Negative comments about me lifting weights

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Replies

  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,994 Member
    Today I talked about starting to weight lift and this is what I got:

    'Women who have muscles have ugly bodies, only tone what you have. You don't want to look ugly.'

    'You shouldn't look stronger then your husband, you need to look like you compliment him.'

    'Make sure you get help, you don't want to make your body horrendous looking. '

    Well, you know what? I think a muscular woman is beautiful and I am going to make me the most beautiful me I can. And you want to know what? Since I have started this journey, I now am able to open a jar by myself. I was never able to before hand. Being strong is beautiful. I want to say, all you women with muscles you are beautiful no matter how big or small they are. You are strong and I can't wait to be strong too.
    **** 'em.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • frood
    frood Posts: 295 Member
    'Women who have muscles have ugly bodies, only tone what you have. You don't want to look ugly.'
    It's funny how having more energy, more functional strength, stronger bones, and overall better health can be summarized as being "ugly." :)
  • Gallowmere1984
    Gallowmere1984 Posts: 6,626 Member
    I have no idea who you call "friends" but they may need a hand up out of the dark ages and some soap for their mouths. What kind of people say such hurtful things?
    The joys of family. :laugh:

    Luckily(?) for me, most of my family are a bunch of nearly sub-human land blobs. While it makes it a bit tougher on me in the genetics department, it makes it very easy for me to take absolutely nothing they say seriously, especially in the fitness department.
  • FloweringPeony
    FloweringPeony Posts: 13 Member
    Women don't go all Arnold from weight training, unless they have a hormone imbalance that causes them to have ridiculously high test levels. They generally need anabolics for that look.

    Tell those people to get ****ed and read a book before opening their mouths next time.

    This exactly!
  • joneslnb
    joneslnb Posts: 14 Member
    People are frustrating. Muscle is sexy and you can shape your body how you want. I leg press 500lbs and I can out-lift all but one man in my Body Pump class. I lift weights 6-7 times a week, I lift heavy, and I go to fatigue. That's how I got my size 4! I'm not bragging, I'm just sayin' I'm living proof that women don't get 'bulky' by lifting weights.

    So do ya dang thang and show em what's what!
  • Trechechus
    Trechechus Posts: 2,819 Member
    'You shouldn't look stronger then your husband, you need to look like you compliment him.'

    Tell them you'll buy him a green sweater and wear a red one yourself. Then you'll be compliments of each other.
  • Cp731
    Cp731 Posts: 3,195 Member
    gftjufut.jpg

    Take That:blushing:
  • Gallowmere1984
    Gallowmere1984 Posts: 6,626 Member
    gftjufut.jpg

    Take That:blushing:

    Immediately came to mind:
    081.jpg
  • missourinurse
    missourinurse Posts: 51 Member
    lol
  • TakinSexyBack
    TakinSexyBack Posts: 300 Member
    You really have to consider the source ... these people speak without knowledge. The women who are built like Arnold S. quite frankly have to use hormones to get there.. and even then lack the structure to totally get there... That being said, I FAR prefer a lean and strong looking lady to the anemic, underweight anorexic type. As others have said, lift and lift heavy without fear of bulking too much. Strong IS beautiful... best wishes on your journey and eat plenty of protein.

    What he said!!!!!!!! GO GIRL and don't let anyone hold you back!!! Back when I played college basketball and had better biceps than most guys I knew..........they found it totally sexy!!! Strong is GOOD and Im on a quest to get back there too!!!
  • RECowgill
    RECowgill Posts: 881 Member
    I have no idea who you call "friends" but they may need a hand up out of the dark ages and some soap for their mouths. What kind of people say such hurtful things?
    The joys of family. :laugh:

    This is why people shouldn't listen to family. I'm going to be completely blunt and honest about it for a second here... you don't choose your family. They might be giant a**holes. You can't control who they are.

    You do choose your friends however. You can decide to surround yourself with supportive good natured people if you want. Family on the other hand is luck of the draw. Some people are just terrible humans, and they may be your relatives. So ignore them, leave them behind if they aren't the kind of good people you need in your life. Nobody should blame you for that. :wink:
  • Lifting_Knitter
    Lifting_Knitter Posts: 1,025 Member
    Thank you to everyone for being so supportive! :smooched: This is how I feel right now!
  • cobes24
    cobes24 Posts: 132 Member
    'You shouldn't look stronger then your husband, you need to look like you compliment him.'

