Why do so many women lift such light weights?

1…4567810»

Replies

  • Asheea
    Asheea Posts: 211 Member
    I can't speak for everyone but I cannot lift more than 10 lbs. I stick to 5-10 lbs free weights. I hurt my wrists last year exercising and need to visit a doc. From the symptom checker it looks like carpel tunnel. I have a 15 lb kettlebell and can't lift that because my wrists just scream. I'm afraid I'll never be able to lift more than 10 lbs but I hope to lift heavy within the next two years.
  • Julieanne611
    Julieanne611 Posts: 5
    Lots of women (ESPECIALLY moms) don't lift heavy weights because of the strain it puts on the bladder. I can't speak for other women, but the last thing I need is a friggin' bladder prolapse. Google it. It ain't pretty.

    And, yeah. "Because we don't want to" seems like a valid enough reason for me. For myself, I find that my body (plus 3-5 lb. weights on occasion) provides just the right amount of resistance necessary to building and toning muscle.
  • BinaryPulsar
    BinaryPulsar Posts: 8,927 Member
    Lifting weights actually strengthens your pelvic floor. Bret Contreras writes about it in Strong Curves. Strong glutes will provide a strong pelvic floor. I have had two kids and I can sneeze and jump at the same time, no problems.
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    Lots of women (ESPECIALLY moms) don't lift heavy weights because of the strain it puts on the bladder. I can't speak for other women, but the last thing I need is a friggin' bladder prolapse. Google it. It ain't pretty.

    And, yeah. "Because we don't want to" seems like a valid enough reason for me. For myself, I find that my body (plus 3-5 lb. weights on occasion) provides just the right amount of resistance necessary to building and toning muscle.

    I am a mom and was told as a young woman..."don't lift that you will damage your girl parts etc"...

    And I was like really??? psh

    My squat PR is 180lbs..I weigh 159....trust me my bladder is not going anywhere...

    and you aren't building muscle using 3-5lb weights...sorry...
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    Lots of women (ESPECIALLY moms) don't lift heavy weights because of the strain it puts on the bladder. I can't speak for other women, but the last thing I need is a friggin' bladder prolapse. Google it. It ain't pretty.

    And, yeah. "Because we don't want to" seems like a valid enough reason for me. For myself, I find that my body (plus 3-5 lb. weights on occasion) provides just the right amount of resistance necessary to building and toning muscle.

    I am a mom and was told as a young woman..."don't lift that you will damage your girl parts etc"...

    And I was like really??? psh

    My squat PR is 180lbs..I weigh 159....trust me my bladder is not going anywhere...

    and you aren't building muscle using 3-5lb weights...sorry...notsorry

    (edited that for you :p)


    people do realize the uterus can exert upwards of 100 pds of pressure PER SQUARE INCH- without every really being exercised right?

    it's not like a delicate frail thing- yeah we have nerve endings- but oh wait- hold on- let me get my fanny pack so it doesn't effing pop out from exertion.

    God forbid- how did women ever bear children back in the day- vag's popping out all over the place with all that "heavy lifting"

    <swoog>
  • MireyGal76
    MireyGal76 Posts: 7,334 Member
    Lots of women (ESPECIALLY moms) don't lift heavy weights because of the strain it puts on the bladder. I can't speak for other women, but the last thing I need is a friggin' bladder prolapse. Google it. It ain't pretty.

    And, yeah. "Because we don't want to" seems like a valid enough reason for me. For myself, I find that my body (plus 3-5 lb. weights on occasion) provides just the right amount of resistance necessary to building and toning muscle.

    By all means, if you don't want to, then don't. I'm not concerned about the women who don't WANT to lift heavy. I am more concerned about all the women who DO WANT to lift heavy, but are afraid of becoming manly, or just simply think they can't because they're weak.

