Why are so many women SCARED of weights? LMAO.

I have regularly bought a large selection of women's magazines, to see what's going on, what potential clients might have been told..........

and it doesn't look good.

Obviously, it's a combination of things ... not knowing how to lift properly, being intimidated to use the "guy section" of the gym, being told that lifting will cause you to bulk up, misinformation from people who have no clue what they are talking about like the one person in this thread who keeps saying she doesn't lift because she doesn't want her muscles to grow ...

There are also countless "fitness" magazines that continue to encourage women to be weak and insecure by telling them to "tone up" by doing a million crunches a day. I see so much crap on Pinterest promoting "dancer legs" workouts and telling you how to "get long, lean muscles" instead of "bulky" muscles. It makes me want to scratch my eyes out. There is no exercise that can lengthen your muscles. The length of your muscles was determined the minute you were conceived. And "lean muscles" is a redundant term. Muscles are, by definition, lean.

"Guy section"

An interesting concept. Perhaps all of these women only zones and women only gyms, are in fact counter productive?

You don't need to start telling me about insecurities. Men feel insecure around women. Why do you think they try twice as hard when they're around?

What you gonna do?

You're fighting an entire industry that's preying on women's fears.

Not just the fitness industry either. :ohwell:

Every single woman I've ever met has been told or had read in some stupid chick magazine that she'll get this big ugly bulky body if she lifts heavy stuff. Most of us believe it because no one ever tells us different (including myself).

<<

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'Chick' magazine.


Go heavy ladies!

See, Chick Magazine says lift heavy and shows the model deadlifting, what, 8 pounds???? A woman isn't going to read that and go push herself with a 45 pound barbell plus additional weight!

That's what I was thinking. My RDL's yesterday were 115. lame magazine article is lame.

Oh dear....
I'm afraid it's far worse.

As the name of the exercise is labelled as deadlift.

Weights terrify me, they're so big and heavy and the weight room is filled with testosterone.

... and it smells funny. :laugh:

BTW, awesome arms!

As someone who is currently tackling that very fear, I would say because with the exception of about three things...I don't know how it works. I know the leg press, and the pulley machine and everything else scares the crap out of me. I JUST as in last night approached someone who worked there about getting help if I wanted to know how to use something.

For me, it’s a matter of intruding on someone else's space and/or time.


Since I don't know how to propperly use it, I stay away rather than ask. It the fear of the unknown.

I was also like that at first... I didn't know how to use the squat rack so I wouldn't use it... Then, I asked a trainer at the gym to show me and the squat rack & I are buddies ever since

I also had my ex-boyfriend come to the gym with me a few times to show me exercices at first... and in the end I was the one showing him how to do some exercices properly

I still love Zumba, spinning, pilates, etc. But I like (heavy) lifting the best!!

Obviously, it's a combination of things ... not knowing how to lift properly, being intimidated to use the "guy section" of the gym, being told that lifting will cause you to bulk up, misinformation from people who have no clue what they are talking about like the one person in this thread who keeps saying she doesn't lift because she doesn't want her muscles to grow ...

There are also countless "fitness" magazines that continue to encourage women to be weak and insecure by telling them to "tone up" by doing a million crunches a day. I see so much crap on Pinterest promoting "dancer legs" workouts and telling you how to "get long, lean muscles" instead of "bulky" muscles. It makes me want to scratch my eyes out. There is no exercise that can lengthen your muscles. The length of your muscles was determined the minute you were conceived. And "lean muscles" is a redundant term. Muscles are, by definition, lean.

"Guy section"

An interesting concept. Perhaps all of these women only zones and women only gyms, are in fact counter productive?

You don't need to start telling me about insecurities. Men feel insecure around women. Why do you think they try twice as hard when they're around?

I have been a member of 2 "women" gyms in my life (Curves and Living Well Lady), in both cases I left feeling like there was much to be desired.

Women pay a premium at my gym, their membership is twice the price as men because WOMEN take classes and men don't. Membership is only $19.99/mo but if you want the option of taking classes (seemingly only women do), then its $39.99/mo. The $99 "6-weeks to slim down" program targets WOMEN and 9 times out of 10 when I see a personal trainer on the floor with a client, that client is a woman - a woman who will probably not touch the free-weights even with the trainer. They make out hand-over-fist financially with women because women desire instruction and the guidance of professionals whereas guys are probably more comfortable just researching and winging it.

Guys are ALWAYS asking questions, they're just far less likely to seek out help, and many have an issue with admitting they need it.

I personally am the most unathletic female alive My husband mocks me as often as possible and it is true, my coordination sucks.

My club does not offer classes, just trainers and exercise. But if they offered classes I would not take them cause I am so uncoordinatied and can"t keep up. I am the ewquivilent of a drunk giraffe in classes. I might be able to muddle my way through a yoga class but prefer to yoga at home. So IMO kudos to the ladies that can do classes I can"t I have to hold on the handles on the treadmill when I walk cause I loose my balance.

However I do use the treadmill or eliptical for about an hour 5 days a week and get in at least two days of lifting or more a week. My goal is not to lift heavy my goal is just to lift what I can and to push myself. And while the results on the scale can be confusing when you try and loose and gain muscle at the same time, Muscle burns fat faster and for your work out some light lifting and toning will help you in the long run.

I do find it funny that in reading the comments the assumption is that if someone is lifting they are "lifting heavy" I think the belief is that if you are lifting you have to do it to the max, when really light lifting is just as benifical and is OK.

unfortunatly the weight machines are intimidating, knowing the settings, the eddiquite, sets/reps saftey is all confusing. I took a class in high school for lifting as part of my PE credits (1 of 2 girls) and loved learning how to use all the machines. But unless you ask you are not just shown how