Lifting is "bad for you"

lisalsd1 · July 2014

Not gonna lie. I lost several friends that I had been friends with for 10+ years...right around the time I started lifting. I don't know if there is a correlation; it was very weird timing though.

Must be the horsecrap nonsense illogical phenomenon reported here: http://www.psmag.com/navigation/health-and-behavior/half-lifts-workout-says-social-class-85221/

"upper middle class Americans avoid “excessive displays of strength,” viewing the bodybuilder look as vulgar overcompensation for wounded manhood"

...and to think all this time I thought I looked AMAZING. I'm just compensating for my "wounded manhood." Haha.

RacerX_14 · July 2014

OP your "friend" is cray cray!! Lift away girl!!

giggitygoo · July 2014

Lifting actually improves blood flow, so it's just hilarious that someone would actually believe the opposite.People are weird, and choose the strangest points to argue. I'm continually baffled.

She must have some amazing genetics to be that defined!

neandermagnon · July 2014

LOL shrinks your arteries.... where do people get these ideas from, and how do they think the human race survived before we invented things to lift heavy things for us?

Hey, neanderthal men, don't try to carry that heavy bison home for your tribe to eat, lifting heavy things shrinks your arteries!

Annie_01 · July 2014

That ranks up there with my doctor telling me not to lift because it will cause long term increases in blood pressure.

Not the normal rise mid-set, but permanent.

I HAD extremely high blood pressure when I started losing weight...before doing any type of weight training...I researched...

Here is what Mayo Clinic has to say...

Is weightlifting safe if I have high blood pressure?
Answers from Sheldon G. Sheps, M.D.

Maybe. It depends how high your blood pressure is. According to the American Heart Association, you should not lift weights if your blood pressure is uncontrolled — meaning it's higher than 180/110 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). If your blood pressure is between 140 to 170 mm Hg systolic or 90 to 109 mm Hg diastolic, check with your doctor before starting a weightlifting program to discuss any precautions or special considerations.

Weightlifting can cause a temporary increase in blood pressure. This increase can be dramatic — depending on how much weight you lift. But, weightlifting can also have long-term benefits to blood pressure that outweigh the risk of a temporary spike for most people.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/expert-answers/weightlifting/faq-20058451

neandermagnon · July 2014

My guess: she doesn't want you to lift, b/c she doesn't want you to look better than her.

Is she THAT friend?

that's what came to my mind too. Although I haven't ruled out the "she's stupid" option altogether. You can get big muscles without lifting barbells or dumbbells and doing those things while systematically avoiding barbells, dumbbells or other weight training devices is no more a logical fail than women who say they mustn't lift anything more than 3lb yet carry their babies and toddlers around all the time.

likitisplit · July 2014

Thank you for the amusing thread!

redheaddee · July 2014

wut the...no.

AglaeaC · July 2014

I hereby call this thread Treasure Trove of Cuckoo. Splendid, simply marvellous.

chrissyrenee1029 · July 2014

Thank you for the amusing thread!

As soon as I saw it pop up in her message my first thought was MFP is going to love this! lol

shireeniebeanie · July 2014

My guess: she doesn't want you to lift, b/c she doesn't want you to look better than her.

Is she THAT friend?

I really don't know her that well to say, although she does post a lot of catty status updates, so it's not entirely out of the realm of possibilities.

Sounds like she doesn't want anyone to steal the spotlight and be the new, amazing transformation! You should definitely start just so you can rub it in her face later.

I just read that book too, and I'm like whoa... how much equipment am I gonna need here? I really want a setup in my basement to use anytime I want!

Stoshew71 · July 2014

Look hard enough and you will find a study that says you are better off smoking than to eat red meat. I am serious. I wish i could make this stuff up.

ninerbuff · July 2014

Aw, see now. I bet she don't squat.

A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

AglaeaC · July 2014

Look hard enough and you will find a study that says you are better off smoking than to eat red meat. I am serious. I wish i could make this stuff up.

The creativity is mind-blowing and I agree with the "I wish I could make it up".

sarahunnewell · July 2014

There are definitely machines you should avoid, machines that - if you know how to do the right stretch/lunge and "use your own body weight" you can exercise more muscles with less ridiculousness. There is actually a great video on youtube about it...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asJxEJIOhrU

granadan · July 2014

Not gonna lie. I lost several friends that I had been friends with for 10+ years...right around the time I started lifting. I don't know if there is a correlation; it was very weird timing though.

Must be the horsecrap nonsense illogical phenomenon reported here: http://www.psmag.com/navigation/health-and-behavior/half-lifts-workout-says-social-class-85221/

"upper middle class Americans avoid “excessive displays of strength,” viewing the bodybuilder look as vulgar overcompensation for wounded manhood"

...and to think all this time I thought I looked AMAZING. I'm just compensating for my "wounded manhood." Haha.

And his wife preferred him skinny? Must be mad...