    That's...that's one of the stupidest things I've ever read.

    They are dumb.

    You are gorgeous!! Keep it up!
  • Gallowmere1984
    Gallowmere1984 Posts: 6,626 Member
    'You shouldn't look stronger then your husband, you need to look like you compliment him.'

    That's...that's one of the stupidest things I've ever read.

    They are dumb.

    You are gorgeous!! Keep it up!

    So, what they are really saying is that the husband needs to hit the iron?
  • chrisdavey
    chrisdavey Posts: 9,834 Member
    how does one "tone what they have" without resistance training?

    And if you look stronger than your husband then he should probably lift some stuff too :tongue:
  • nz_deevaa
    nz_deevaa Posts: 12,209 Member
    how does one "tone what they have" without resistance training?

    And if you look stronger than your husband then he should probably lift some stuff too :tongue:

    My husband took a photo of me carrying all the groceries (6 bags or something) in one hand and a huge bag of kitty litter on my shoulder and posted it on Facebook with the caption "The benefit of having a wife who lifts serious weights, I only had to unlock the door!"
  • runner2runner
    runner2runner Posts: 1,937 Member
    Today I talked about starting to weight lift and this is what I got:

    'Women who have muscles have ugly bodies, only tone what you have. You don't want to look ugly.'

    'You shouldn't look stronger then your husband, you need to look like you compliment him.'

    'Make sure you get help, you don't want to make your body horrendous looking. '

    Well, you know what? I think a muscular woman is beautiful and I am going to make me the most beautiful me I can. And you want to know what? Since I have started this journey, I now am able to open a jar by myself. I was never able to before hand. Being strong is beautiful. I want to say, all you women with muscles you are beautiful no matter how big or small they are. You are strong and I can't wait to be strong too.

    I'll bet it's probably guys who told you that nonsense. Kudos to you for not listening those guys who're clearly on some ego trip. Unfortunately some men are intimidated by strong women and hence the negative comments about women who lift weights. I personally find strong women attractive and I'd gladly date one.
  • Chadomaniac
    Chadomaniac Posts: 1,785 Member
    Today I talked about starting to weight lift and this is what I got:

    'Women who have muscles have ugly bodies, only tone what you have. You don't want to look ugly.'

    'You shouldn't look stronger then your husband, you need to look like you compliment him.'

    'Make sure you get help, you don't want to make your body horrendous looking. '

    Well, you know what? I think a muscular woman is beautiful and I am going to make me the most beautiful me I can. And you want to know what? Since I have started this journey, I now am able to open a jar by myself. I was never able to before hand. Being strong is beautiful. I want to say, all you women with muscles you are beautiful no matter how big or small they are. You are strong and I can't wait to be strong too.

    I'll bet it's probably guys who told you that nonsense. Kudos to you for not listening those guys who're clearly on some ego trip. Unfortunately some men are intimidated by strong women and hence the negative comments about women who lift weights. I personally find strong women attractive and I'd gladly date one.

    ^^ agreed .
  • Fozzi43
    Fozzi43 Posts: 2,984 Member
    You take no notice..

    You will look awesome :wink:
  • spamantha57
    spamantha57 Posts: 674 Member
    The only reason I can imagine a person putting someone down for doing something positive is because they're bitter they can't do it themselves.
  • witchy_wife
    witchy_wife Posts: 792 Member
    Pick up a heavy weight and throw it at them! lol.

    Seriously, ignore it. Lifting will give you an amazing body, make you stronger and is also great for the bones as women get older. You go for it!
  • KarenJanine
    KarenJanine Posts: 3,497 Member
    how does one "tone what they have" without resistance training?

    And if you look stronger than your husband then he should probably lift some stuff too :tongue:

    My husband took a photo of me carrying all the groceries (6 bags or something) in one hand and a huge bag of kitty litter on my shoulder and posted it on Facebook with the caption "The benefit of having a wife who lifts serious weights, I only had to unlock the door!"


    Love this!

