LIFTING LADIES!! Help please!! kinda long

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Replies

  • mimiteh35
    mimiteh35 Posts: 486 Member
    Just go for it! Weights and a good diet get fantastic results :) x

    I'm starting to think the same thing! :)
  • mimiteh35
    mimiteh35 Posts: 486 Member
    59eaf65c7d96c09610490719d3d820cd.jpg

    I started stonglifts and have noticed that as long as I maintain correct form I don't have any pain. Strengthening those muscles makes them stronger and therefore less prone to injury... My doc once told me the worst thing you can do with back pain is stop strengthening it bc it gets weaker and therefore worsens the issue (this does not apply to recent back *injury* however, and obviously if you're not doing the move correctly..)

    Females will not bulk without supplements, I also keep hearing you can't bulk on a calorie deficit but not 100% on that. We just don't have the genetics for it either way. And worst case scenario, just cut back some if you get too muscular for your taste.

    https://www.google.com/search?q=female+lifting&tbm=isch&source=lnms&sa=X&ei=3ThbU-SYFYTmsASa74GAAw&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAg&biw=1680&bih=942#q=female+fitness+model+off+season&tbm=isch&imgdii=_

    Thanks for the links!! :)
  • gracielynn1011
    gracielynn1011 Posts: 726 Member
    Been lifting for the better part of a year. Smaller, lighter, but certainly not bulky. Keep your diet in order, pay attention to form, and ignore anyone who has anything rude to say.

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    Edit: Added one with less of my babby muscles.

    I remember when you posted the first set of pics. I had just started lifting then. You have made great progress! Congrats on that"
  • SunofaBeach14
    SunofaBeach14 Posts: 4,899 Member
    Just go for it! Weights and a good diet get fantastic results :) x

    I'm starting to think the same thing! :)

    This is true. Pay attention to those macros
  • apriltrainer
    apriltrainer Posts: 732 Member
    I competed in my first powerlifting competition last Sept(I started off with STarting Strength and continued with Wendler's 531 to prepare me for my comp)...

    It did not make me bulky at all!

    I will be competing again in August! Don't be afraid!
  • RobinLynx
    RobinLynx Posts: 60
    My doctor says working the glutes helps lower back pain & coincidentally a book I ordered called "STRONG CURVES A Woman's Guide to Building A Better Butt and Body" by Bret Contreras & Kellie Davis got here the same day & it says the same thing. Got it because after getting to goal weight, my butt needed to be built back up & I want to make sure to use proper form (been working it & it's starting to help after only a few weeks). It DOES help the lower back problems & it does lift the booty. (Sitting & doing paperwork for hours makes the back hurt like crazy, though, on the days I don't lift). Well, the book has all kinds of great info & so do so many people on myfitnesspal forums! Listen to the people who say lifting doesn't make women bulk up, check out the success stories & see for yourself, it makes you strong & beautiful :happy:
  • PJPrimrose
    PJPrimrose Posts: 916 Member
    I just started lifting. With my build I probably couldn't bulk even if I did "juice"(steroids)!

    These before and after pics are amazing! Wow!
  • Fitfully_me
    Fitfully_me Posts: 647 Member
    I started lifting weights back in June of last year. Lost 53 lbs while doing so. My mom used to try to tell me she got bulky from working at an ice cream shop when she was younger. She warned me not to lift over 50 lbs... I don't listen very well. I'm close to a 200 lb 1 RM on Deadlift. If you live your life worried what other people think, you'll be forever miserable searching for acceptance. Don't worry about what anyone has to say. Be you.
    in78jk.jpg

    AWESOME!
  • jrhanna84
    jrhanna84 Posts: 66 Member
    Nuts to what other people think. Just go in there and do your thing. Iron is good for you. :wink:
  • mimiteh35
    mimiteh35 Posts: 486 Member
    Thank you all so much for sharing/posting and your advice!!! You all are amazing and an inspiration!! I truly appreciate everyone's input and might I say many of you have these guys second guessing that myth!!

    I love the other links and they helped out, also some of those links have lead to me find other helpful links/posts about how to get started, so even more thanks! :)
  • mimiteh35
    mimiteh35 Posts: 486 Member
    My doctor says working the glutes helps lower back pain & coincidentally a book I ordered called "STRONG CURVES A Woman's Guide to Building A Better Butt and Body" by Bret Contreras & Kellie Davis got here the same day & it says the same thing. Got it because after getting to goal weight, my butt needed to be built back up & I want to make sure to use proper form (been working it & it's starting to help after only a few weeks). It DOES help the lower back problems & it does lift the booty. (Sitting & doing paperwork for hours makes the back hurt like crazy, though, on the days I don't lift). Well, the book has all kinds of great info & so do so many people on myfitnesspal forums! Listen to the people who say lifting doesn't make women bulk up, check out the success stories & see for yourself, it makes you strong & beautiful :happy:

    Thanks for this!! I've been doing lunges/squats and went from flat butt to hey, I have a bit of a round *kitten* now, woohooo, the fiance likes... and recently started doing them with hand-weights (started with 3 lbs in each hand, then 5 lbs, now on 8 lbs) and seeing awesome results, and to be honest, before my plateau where I let myself stop exercising in the past few weeks, my back pain has gotten better since I started exercising all together because I've been very aware of my form due to worrying about back issues... I have a sit-down desk job too, all day in front of the computer.

