Weight training seems feminine to me.

AJinBirmingham
AJinBirmingham Posts: 497
in Fitness and Exercise
This isn't a hater post - although I know I'm bound to get some - I'm female, I weight train. My dad teases me sometimes, "You've got everything a man would want, biceps, triceps . . ."

Still, the vanity involved in pushing weights around a gym to achieve a certain body shape seems way more feminine than masculine to me. Am I the only one?

The guys in the gym strength training for boxing, wrestling, football, UFC, etc. - THEY seem traditionally masculine - but the ones here to look good, get their plus points for being "metro."
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Replies

  • lithezebra
    lithezebra Posts: 3,670 Member
    Your dad reminds me of my dad.

    I think that men are just as vain as women, only with fewer outlets for that impulse. Weight lifting is one place that a guy is allowed to preen.
  • aakaakaak
    aakaakaak Posts: 1,240 Member
    I get what you're saying, but I personally see pride in one's self appearance as a gender neutral thing. If men didn't care about their appearance we wouldn't shave, or cut our hair, or use deodorant, or um...manscape.

    Edit: In nature it's the male who usually does the most preening and posturing. The males are full of pretty colors, while the females are drab brown and like to hide. So...if humans were more natural woman who primp and preen would be considered butch.
  • ItsCasey
    ItsCasey Posts: 4,021 Member
    It's not just about appearance for me or most of the men I know here. I freaking love setting PRs. It makes me happier than a new dress. I love being strong. The appearance thing is just a kick-*kitten* side effect.
  • No_Finish_Line
    No_Finish_Line Posts: 3,661 Member
    i completely understand where your coming from and i guess theres some truth to it.

    but personally i think the guys who are 35 plus and getting thier face beat in chasing some rediculous and out of reach UFC dream that are just a little more sad.

    not entirely sure what the point of this thread is
  • erikmsp72
    erikmsp72 Posts: 137 Member
    Strong, confident women are AWESOME. Just do what you do and be proud of yourself! You can't change your dad. He'll say and think whatever he feels like, you know?

    But let it not freak you out. And know that you yourself are doing great things for your own health, for those around you who see you as inspiration, and -- let's be honest -- for all the ones out there who think women with strength and muscle are a buzzkill, there are plenty who find that, um, more-than-a-little-interesting. *cough*

    So work it! And enjoy it. You've earned it!
  • murphy612
    murphy612 Posts: 734 Member
    In nature it's the male who usually does the most preening and posturing. The males are full of pretty colors, while the females are drab brown and like to hide. So...if humans were more natural woman who primp and preen would be considered butch.

    Good point :)
  • phjorg1
    phjorg1 Posts: 642 Member
    or you weight train to use the body properly and be strong.
  • Hexahedra
    Hexahedra Posts: 894 Member
    I'm not gonna lie that part of the reason I lift is to look good, this is because I'm tired of looking awful and out of shape. I'm not training to be the next Mr. Olympia, I just want to swim in public without feeling slightly embarrassed of my gut hanging out.
  • juliemouse83
    juliemouse83 Posts: 6,663 Member
    I only lift because it's one of the very few exercises that I enjoy doing.

    Of course, the bonus of helping me LOOK better doesn't hurt, either.

    Nor does the fact that I can lift heavy stuff in real life, functional ways that I couldn't do before. :)
  • yo_andi
    yo_andi Posts: 2,178 Member
    It's not about appearance for me. It's about confidence. When I'm fit and breaking personal records regularly I feel my best. I don't think that's a gender-thing.
  • lithezebra
    lithezebra Posts: 3,670 Member
    i completely understand where your coming from and i guess theres some truth to it.

    but personally i think the guys who are 35 plus and getting thier face beat in chasing some rediculous and out of reach UFC dream that are just a little more sad.

    not entirely sure what the point of this thread is

    I think the topic is endearing. I like men who care about their appearance at least a little, and I don't think there is an expiration date on anyone's dream.
  • gfroniewski
    gfroniewski Posts: 168
    I don't think anyone can make the argument that strength training with weights is more feminine. When has that EVER been the case? If anything, it is hard to convince my gf that she NEEDS to strength train to achieve certain results. With the recent explosion of Cross Fit I see more women getting into it, but describing it as feminine is an interesting choice.