    I only tend to discuss lifting IRL with people I know who are supportive, or who are close friends who don't understand it but accept I do it without negativity. In my office everyone is just jealous at how much I eat yet be the slimmest, while they're planning their next 'diet'. Lifting FTW \m/
  • 714rah714
    714rah714 Posts: 759 Member
    No one said that to her, its BS
  • XDiet_SlayerX
    XDiet_SlayerX Posts: 88
    First off screw people and their opinions! You are doing this for YOU and only YOU. You will look gorgeous like a cut up diamond behind glass for everyone to admire when you keep to outsiders at bay and do what ever the hell you want to do with the weights.
    These people sound ignorant and just reading this pissed me off.
    I had a guy at work who is into working out but he is not that serious and told me this: "If I looked like you I would hate myself. I don't want to be that big." I told him "That's your opinion but you don't have to be a little ***** about it.".
    Let the haters hate and most of the haters are just envious little a-holes who don't have the discipline like us bodybuilders and weight lifters.
    Today I talked about starting to weight lift and this is what I got:

    'Women who have muscles have ugly bodies, only tone what you have. You don't want to look ugly.'

    'You shouldn't look stronger then your husband, you need to look like you compliment him.'

    'Make sure you get help, you don't want to make your body horrendous looking. '

    Well, you know what? I think a muscular woman is beautiful and I am going to make me the most beautiful me I can. And you want to know what? Since I have started this journey, I now am able to open a jar by myself. I was never able to before hand. Being strong is beautiful. I want to say, all you women with muscles you are beautiful no matter how big or small they are. You are strong and I can't wait to be strong too.
  • scorpiotwinkles
    scorpiotwinkles Posts: 215 Member
    I weightlift. This is what it did for me so far. (can't do much cardio due to knee problems)
    Novcomparison-1-1.jpg
  • athelete4
    athelete4 Posts: 4
    There are so many benefits for women who lift weights.....please don't listen to all of those people that tell you that you will look like Arnie. I lift weights to help shape my body and make it stronger. Deadlifts, squats etc will sculpt and tone you in ways you would never imagine. espeically your glutes (bottom). Do it, lift weights, be confident and ignore anyone that tells you different.

    Good luck :)
  • EmAgain
    EmAgain Posts: 6
    It is a myth that as a woman you will get 'bigger' with weight lifting even if you lift heavy. It is such a common misunderstanding that is droned out in gyms and communities of women, that women should use little weights and more reps and just 'tone'. Utter trash. Using tiny weights that aren't actually heavy is just simply a waste of your time. It won't increase your muscle mass lifting something that is 'easy' to lift...it will literally do nothing apart from move that muscle around a little bit.

    You burn very little fuel actually doing the weight lifting because it is not a cadiovascular exercise but if you lift properly and eat properly at the same time you will change your whole body composition so that you have a greater proportion muscle and fat free mass. Without the use of nasty testosterone injections, as a woman your body will have its natural size limiters. Yes, you will change the shape of your limbs but you won't make them 'bigger' by weight training alongside leaning down. If you increase your muscle mass you will just burn a greater amount of fuel doing anything...simple. Fat is 'dead' tissue it doesn't do a lot. Muscle is living and strong and requires fuel to move.

    Feeling strong and being strong are very empowering too so the psychological effects are likely to make you more successful in your weight reduction endeavours as your self-efficacy improves and your sense of control increases. The main reason that other people (usually men but some women too) trot out these same old, worn statements about weight lifting (which are incidently inaccurate and demonstrate a total lack of knowledge about training) is usually for men because they feel threatened and unsettled by a girl lifting, and for women, because many women take some kind of inferred criticism from your own engagement with training (like you are saying that their way of being is not good enough for you). Of course you aren't making any comment on the way that they are living but women also feel threatened in a different way.

    Finally, girls lifting weights is such a powerful and important role model. It changes the thinking of "I want to be skinny" to the thinking of "I want to be healthy and strong" and this is infinitely preferrable. The desire to be "skinny" brings such dysfunctional eating behaviours with it but the desire to be "strong and healthy" means you end up eating properly to fuel the machine.

    You go girl! Girls should lift weights. It is good for women physically and psychologically. And lift properly.Get your form right. Plan your sessions properly. Work hard. Take yourself out of your comfort zone. Read up. Seek advice. Ask a PT. Surf the net.

    And for those negative people out there...well everyone is entitled to their opinion..."sorry can you step aside you're in the way of my deadlift"!!!!!:laugh:

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