    Thanks for the info!! And I may have to check out that book, too! :)
  • mimiteh35
    mimiteh35 Posts: 486 Member
    I competed in my first powerlifting competition last Sept(I started off with STarting Strength and continued with Wendler's 531 to prepare me for my comp)...

    It did not make me bulky at all!

    I will be competing again in August! Don't be afraid!

    Oooo, good luck! :) Thanks!
  • mimiteh35
    mimiteh35 Posts: 486 Member
    Just go for it! Weights and a good diet get fantastic results :) x

    I'm starting to think the same thing! :)

    This is true. Pay attention to those macros

    Yes, I've been doing my homework and trying to learn about this! Thanks!! :)
  • Italiana_xx79
    Italiana_xx79 Posts: 594 Member
    bump
  • postrockandcats
    postrockandcats Posts: 1,145 Member
    No, you will not bulk like a man because you are a woman. We have hormonal differences that make them bulk and us not bulk as much. Lifting burns fat, burns calories *after* the workout ends, and increases your metabolism. It's also very mentally empowering. It doesn't mean that you have to end up looking ripped if you don't want to, either. This is your body and your journey.

    Also, as one who has been the fat girl in the "boys area" pumping iron, no one gives a crap that you're there if you don't get in the way. That goes for everyone, male or female. Most people are conscious of other people but not really concentrating on them. And even if they were, so what? You're there for you to better your mental and physical health, so eff them! :)

    So, bring the weights! :D
    14091296846_ddde9c85f8.jpg
  • spicegeek
    spicegeek Posts: 325 Member
    I feel so bad for many women I see posting here who are discouraged by male gym goers. I must live in utopia - all the guys I work out around are either awesome or really could not care less if I`m there unless they need the bar / weights I`m using - I can honestly say I have never heard a negative word from any of them - the closest might have been when I picked up a 50lb kettle bell and someone said "you are not going snatch are you ?" - yup I am - and I did -

    Anyhoo - I would check to see if your gym has a trainer - if you are lifting properly you should not be hurting your back - a good trainer will coach your form and ensure you progress safely - Of course getting a good trainer can be a shot in the dark in many places - but talk to any prospective candidates - see if they want to train you and you want to train with them. If you already injured your back you may have a tendency toward bad form. If a trainer is out of the question video all your workouts start with a light weight and watch them and cross reference videos of good and bad form - fixing these things yourself is not easy - but it is possible - fix your form before you start adding weight

    The whole bulking thing you`ll have to talk that out with your boyfriend - you will gain muscle - and you will get some definition - but unless you get down to a very low %age of body fat your are not going to look crazy cut -
  • mimiteh35
    mimiteh35 Posts: 486 Member
    I feel so bad for many women I see posting here who are discouraged by male gym goers. I must live in utopia - all the guys I work out around are either awesome or really could not care less if I`m there unless they need the bar / weights I`m using - I can honestly say I have never heard a negative word from any of them - the closest might have been when I picked up a 50lb kettle bell and someone said "you are not going snatch are you ?" - yup I am - and I did -

    Anyhoo - I would check to see if your gym has a trainer - if you are lifting properly you should not be hurting your back - a good trainer will coach your form and ensure you progress safely - Of course getting a good trainer can be a shot in the dark in many places - but talk to any prospective candidates - see if they want to train you and you want to train with them. If you already injured your back you may have a tendency toward bad form. If a trainer is out of the question video all your workouts start with a light weight and watch them and cross reference videos of good and bad form - fixing these things yourself is not easy - but it is possible - fix your form before you start adding weight

    The whole bulking thing you`ll have to talk that out with your boyfriend - you will gain muscle - and you will get some definition - but unless you get down to a very low %age of body fat your are not going to look crazy cut -

    Thank you for all that info! I appreciate it so much!
  • mimiteh35
    mimiteh35 Posts: 486 Member
    No, you will not bulk like a man because you are a woman. We have hormonal differences that make them bulk and us not bulk as much. Lifting burns fat, burns calories *after* the workout ends, and increases your metabolism. It's also very mentally empowering. It doesn't mean that you have to end up looking ripped if you don't want to, either. This is your body and your journey.

