Why do so many women lift such light weights?
Replies
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Weighing less just to weigh less has never been a goal that I understood. I'm not saying it is a bad goal to have, but it is a goal that I personally have never found particularly motivating. I find it amusing that so many here assume that everyone's goal is less weight.
When I was younger, my goal was to look good naked. For me, that was less fat and more muscle. (Probably overall less weight too, but that was not the main goal.)
Over the years my goals have changed and have become more performance oriented rather than aesthetics.
I totally understand the goal of wanting to weigh less. Young skinny women can look good naked. Farrah Faucet was skinny with little muscle tone but she made a tidy profit off a certain swimsuit poster back in the day.
Well, I've never seen Farrah naked, I can't really tell ya.
I suppose if I were to be honest, there was time in my teens when I thought that being skinny was an acceptable goal. But I was a really dumb teenager (really, I was seriously stupid and and a self-absorbed brat from the ages of 14-22).0 -
It's what I have at home. I make do.0
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For many it is an evolution with the 1st goal being to lose weight - for many it is not just to not be fat, but to get healthy or at least not to be on the edge of diabetes, heart disease, etc.. It may stop there but I don't know anyone who has just lost weight, kept it off and never exercised or become more fit in the process.
But one can exercise and become more fit with light weights. There are more choices than lift heavy weights or be jiggly and weak.0 -
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Weighing less just to weigh less has never been a goal that I understood. I'm not saying it is a bad goal to have, but it is a goal that I personally have never found particularly motivating. I find it amusing that so many here assume that everyone's goal is less weight.
When I was younger, my goal was to look good naked. For me, that was less fat and more muscle. (Probably overall less weight too, but that was not the main goal.)
Over the years my goals have changed and have become more performance oriented rather than aesthetics.
I totally understand the goal of wanting to weigh less. Young skinny women can look good naked. Farrah Faucet was skinny with little muscle tone but she made a tidy profit off a certain swimsuit poster back in the day.
I think that's a matter of opinion to be honest. I don't find anything about young skinny women attractive. I've always really admired fit women. And women who were in their twenty's and thirty's who were muscular have always been attractive to me. I suspect our media's push for models and skinny have done a lot of damage- plus the fact that no one knows what exists between model shape and body builder shape- it's like this whole world of fitness doesn't exist.
You're only options are BIKINI MODEL or ARNOLD PRO CIRCUIT BODY BUILDER!!! tough luck bit8hes- pick one!!
forgetting the stages between! sigh.But one can exercise and become more fit with light weights. There are more choices than lift heavy weights or be jiggly and weak.
these things... they do not compute.
relative. "more fit" than you were before- but you still won't really bit fit. fitness comes with pushing- unless you are rehabbing- or have some sort of issue- light weights are only going to get you so far.0 -
For many it is an evolution with the 1st goal being to lose weight - for many it is not just to not be fat, but to get healthy or at least not to be on the edge of diabetes, heart disease, etc.. It may stop there but I don't know anyone who has just lost weight, kept it off and never exercised or become more fit in the process.
But one can exercise and become more fit with light weights. There are more choices than lift heavy weights or be jiggly and weak.
"More fit" is not the same as "fit". But then again, "fit" is rather arbitrary.0 -
OK I'm sorry but if you're on a weight loss journey the best thing you can do is lift weights... so...
Oh, and this was for the lady who said that people don't want to or need to.
Apparently my original post did not contain this quote I intended it to. This is what I was replying to and all the muscle heads jumped all over me.........0 -
Burning more calories than you consume is the way the lose weight. The calories burned can come in many forms, not just lifting.0
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Lol my first lifting NSV was pretty much this exact scenario. I didn't shoot him rude look, of course, but it was a rather awkward situation. :laugh:0 -
I've been lifting 'heavy' for around 16wks and LOVE it! Why don't I lift heavier? because I physically can't. Each and every week I desperately try to increase my weight..sometimes I succeed and sometimes I don't. But to be honest..to some I may seem like a weakling.lol A couple of examples.. my maximum laying dumbbell press is only 25lbs in each hand and that is a struggle. My max overhead tricep rope extension is 25lbs, max. seated cable row 70lbs. Like someone mentioned, my gym only has dumbbells going up in 5 lb increments and that's a huge jump. I've been stuck on 20lb seated shoulder press for ages because I just can't keep up that damn 25 lb dumbbell. It frustrates the heck out of me. The other thing that I have found is now that I am increasing my weights it gets kinda scary lifting a 25lb dumbbell over my head with shaky arms. Thankfully if my husband is around I will ask him to spot me to be on the safe side. If he's not around I feel really weird asking another guy to spot me. So I will often air on the cautious side and not up my weight at that time. I know I shouldn't care but it's kinda intimidating when they are lifting 10x my weight. The funny thing is you will find me breathing heavy, occasionally grunting to get that last few reps up and it's no act. It's crazy hard! i work up a sweat and feel the burn. I'm the only women in the weights area at my hour and that's something I had to get used to. Surrounding myself with a bunch of guys that are in pretty decent shape, when I still struggle with my body image was a challenge at the start and I'm sure that's one of the reason some women may stay away or just lift light as to not draw any more attention to themselves. Here I am a 42yr old women..far from my goal weight..in tight tights..rolls and all and I'm bending over to do a bent over row on a bench.lol I can only imagine what my *kitten* looks like from their vantage point.lol I really had to drop being self conscious of how my rear end looked etc.. I have now gotten over that and just do my thing...really loud music in my earbuds helps drain out all that negative self talk.lol
But overall..the guys have been pretty cool. They just say hi and go about their business. I love lifting!!! You won't find me sticking with one weight too long..I'm always trying to improve my strength.0 -
OK I'm sorry but if you're on a weight loss journey the best thing you can do is lift weights... so...