    I am assuming you mean the aesthetic aspect of it? If so, wanting to look good is not a female trait. If anything, males are MORE concerned about their appearance biologically so they can attract a mate. I believe someone already mentioned this, but it's an excellent point.
  • ItsCasey
    ItsCasey Posts: 4,021 Member
    I agree that some amount of preoccupation with your appearance is a good thing. I am personally more attracted to men who have goals they are actively trying to achieve. Now, if he's abandoned all sense of a real life in the chase for this goal (e.g. no job, no money, no home, etc., so that he can spend all his time and resources in pursuit of a hobby), then maybe we'll just have to be friends. But it turns me on to see a man make personal sacrifices to go after the things that matter to him.
  • default
    default Posts: 124 Member
    i completely understand where your coming from and i guess theres some truth to it.

    but personally i think the guys who are 35 plus and getting thier face beat in chasing some rediculous and out of reach UFC dream that are just a little more sad.

    not entirely sure what the point of this thread is

    I'm 35 and get my face beat in for exercise, all that time getting my head hit and choked and at least I can spell. Also, I'll chase whatever dream I'd like (although the ufc thing won't happen) and I don't feel the need to ask permission.

    Thanks!
  • hesn92
    hesn92 Posts: 5,966 Member
    I have realized that there are just as many vain men as there are women. It's really apparent when I go to the gym and all the guys there are lifting weights and looking in the mirror
  • No_Finish_Line
    No_Finish_Line Posts: 3,661 Member
    i completely understand where your coming from and i guess theres some truth to it.

    but personally i think the guys who are 35 plus and getting thier face beat in chasing some rediculous and out of reach UFC dream that are just a little more sad.

    not entirely sure what the point of this thread is

    I'm 35 and get my face beat in for exercise, all that time getting my head hit and choked and at least I can spell. Also, I'll chase whatever dream I'd like (although the ufc thing won't happen) and I don't feel the need to ask permission.

    Thanks!


    get your face beat in as you please, i'm also entitled to my opinion. whats your dream any way?
  • No_Finish_Line
    No_Finish_Line Posts: 3,661 Member
    i completely understand where your coming from and i guess theres some truth to it.

    but personally i think the guys who are 35 plus and getting thier face beat in chasing some rediculous and out of reach UFC dream that are just a little more sad.

    not entirely sure what the point of this thread is

    I think the topic is endearing. I like men who care about their appearance at least a little, and I don't think there is an expiration date on anyone's dream.

    people can dream as much as they want.

    happen to have a good friends who's UFC dream is causing a lot of phyical pain/problems when it intersects with reality.

    i'd never tell him to stop, but at some point, like when your risking blindness, perhaps one should rethink things.
  • Hexahedra
    Hexahedra Posts: 894 Member
    I have realized that there are just as many vain men as there are women. It's really apparent when I go to the gym and all the guys there are lifting weights and looking in the mirror
    I'm very interested in looking in the mirror not because I'm admiring my body (it's far from being worthy of admiration, yet), but because I'm trying to spot progress.
  • No_Finish_Line
    No_Finish_Line Posts: 3,661 Member
    I have realized that there are just as many vain men as there are women. It's really apparent when I go to the gym and all the guys there are lifting weights and looking in the mirror
    I'm very interested in looking in the mirror not because I'm admiring my body (it's far from being worthy of admiration, yet), but because I'm trying to spot progress.

    i do this as well, but i don't do it in public lol.

    there was this, bodybuilder i guess in the Planet Fitness locker room. Not sure why he was at planet fitness in the first place, but one of the managers or whatever was in there with him.

    I guess he was going through his entire pose routine start to finish. already it seemed a little, well forgive me but a little gay. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

    then the manager kept saying stuff like 'thats so hot' and 'your sexy'. I mean... at the very least it was unexpected lol.

    I don't even know why i'm posting this but it was by far the most awkward lock room experience i've ever had.
  • Hexahedra
    Hexahedra Posts: 894 Member
    I have realized that there are just as many vain men as there are women. It's really apparent when I go to the gym and all the guys there are lifting weights and looking in the mirror
    I'm very interested in looking in the mirror not because I'm admiring my body (it's far from being worthy of admiration, yet), but because I'm trying to spot progress.

    i do this as well, but i don't do it in public lol.

    there was this, bodybuilder i guess in the Planet Fitness locker room. Not sure why he was at planet fitness in the first place, but one of the managers or whatever was in there with him.

    I guess he was going through his entire pose routine start to finish. already it seemed a little, well forgive me but a little gay. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

    then the manager kept saying stuff like 'thats so hot' and 'your sexy'. I mean... at the very least it was unexpected lol.