    Also, as one who has been the fat girl in the "boys area" pumping iron, no one gives a crap that you're there if you don't get in the way. That goes for everyone, male or female. Most people are conscious of other people but not really concentrating on them. And even if they were, so what? You're there for you to better your mental and physical health, so eff them! :)

    So, bring the weights! :D
    14091296846_ddde9c85f8.jpg

    OMG I just peeked at your profile, great job you!! :) Thanks, I will admit, just doing hand weights, lunges/squats, push-ups and burpees I'm starting to see some definition in my arms, something I've never had before, and I find myself flexing a lot ;) hehe... that alone is empowering so just thinking of the idea of lifting heavy and getting my body healthy and makes me excited! :D Thanks so much for your input!
  • mimiteh35
    mimiteh35 Posts: 486 Member
    For the record, I can barely even do a pushup with my body weight, I can't go down all the way because I'm that weak, but I can do a few almost all the way down... and I worked up to that, lol. I want to improve my body, my health, my strength... :) Seeing all you ladies is so inspiring, I dont think you realize how much I look up to you all who have pushed through and got healthy! Thank you all so much for sharing!! You all look FABULOUS! And you don't talk to me like I'm some "stupid girl." Ive had rude comments like that from WOMEN and its disturbing. Encourage and inform, not insult. I just myself became one of the girls who want to lift heavy, I was one of the millions of women who believed the myth because I personally have never SEEN any women who lifted heavy until I got on this sight and started lurking around the forums! :)
  • postrockandcats
    postrockandcats Posts: 1,145 Member
    No, you will not bulk like a man because you are a woman. We have hormonal differences that make them bulk and us not bulk as much. Lifting burns fat, burns calories *after* the workout ends, and increases your metabolism. It's also very mentally empowering. It doesn't mean that you have to end up looking ripped if you don't want to, either. This is your body and your journey.

    Also, as one who has been the fat girl in the "boys area" pumping iron, no one gives a crap that you're there if you don't get in the way. That goes for everyone, male or female. Most people are conscious of other people but not really concentrating on them. And even if they were, so what? You're there for you to better your mental and physical health, so eff them! :)

    So, bring the weights! :D
    (pic)

    OMG I just peeked at your profile, great job you!! :) Thanks, I will admit, just doing hand weights, lunges/squats, push-ups and burpees I'm starting to see some definition in my arms, something I've never had before, and I find myself flexing a lot ;) hehe... that alone is empowering so just thinking of the idea of lifting heavy and getting my body healthy and makes me excited! :D Thanks so much for your input!

    Aww, thanks! :D

    All those things are great, so keep doing them! I like hand weights a lot and have been using them for most of my upper body work of late. Curls, Overhead Presses, Chest Presses... it's fun.

    As for the rude people? I've had this and it feels HORRIBLE. I had a guy try to correct me really obnoxiously because he thought I was doing Exercise A when I was ACTUALLY doing Exercise B. It was really embarrassing and infuriating at the time, but I can eyeroll now. Unless you're doing something blatantly unsafe, then people need to mind their own business! :mad:

    You *aren't* a stupid girl. You're a woman who's learning and asking the right questions. Good job :)
  • postrockandcats
    postrockandcats Posts: 1,145 Member
    For the record, I can barely even do a pushup with my body weight, I can't go down all the way because I'm that weak, but I can do a few almost all the way down... and I worked up to that, lol.

    OOH! Try this:

    Do wall pushups. The more angled you are the more resistance you'll get. But don't worry about not being able to do a full pushup! You WILL and you're trying. You're only a failure if you don't try at all. :)
  • mimiteh35
    mimiteh35 Posts: 486 Member
    For the record, I can barely even do a pushup with my body weight, I can't go down all the way because I'm that weak, but I can do a few almost all the way down... and I worked up to that, lol.

    OOH! Try this:

    Do wall pushups. The more angled you are the more resistance you'll get. But don't worry about not being able to do a full pushup! You WILL and you're trying. You're only a failure if you don't try at all. :)

    Thanks!!! :)
  • rosebette
    rosebette Posts: 1,660 Member
    I'm an old broad who lifts, but not as heavy as I'd like. As you can see from my profile picture, I am a little stocky, but not "bulky." Believe me, I'd rather have big arms that are firm than have flab that moves when I wave.
  • starbucksbuzz
    starbucksbuzz Posts: 466 Member
    Non flexed after a year of lifting:

    4C96E37A-CD51-4DD6-9FC0-360A8767F0C9_zpsuyqoyeyq.jpg

    in case the photo doesn't work...
    http://i1132.photobucket.com/albums/m577/starbucksbuzz/Fitness%20and%20food/4C96E37A-CD51-4DD6-9FC0-360A8767F0C9_zpsuyqoyeyq.jpg

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