Why do people, especially women, enjoy lifting so much?

I like walking in front of the guys at the gym over to a squat rack and showing them how its done :laugh: Maybe I'm not perfect, but I've seen some guys in the gym that have the absolute worst form and will hurt themselves one day and I'll be there to witness it...

I'm tempted to go to the gym one day with my mom and show her some weights. She has arthritis in her hands and knees and has bad feet. I know it would make her feel better if she did some modified routines. Just like therapy helps people with injuries get back on their feet lifting weights with proper form can improve your health issues too.

I have a strong like for lifting weights. STRONG. We are stronger than we think and when I lift heavy like that opposed of doing 100 reps of 10 lbs pushes me harder to just try and lift heavier and to learn all I can as a beginner. It's a feeling of accomplishment. It's a different type of exhaustion. I've noticed the biochemical changes mentally too, as a person who did nothing but a ton of cardio to a person who now does cardio with larger emphases on lifting. It's a much more calming effect and I'm not as nervous or hesitant. As a person who ignorantly thought lifting was unlady like and for lesbians, feminist and manly men, and the weight floor was more of a "man's world" my confidence is boosted because it's just one more taboo I have overcome that has held me back from getting what I want with my body. Lifting heavy is a feeling like no other.

Couldn't have said it better myself!!!! this!!!

I had to chime in on this thread. I've only been lifting heavy for about 4 weeks. I started 'lifting" when I hurt my back in March. My doctor told me that unless I strengthened my back, I would deal with slipped and herniated disks for the rest of my life. No thanks! At that point, I couldn't even do a full range of motion squat without any weight. I worked with what I could, and today I'm about to hit the gym and do my 5 x 5 squats with 95 pounds. In March, there is no way I could have imagined doing something like that!

Aside from lifting to prevent injuries, my husband showed me a picture of me a year and a half ago. I had noticeably rounded shoulders and a slouched posture. In a candid shot a few days ago, I had a straight back without that rounded look. I love that my new confidence is showing through!

Like others before me, I encourage you to talk to your doctor or a good PT about finding a strength program to fit your needs. You will only read good things from doing so!

It wasn't until I started to lift seriously, I don't mean 5lb dumb bells but actual LIFTING that i noticed a huge change in my body. As someone who has always been thin/petite I did a lot of light weight/high reps because that is what media tells women to do. It wasn't until Dec of this year I cut the crap and got a book that changed my life "The new Rules of lifting for women" and ever since then I have never looked back

lifting for me is a challenge. Unlike before when the challenge was "how long can i do this stupid cardio machine for" now it's "can I put up an extra 5-10lbs this week. The feeling you get when you finish a set and can literally FEEL your muscle being work its amazing. The change in your clothes, in your muscle definition, everything. I actually look forward to my next work out bc it's more of a challenge than it ever was, and knowing that it's only been 9 months and this is how i've changed I am so excited to see what another 9 months brings.

My question is, "why do women tolerate being weak and reliant for the most basic things on others?"

Amen sister.

And I'm not afraid to admit that I sometimes flex my muscles in front of the mirror and watch in admiration (and so does my husband). I used to admire waif like women, now give me a solid strong woman any day of the week. So hot.

OMG, I'm always checking out my muscles, especially now that I can start seeing them again as the jelly disappears lol

aint no shame.

I have no idea why people spend so much time saying- "I hate to admit" or "I'm embarassed that i sometimes"

FRACK THAT.

I work hard for this stuff- I'm totally checking it out!!!! It doesn't consume my day- but you're damn right I admire my work- stand back- realize all that you have achomplished.

There is a tremendous difference in bragging about it constantly and ALWAYS standing in front of a mirror- vs saying HELL YEAH- I did that. Check this **** out- then go on about your day.

ham it up- you earned that.

then go back and hammer harder to make it better!

One must 'check themselves out' if they are to determine whether they are making progress.

I run & lift.

To me runner's high is very different, I totally love it!!! I feel amazing, happy, stress free, bliss.
Weight lifting... strong, powerful, and walking pretty tall when I'm done.
Plus gotta love the changes it makes to your body!

