Lifts heavy.. Was even in a calorie surplus for 6 months last year to build some muscle - still don't look like a man! Honestly, lifting heavy has got me in better shape than I ever was even when I weighed less, and so much stronger!

Pre-MFP: 150lbs, ~27% bf%
Jan 2012: 150lbs, ~22% bf%

bahacca

OMG-I looked at your profile pics and saw Darla and just lost it. My DH has started calling me Darla since I've been lifting heavy!LOL

grapenutSF

Another vote here for lifting heavy. See ya on the boys' side of the gym!

jrditt

Just started lifting heavy and I love how powerful it makes me feel. Curious though about how much more you all are eating now that you are lifting multiple times a week? I'll go search for answers!

unhinge

Totally agree. I went down a pants size in the last month but have only lost 1#. All due to lifting heavy (well, heavy for me, not really heavy yet). And I only do it once or twice a week and do HIIT and other exercising on other days.

Yep, I lift heavy for me, a couple times a week and I am down sizing!!! Don't really care about the number on the scale as long as I look better this year than I did last year!!!! Wahhahahah!!

AlbertPooHoles

Fantastic thread. :drinker:

scott091501

Just started lifting heavy and I love how powerful it makes me feel. Curious though about how much more you all are eating now that you are lifting multiple times a week? I'll go search for answers!

I lifted when I was fat honestly. Now that I do triathlons I still lift heavy, but have just adjusted my definition of heavy.

I think people tend to over estimate the amount of cals that lifting burns. I'd eat somewhere around maintenance w/o the lifting figured in if you're looking to lose. It will give you enough in the calorie dept to power through workouts and allow you to slowly lose.

scott091501

I love to see all the ladies saying their waists shrunk while lifting heavy. IMO perhaps the best ab exercises are heavy squats and deads. You get more work stabilizing than you'd ever imagine.

addisondisease2

Just started lifting heavy and I love how powerful it makes me feel. Curious though about how much more you all are eating now that you are lifting multiple times a week? I'll go search for answers!

Learn about bulking and cutting. I just got done with a 2.5 month bulk where i was eating 3,000 - 4,000 cal a day. I have friends who eat 7,000 a day!

angel_north

Low weights, high Reps if you go heavy weights low Reps. Tone maybe try Zumba

grneyecowgirl

I totally agree with you when I started lifting and getting toned it wasnt about the weight anymore I based it on jean size because I was having to buy new jeans every 2 weeks when I went from a size 7 to a size 3. and I actully gained 2# but I wasnt upset I didnt want to be skinny fat... Know what they say strong is the new skinny!!! I got awesome results last yr doing p90x. Right now Im doing Jillian Micheals because I let myself go a little its time to get down to business..

LorinaLynn

My profile pics are from June and January. My weight is only 2# difference since then. I started lifting heavy in July. Pretty sure I don't look like a man.

My dog (a Pekingese) likes to play with my old 2# dumbbells.

carrie_eggo

Excellent post! +1 on the heavy resistance training! :drinker:

nikolaim5

Thread of the year right here.

TrophyWifeSass

So, so, so thankful I got off my *kitten* and started lifting heavy! The "man" cave at my gym is awesome and I love seeing the transformation. Who knew this 42 year old mother of 5 could bench 85 pounds and squat 125. Can't wait to see where this takes me:happy:

infamousmk

Low weights, high Reps if you go heavy weights low Reps. Tone maybe try Zumba

No! Don't do low weights/high reps! Lift heavy. Always.


I don't understand what Zumba or "toning" has to do with it.

monicanicoletta

Do you have a routine you share with those of us who are new?

nikolaim5

Low weights, high Reps if you go heavy weights low Reps. Tone maybe try Zumba

Let me fix that for you..

Forget about low weights, high reps. Go heavy weight, low reps. Cardio?, try Zumba

SergeantSunshine_reused

Same here! I can deadlift very close to 2x my body weight now. I can out lift some of the guys I know and am very curvy.





Achieving with heavy weights, not little dumbbells with endless reps

infamousmk

Low weights, high Reps if you go heavy weights low Reps. Tone maybe try Zumba

Let me fix that for you..

Forget about low weights, high reps. Go heavy weight, low reps. Cardio?, try Zumba

I knew some smarty pants would be able to fix it.

nikolaim5

Do you have a routine you share with those of us who are new?

Check out the book "The New Rules of Lifting for Women"