GiGiBeans · July 2014

I had to Google it. Found this:

http://www.peaktestosterone.com/Weight_Lifting_Arteries.aspx

Gotta love the internet. :laugh:

Yep I had to google it too. Interesting! I lift moderately & do cardio afterwards so I feel safe...well ok, I still worry about dropping a Kettlebell on my head.

ironanimal · July 2014

I don't even know what to say.

mrbyte · July 2014

TAsunder wrote:

Must be the horsecrap nonsense illogical phenomenon reported here: http://www.psmag.com/navigation/health-and-behavior/half-lifts-workout-says-social-class-85221/

Interesting how they implied that aerobic people have more will power than bodybuilders. Seems bodybuilding would have to have will power from all sides of the lifestyle from diet, rest, strength training(which requires a very intense focus), AND aerobic training and artistic/asthetics side as well.

Annie_01 · July 2014

OK, so this is one I haven't heard before. I just started reading "New Rules for Women" and realized that once I really seriously get started lifting that the weights I have at home are probably not going to cut it. So until I have the funds to build up our home gym, I'm going to have to suck it up and hit the gym. I have a "friend" on Facebook that is really fit, and she is so well defined that I honestly assumed that she lifts, so I messaged her and asked her where she goes since the weight room at my local rec center is pretty small and typically overrun. Her response was that lifting is bad for you because it shrinks your arteries. :huh:

I have heard all of the "you'll get bulky", "you'll look like a man" crap before, but I honestly had never heard this one before.

OP...unless you have extremely high blood pressure...you are okay to lift.

In my case my highest reading was 201/140. So I didn't lift...I did however do some light strength training. I am now back in the healthy range 126/85 and have started doing some light lifting.

Your friend was misguided as to whom that risk applied to. If your healthy...go for it!

pinkstp · July 2014

My mom told me I shouldn't lift heavy weights because one time in the 80's crocodile dundee was bench pressing like 350 and had an aneurysm.

:laugh:

BusyRaeNOTBusty · July 2014

Not gonna lie. I lost several friends that I had been friends with for 10+ years...right around the time I started lifting. I don't know if there is a correlation; it was very weird timing though.

Must be the horsecrap nonsense illogical phenomenon reported here: http://www.psmag.com/navigation/health-and-behavior/half-lifts-workout-says-social-class-85221/

That's really interesting. I do think he could have mixed the two more successfully. Did he really need to lose 30lbs of muscles to do well at the triathlon? And I hope he picked what he did because it was what he enjoyed not because of the social pressure.

SoLongAndThanksForAllTheFish · July 2014

Well actually lifting decreases diastolic blood pressure, raises HDL, lowers cholesterol and decreases insulin levels in many studies.

An anecdotal "study" of myself and others I know shows it lowers blood pressure, and lowers resting heart rate.

Its easy to get conflicting data though, especially if you look at lifters who use "supplements" like steroids and extra testosterone and those who intensely lift for long periods and then stop lifting. There is some evidence that lifting intensely and building yourself up for years, then stopping all lifting could be worse than not lifting at all, and that being very massive (and almost certainly when using steroids) is risky for the heart, but I've seen no evidence that an average guy lifting is doing anything worse than put himself at more risk of joint and muscle strain injuries and decreasing his risk of death from heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's and cancer and reducing the chance he'll be non-mobile in a home in his later years. Unless you already have certain risk factors, then of course it can increase risk too...

There is also less in the way of evidence on lifting's effect on women, All in all, the whole dose dependent issue is probably whats of primary importance, as it is with every single thing...even a tiny amount of radiation may be GOOD for your immune system, whereas most increased levels are of course very bad...

I know there is a study showing cardio after lifting seems to eliminate any arterial stiffness when its detected. Maybe just do that if you are worried, its usually the best order to exercise in anyways I find if you are doing both, the aerobic exercise also generally loosens your muscles up after.

That ranks up there with my doctor telling me not to lift because it will cause long term increases in blood pressure.

Not the normal rise mid-set, but permanent.

If you dont have a specific condition with unique circumstances, I hope you don't go to that doctor anymore...

chrissyrenee1029 · July 2014

I'm really not worried about it...her answer just kind of threw me for a loop.

stacynoell · July 2014

Strength training is good for you, but that's not just lifting weights. Incorporate a well balanced plan that includes weights, bands, squats, lunges (if you knees can take them), kettlebells and weight bearing exercises like pushups, planks and dips. Find a class or a trainer that can show you how to correctly do a variety of exercises to tone muscles and build strength. This will give you definition, but not bulk.

chrissyrenee1029 · July 2014

Strength training is good for you, but that's not just lifting weights. Incorporate a well balanced plan that includes weights, bands, squats, lunges (if you knees can take them), kettlebells and weight bearing exercises like pushups, planks and dips. Find a class or a trainer that can show you how to correctly do a variety of exercises to tone muscles and build strength. This will give you definition, but not bulk.

I've taken a weight lifting class before, so I know what I'm doing as far as form and such goes. And I'm pretty sure the whole "bulk" thing has been talked about to death here. If you haven't read "The New Rules of Lifting" I would definitely recommend it.