I try to encourage my Mom and Aunts to start a strength program. Especially since they have joint & back pain. It's amazing what exercise can do for us at any age.




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It's addicting to see those lifts go up.

this thread needs photos....

Wagner understood: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V92OBNsQgxU (ride of the Valkyries)

Because it feels so much better to be strong and independent than to be weak and dependent

Because being able to deadlift and squat more than your bodyweight is an amazing feeling, and being able to deadlift and squat your husband's body weight is also great.... and to know that you can, if necessary, fireman carry him long distances

Because focusing on how much weight I can lift is so much better for my mental health than fretting over not looking like an airbrushed magazine model

Because in the past I had to ask my husband to change the 19 litre canisters on the water cooler, but now I can not only do that myself, it doesn't even feel that heavy any more. And I can move furniture around and push cars or do other things that require physical strength

Because being strong has greatly improved my confidence

Because I can overhead press both my daughters (age 3 and 7) and they want to grow up to be strong like their mummy and lift heavy barbells, and they both tell me how strong they are and aspire to be strong

Because yes there is such a thing as "lifter's high" and it's 100% healthy

Because I can eat a lot more food and know that I'm feeding and strengthening my body, rather than piling on flab

Because women are supposed to be strong... strength is NOT a male thing, it's a human thing, i.e. for both men and women.

Because Viking women and Spartan women were trained to be strong and fight so they could defend themselves and their families if necessary... our modern culture is weird in that it idealises weakness and dependency in women rather than strength and independence

Because neanderthal women had to endure and survive ice age winters with only the bare minimum of technology, and had to be able to defend themselves and their kids, and lift and carry heavy things long distances including up hill

Because lifting weights strengthens the bones as well as the muscles, which protects you against osteoporosis and other musculo-skeletal problems associated with old age, and also slows down the rate at which you lose muscle mass as you age

Because humans evolved to do physical work, it's only modern people who don't do this, because we invented machines to do that for us.... but we didn't evolve to be sedentary. We evolved to walk (or run) long distances and lift and carry heavy things.

Because it improves health generally

Because a muscular, lean physique looks good

Because being strong is a great thing to aspire to

Runner's high, to me, is a lot different. It feels like the absence of being tired and like I can suddenly keep running forever. Maybe it feels "free" or something like that.

Weight lifting makes me feel accomplished during and after the workout. I wasn't too interested in seeing myself get "cut" or having defined muscles, but now, I can't be more proud of them. Guys look at my quads and sometimes my biceps and say they're jealous/they are intimidated. Those are the best compliments. I originally started lifting just to feel stronger.

I also work at a retail job where there is a lot of lifting going on, and I enjoy being able to lift things easier than some of the men around me. Also, I really resent when women customers tell me not to lift something because I'll injure myself and to "let a man do it." When something is to heavy or unwieldy for me (I am 5' 1"...) I get a bigger guy to help me, but otherwise, I can do it myself. Lifting has only increased what I can do at work, and I have a reputation of being really strong. It does offend me that people are so shocked when I can lift something over 20lbs (yes, that happens a lot), but whatever!

The only thing I don't like is that I get hungry a lot more, so I end up overeating, which I have to work on. I've gained muscle weight and fat since I got serious about lifting. I went from about 100 to 113-115, and now my thighs touch and stuff. But now I also have a nice butt, so that's nice.

I do it for because muscles give me greater self esteem.

Meet Ernestine Sheppard.



Older than you, back problems, lifts.

There is something to being 66 and able to bench more than the 30-40 something guy at the next station who outweighs you by 20-30 lbs.

Great topic! I like it because of quick results, two-fold.

First, changes to my body are happening rather quickly. I ran diligently for seven years with no change to my body shape. I have been lifting for fewer than 2 months, and twice now I've reached to scratch a part of my body (tricep and thigh if you care), expecting the usual soft pudginess, and was surprised to find firm smooth muscle there instead.

Second, I am making progress in the amount I lift all the time. It never fails to amaze me when I look at my log and see that the weight I struggled with in week one, I have doubled six weeks later. That is pretty empowering!