    Those are the women that I want to help. Because we are OFTEN way stronger than we think!
  • Julieanne611
    Julieanne611 Posts: 5
    Don't be sorry. I'm not. My arms look amazing.
  • RayBoy76
    RayBoy76 Posts: 23 Member
    [/quote]

    To the name caller holy crap seriously????

    [/quote]
  • RayBoy76
    RayBoy76 Posts: 23 Member
    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.

    Lol, why are people so sensitive. Ever heard of a person really into cars called a gearhead?
    A foreman's dream: a weak mind and strong back :)
  • silverraiyne
    silverraiyne Posts: 683 Member
    tumblr_m9s4x2Y0HL1ro2d43.gif
  • FindingAmy77
    FindingAmy77 Posts: 1,268 Member
    toning requires lighter weights but more reps while focusing on your form and range of motion. that is my reason when I lift light. I do keep adding weight as time and my strength is built up. I do both methods on alternating days. toning light with more reps one day and the next day I aim for more weight per set than my previous week's weight. So far, so good.
  • WakkoW
    WakkoW Posts: 567 Member
    toning requires lighter weights but more reps while focusing on your form and range of motion. that is my reason when I lift light. I do keep adding weight as time and my strength is built up.

    I can't believe I'm responding to zombie thread, but stop it! There is no such thing as toning. If you lift light you are lifting for endurance. The amount of work anyone, male or female, has to pit in to develop muscle doesn't happen accidentally.
  • FindingAmy77
    FindingAmy77 Posts: 1,268 Member
    toning requires lighter weights but more reps while focusing on your form and range of motion. that is my reason when I lift light. I do keep adding weight as time and my strength is built up.

    I can't believe I'm responding to zombie thread, but stop it! There is no such thing as toning. If you lift light you are lifting for endurance. The amount of work anyone, male or female, has to pit in to develop muscle doesn't happen accidentally.

    no such thing my *kitten*... sorry but I am getting more toned and consult with the gym's trainer often. but whatever
  • WakkoW
    WakkoW Posts: 567 Member
    toning requires lighter weights but more reps while focusing on your form and range of motion. that is my reason when I lift light. I do keep adding weight as time and my strength is built up.

    I can't believe I'm responding to zombie thread, but stop it! There is no such thing as toning. If you lift light you are lifting for endurance. The amount of work anyone, male or female, has to pit in to develop muscle doesn't happen accidentally.

    no such thing my *kitten*... sorry but I am getting more toned and consult with the gym's trainer often. but whatever

    By "tone" you mean revealing the muscle that has been hidden underneath a bunch of fat?
    whatever yourself.
  • Sharon_C
    Sharon_C Posts: 2,132 Member
    For me it was because I was intimidated. I had no idea what to do and usually the "big guys" hog all of the equipment. It wasn't until I started reading the threads on MFP and seeing the great results a lot of women were getting from weight lifting that I researched it more and decided to try it out.

    I'm so glad I did because I'm LOVING it. I'm still relatively new at it so my weight might seem like a "light" weight to some of you but I'm seeing great results.

    Now I have no problem asking one of the "big guys" if they're finished with the equipment and they don't look at me funny like I thought they would.
  • ValGogo
    ValGogo Posts: 2,168 Member
    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.

    you can keep it at whatever you like.



    But that doesn't mean you are right ;)

    No, of course not. But I still am.

    sigh.
    you do realize toning isn't a real thing right?

    Hey Jo. Always good to see your posts.

    Light weights don't do much. I just started to seriously lift "heavier" weights and after a week I already feel stronger and can see some definition in my already defined arm. Granted, I'm not lifting huge barbells since the max at Planet is 50 adn 60. I'm going to use those until I'm strong enough to handle the big dumbbells and press them safely.

    Yeah, baby dumbbells are for babies; Michelle looks adorbs with them. I have 3's and 6's that I will probably use for wrist training, if that is even a thing. Then I will have to let them go.
  • 12by311
    12by311 Posts: 1,716 Member
    I've always wondered what toning is...can someone explain? noob question I know ;-)

Categories