    I don't even know why i'm posting this but it was by far the most awkward lock room experience i've ever had.
    I notice that it's quite common for competitive bodybuilders to encourage each other with those kind of remarks. Just search for bodybuilding competition videos on youtube, and you'll hear people shouting all kinds of encouragements. It's almost like a form of politeness, when somebody strikes a pose you're supposed to acknowledge it.
  • aakaakaak
    aakaakaak Posts: 1,240 Member
    I have realized that there are just as many vain men as there are women. It's really apparent when I go to the gym and all the guys there are lifting weights and looking in the mirror
    I'm very interested in looking in the mirror not because I'm admiring my body (it's far from being worthy of admiration, yet), but because I'm trying to spot progress.

    i do this as well, but i don't do it in public lol.

    there was this, bodybuilder i guess in the Planet Fitness locker room. Not sure why he was at planet fitness in the first place, but one of the managers or whatever was in there with him.

    I guess he was going through his entire pose routine start to finish. already it seemed a little, well forgive me but a little gay. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

    then the manager kept saying stuff like 'thats so hot' and 'your sexy'. I mean... at the very least it was unexpected lol.

    I don't even know why i'm posting this but it was by far the most awkward lock room experience i've ever had.
    I notice that it's quite common for competitive bodybuilders to encourage each other with those kind of remarks. Just search for bodybuilding competition videos on youtube, and you'll hear people shouting all kinds of encouragements. It's almost like a form of politeness, when somebody strikes a pose you're supposed to acknowledge it.

    There's encouragement, then there's...well...encouragement. Sounds like he wanted the D to me.
  • PetulantOne
    PetulantOne Posts: 2,131 Member
    It's not about appearance for me. It's about confidence. When I'm fit and breaking personal records regularly I feel my best. I don't think that's a gender-thing.

    QFT

    Appearance is just a bonus for me. The real magic happens when I do things I never dreamed I would be capable of again.
  • whierd
    whierd Posts: 14,025 Member
    Hmm. I don't find it feminine at all.
  • DopeItUp
    DopeItUp Posts: 18,771 Member
    I think you're confusing weight training with bodybuilding, specifically.
  • Rosa1213
    Rosa1213 Posts: 456 Member
    I see vanity as a gender-neutral thing. We're all a little bit vain :wink:
    My dad and I always compare muscles :) Needless to say, his are much more impressive despite the fact that he's 55 years old! Hahah :)
  • lithezebra
    lithezebra Posts: 3,670 Member
    i completely understand where your coming from and i guess theres some truth to it.

    but personally i think the guys who are 35 plus and getting thier face beat in chasing some rediculous and out of reach UFC dream that are just a little more sad.

    not entirely sure what the point of this thread is

    I think the topic is endearing. I like men who care about their appearance at least a little, and I don't think there is an expiration date on anyone's dream.

    people can dream as much as they want.

    happen to have a good friends who's UFC dream is causing a lot of phyical pain/problems when it intersects with reality.

    i'd never tell him to stop, but at some point, like when your risking blindness, perhaps one should rethink things.

    A lot of sports have age categories, and you can compete as long as you're able to. I engage in some risky sports. They wouldn't be less risky if I was under 35. I could stay safely on my couch instead of risking falling, hypothermia, and drowning, but that doesn't sound like much fun to me.
  • AnvilHead
    AnvilHead Posts: 18,343 Member
    ...Still, the vanity involved in pushing weights around a gym to achieve a certain body shape seems way more feminine than masculine to me....
    Then why do so many women whine "I'd strength train, but I don't want to get buuuuullllllkyyyyyyy!"?
  • ZoeLifts
    ZoeLifts Posts: 10,347 Member
    Well, this is for sure a unique topic on MFP, I can't say I have ever experienced it. However, I'm not sure how anyone can say that weight training seems more feminine than masculine, as that has never been my experience. Perhaps I am misunderstanding your point?

    QowoJry.gif
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
    ...Still, the vanity involved in pushing weights around a gym to achieve a certain body shape seems way more feminine than masculine to me....
    Then why do so many women whine "I'd strength train, but I don't want to get buuuuullllllkyyyyyyy!"?

    That's what I'm wondering
  • AnvilHead
    AnvilHead Posts: 18,343 Member
    Feminine:

    powerlifting-e1356474144648.jpg


    Feminine:

    ronnie-coleman-800-lb-squat.jpg


    Feminine:

    victor-martinez-bodybuilder.jpg


    Yeah, you're right. Case closed.

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