Oh, and this was for the lady who said that people don't want to or need to.
Apparently my original post did not contain this quote I intended it to. This is what I was replying to and all the muscle heads jumped all over me.........
whoooohoooo I HAVE REACHED MUSCLE HEAD STATUS!!!!!!
FU*K YES!!!! NSV FOR ME!!!!0 -
Because they aren't familiar with things that weigh more than a frying pan.0
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Because they aren't familiar with things that weigh more than a frying pan.
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Go to the store and open up a copy of SHAPE or Fitness Magazine. That's why women lift tiny weights.
It's true. I am always on the lookout for new exercises to throw into circuits or just for some variety, and looking at those sites is usually a complete waste of time--the majority of my female,clients are aged 55-70, overweight, with little experience lifting (at the start), and most of the exercises on those sites are a waste of time FOR THEM.0 -
Because they aren't familiar with things that weigh more than a frying pan.
I don't know. I've got a 6 qt All-Clad sauté pan that's almost heavy enough to use for kettlebell swings. :happy:0 -
Stealing this!
LOL0 -
Go to the store and open up a copy of SHAPE or Fitness Magazine. That's why women lift tiny weights.
We have a new magazine in Canada for women called STRONG Fitness Magazine. And there is muscle and fitness hers, oxygen, I see one called FitnessRX. Lots of magazines for heavy lifting ladies now.0 -
Stealing this!
LOL
Cant... stop... watching0 -
Stealing this!
LOL
Cant... stop... watching
This cracks me up! lol0 -
Just curious to hear the reasons..
I've been in the gym on and off for about 3 years. In that amount of time, I've seen very few women actually lifting "heavy" weights. Occasionally, I'll have someone ask me about an exercise I'm doing, or how to do an exercise that targets a certain body part. Inevitably, when I choose a weight for them, without even trying it, I usually hear, "thats too heavy!"
However, I've never once suggested a weight that was actually too heavy. In fact, I tend to recommend lower than what I actually think they can do. Their concern usually turns to wonder when they realized than actually can lift more than 5lbs..
So ladies.. why are so many afraid to lift heavy weights?
(btw, this applies to many of the men I see in the gym also)
I see the same at the gym when i go to the gym, i leg press about 150lbs maybe 40-5- which is 10 reps x5 sets then i do arms at about 75 i started at 30 but i worked my way up and that was 2 weeks in the gym. my friend goes with me and only lifts 30lbs shes afraid to look like the She Hulk LOL!! i KNOW that resistance training helps burn fat after your exercise while your sitting. Of course you dont want to go and do 90lb curl ups because you can hurt yourself but weights arent bad for you LADIES!! I am not a man looking female I just have toned and thinned out my arms with the weights.
Eating right doing cardio and weights leads to a healthier you and firmer and toned you!
LIFT WEIGHTS START AT 20LBS AND WORK YOUR WAY UP!
MORE REPS LESS WEIGHT IS THE KEY FOR FEMALES TO LOSE WEIGHT AND STILL TONE OUT0 -
It's just fear and inexperience. Most women dont dare go near the free weights with all the beef cake men, and then if they do wander over there they have no idea where to start.
I started lifting 2 months ago and keep a journal that I record all my weights in so I know my progress. But I started light too, because I didnt know my potential.
Be nice to them they dont know better!
That's funny I am the only girl that goes by the grunts lol and does weights Of course not as heavy but i get my *kitten* in there and work them muscles til it burns baby!!0 -
OK I'm sorry but if you're on a weight loss journey the best thing you can do is lift weights... so...
Oh, and this was for the lady who said that people don't want to or need to.
Apparently my original post did not contain this quote I intended it to. This is what I was replying to and all the muscle heads jumped all over me.........
whoooohoooo I HAVE REACHED MUSCLE HEAD STATUS!!!!!!
FU*K YES!!!! NSV FOR ME!!!!
Congrats on that...
To the name caller holy crap seriously????
edited to remove my 2nd strike.0 -
Go to the store and open up a copy of SHAPE or Fitness Magazine. That's why women lift tiny weights.
We have a new magazine in Canada for women called STRONG Fitness Magazine. And there is muscle and fitness hers, oxygen, I see one called FitnessRX. Lots of magazines for heavy lifting ladies now.
really I will have to look for that...last time I was at the magazine stand looking for one there wasn't any...untapped market wow...0 -
Go to the store and open up a copy of SHAPE or Fitness Magazine. That's why women lift tiny weights.
We have a new magazine in Canada for women called STRONG Fitness Magazine. And there is muscle and fitness hers, oxygen, I see one called FitnessRX. Lots of magazines for heavy lifting ladies now.
really I will have to look for that...last time I was at the magazine stand looking for one there wasn't any...untapped market wow...
Muscle and Fitness HERS still has a lot of the same light weight, high reps, low fat diet bull**** that SHAPE, Women's Health, Oxygen and Cosmo have.0 -
MORE REPS LESS WEIGHT IS THE KEY FOR FEMALES TO LOSE WEIGHT AND STILL TONE OUT
No, it's not "THE KEY". It's just one good method.
Weight loss only requires a calorie deficit. Building muscle or strength requires resistance. Lifting heavy weights at low reps is one way to create resistance. There are others.0 -
Go to the store and open up a copy of SHAPE or Fitness Magazine. That's why women lift tiny weights.
It's true. I am always on the lookout for new exercises to throw into circuits or just for some variety, and looking at those sites is usually a complete waste of time--the majority of my female,clients are aged 55-70, overweight, with little experience lifting (at the start), and most of the exercises on those sites are a waste of time FOR THEM.
Everyone that has any knowledge of this subject KNOWS that those fitness models bust their humps and sling some heavy iron around.
Basically they show fitness models who have lifted heavy to get their physique doing exercises with itty bitty pink dumbbells.
But really, this is a smart business move, much like Planet Fitness. Cater to the larger percentage of the population.0 -
MORE REPS LESS WEIGHT IS THE KEY FOR FEMALES TO LOSE WEIGHT AND STILL TONE OUT
No, it's not "THE KEY". It's just one good method.
Weight loss only requires a calorie deficit. Building muscle or strength requires resistance. Lifting heavy weights at low reps is one way to create resistance. There are others.
to stay "toned"- it appears you missed that part.
and no- unless you are doing some significant resistance training-in some fashion or another you are going to lose muscle "tone".
So yes- deficit is how you lose weight- but if you just use a deficit- you are going to lose fat and muscle.0 -
MORE REPS LESS WEIGHT IS THE KEY FOR FEMALES TO LOSE WEIGHT AND STILL TONE OUT
No, it's not "THE KEY". It's just one good method.
Weight loss only requires a calorie deficit. Building muscle or strength requires resistance. Lifting heavy weights at low reps is one way to create resistance. There are others.
to stay "toned"- it appears you missed that part.
and no- unless you are doing some significant resistance training-in some fashion or another you are going to lose muscle "tone".
So yes- deficit is how you lose weight- but if you just use a deficit- you are going to lose fat and muscle.
That was my point. Resistance training is needed. Heavy lifting is just one type of resistance training.0 -
MORE REPS LESS WEIGHT IS THE KEY FOR FEMALES TO LOSE WEIGHT AND STILL TONE OUT
No, it's not "THE KEY". It's just one good method.
Weight loss only requires a calorie deficit. Building muscle or strength requires resistance. Lifting heavy weights at low reps is one way to create resistance. There are others.
to stay "toned"- it appears you missed that part.
and no- unless you are doing some significant resistance training-in some fashion or another you are going to lose muscle "tone".
So yes- deficit is how you lose weight- but if you just use a deficit- you are going to lose fat and muscle.
That was my point. Resistance training is needed. Heavy lifting is just one type of resistance training.
ehhhhhhh- body weight training is still heavy- if you just keep doing the same base move over and over again- you aren't getting stronger or developing muscle- you just can GO longer. you MUST move on to a heavier progression for progressive training- and you are still move forward with the "heavy" part. and it still qualifies as heavy lifting.0 -
MORE REPS LESS WEIGHT IS THE KEY FOR FEMALES TO LOSE WEIGHT AND STILL TONE OUT
No, it's not "THE KEY". It's just one good method.
Weight loss only requires a calorie deficit. Building muscle or strength requires resistance. Lifting heavy weights at low reps is one way to create resistance. There are others.
to stay "toned"- it appears you missed that part.
and no- unless you are doing some significant resistance training-in some fashion or another you are going to lose muscle "tone".
So yes- deficit is how you lose weight- but if you just use a deficit- you are going to lose fat and muscle.
That was my point. Resistance training is needed. Heavy lifting is just one type of resistance training.
ehhhhhhh- body weight training is still heavy- if you just keep doing the same base move over and over again- you aren't getting stronger or developing muscle- you just can GO longer. you MUST move on to a heavier progression for progressive training- and you are still move forward with the "heavy" part. and it still qualifies as heavy lifting.
I wasn't discussing what was required for heavy or progressive resistance training. I was discussing what is required for weight loss and being "toned" for women.
I suppose "toned" is subjective, so how about I just leave it at one does not need to always keep increasing resistance to be fit and healthy.0
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