How many women actually workout with weights

I lift. Mostly focus on big lifts (squats, DL etc) with some accessory work. Any given time in my gym there's maybe 2 or 3 other women lifting and the rest guys. I started off by going to an accredited strength coach and ex competitor to get over the fear of not knowing what I was doing.

I lift 5 days a week

SezxyStef wrote: »

youngmomtaz wrote: »

I do! I have a setup in my garage so that I can avoid the gym and the teenagers and young men who attend there and leave equiptment everywhere. I actually need to add to my plate collection as I am finally squatting and benching respectable weights. Sometimes my boys or husband join me, I wish they would more as having a spotter is so handy!!

get a rack or have them in with you all the time.

Spotters are not optional they are mandatory for safety if you don't have a rack.

We have a setup of straps anchored to the ceiling to keep me from getting killed. They work as my rack if I cannot complete a rep. I can adjust them to the correct lengths as needed. When we built the house we actually had the floor joists engineered to accommodate that(not that I will ever be lifting enough to compromise 2 by 6 boards).

It would just be nice to have an extra set of hands as "help" once in awhile.

1Rune wrote: »

I think "bulky" is probably pretty subjective and that the kind of muscle and shape you put on is going to depend on your body, your choice of rx, and the weight you train with. A woman can absolutely bulk up more than she wants to - I have, and I'm freakishly tall and long-limbed. I make crazy quads and went on a biceps bender a few years ago trying out new exercises, and (shockingly) wound up with biceps the size of softballs. I never even noticed until someone commented on my "guns", since I never stood around flexing in front of a mirror. I totally blame the preacher curls - which I still love, but I use lighter weights and go for distance reps instead of powering thru short reps/heavy weights, unless I really am interested in *building a muscle, like glutes, for instance.
My general rule of thumb is isolation ex runs light, compound movements heavier, but that's probably a good plan for all kinds of reasons. Like "don't snap anything you might need to use tomorrow", lol.

Thank you for this. I've tried to express this sentiment but wasn't able to word it without offending people. I've started lifting, but it took me a good while to get motivated to dive in since I consistently saw women who I thought were bulky saying "look at me, I lift, and I'm not bulky".
I've come to realize that the word "bulky" means different things to different people.
I still believe that some form of weight training is important for everyone though, and especially as we get older to prevent muscle loss.

frankiesgirlie wrote: »

1Rune wrote: »

I think "bulky" is probably pretty subjective and that the kind of muscle and shape you put on is going to depend on your body, your choice of rx, and the weight you train with. A woman can absolutely bulk up more than she wants to - I have, and I'm freakishly tall and long-limbed. I make crazy quads and went on a biceps bender a few years ago trying out new exercises, and (shockingly) wound up with biceps the size of softballs. I never even noticed until someone commented on my "guns", since I never stood around flexing in front of a mirror. I totally blame the preacher curls - which I still love, but I use lighter weights and go for distance reps instead of powering thru short reps/heavy weights, unless I really am interested in *building a muscle, like glutes, for instance.
My general rule of thumb is isolation ex runs light, compound movements heavier, but that's probably a good plan for all kinds of reasons. Like "don't snap anything you might need to use tomorrow", lol.

Thank you for this. I've tried to express this sentiment but wasn't able to word it without offending people. I've started lifting, but it took me a good while to get motivated to dive in since I consistently saw women who I thought were bulky saying "look at me, I lift, and I'm not bulky".
I've come to realize that the word "bulky" means different things to different people.
I still believe that some form of weight training is important for everyone though, and especially as we get older to prevent muscle loss.

I think it's that sometimes one see a woman who lifts claiming not to be "bulky" but that woman is comfortable at a higher body fat% or is still trying to attain leanness. I see women who lift that are both over-muscled for my taste, but that is rare. More often than not I see women who lift who are still cutting, and the body fat % is just higher than I would want.

alaine5377 wrote: »

I lift weights with cardio mixes. I don't lift to bulk. I'm toning right now so I stick with light stuff.

What does mean to you? If you want to "tone" you should still be lifting heavy with a progressive overload, whether it's high rep or low.

I lift weights, and if i can easily do 10 reps then the weight is too light. For most of women, you CANNOT bulk up unless you're doing steroids. If you look bulky because you put on some muscle (--good work if you did!!!--) then it's probably because you need to cut calories and lose fat. If you don't like softball-sized guns...wow, i really wish i had your softball-sized guns! And, you're unusual. (I have half-softball-sized guns.)

The trick is to really look at your WHOLE body in the mirror, and make sure you're not working one area more than another; you want to look balanced. Some muscles will develop faster than others; my biceps come up really fast, for example, whereas my calves are slow slow slow. So, balance. Read the book "Thinner, Leaner, Stronger" by Michael Matthews. He really did his homework!

I was doing cardio and lifting 3 hours a day, 5 days a week, but that was too much time, so i split up my routine. I am also vegan, so getting enough protein is more challenging, but it can be done. I'm doing it, trust me. PS, i could NOT have become vegan if it wasn't for the book, "The Ultimate Uncheese Cookbook." Yeah, you have to put in some time cooking/concocting, but the stuff TASTES LIKE CHEESE. And not just one type of cheese, either. Another great book for making your own real-tasting "meats" is "Simply Heavenly--The Monastery Vegetarian Cookbook"--but in fact, it's vegan. I think they were just concerned that most people don't know what "vegan" means.

I have free weights at home because buying them was cheaper than a gym membership, and gas and time to drive there and back. (You can easily get cheap free weights on craigslist, from poor saps who gave up. )

Btw, if your gym keeps free weights in an "advanced" area, they're doing it out of fear of liability. That's total BS and you should find another gym or tell them to go...get over themselves.

Rachael McLish is also a huge inspiration, as she's 57 and looks beyond phenomenal; her book from "back in the day" is "Flex Appeal by Rachel", and the advice is as solid now as it was then. Her pictures (then and now) will inspire you!!! The likelihood that she was doing muscle-enhancing drugs of any kind is/was slim to none, and she's truly amazing. She was featured in the 80's movie. "Pumping Iron--The Women". You can watch that on YouTube, now.

Cheers! Fear no weight! When you're my age (54) you'll be able to carry 40 pounds of groceries up three flights of stairs like i do (because i hate making multiple trips) EASY!

cafisher0404 wrote: »

I want to start! It's intimidating for someone new (at least to me personally). My gym keeps all their free weights under an "advanced training" area, so for a newbie, it is very scary to walk over there any try (the machine weights are what I have been doing so far). I also constantly worry that I'm going to get my form wrong or mess up in some way. I'm trying to get over that fear and just do it.

Form is very important. If your gym has a personal trainer (--ask what credentials he/she has, and make sure they didn't come from a Cracker Jacks box--) then have them give you a 1-hour training session on correct form. If your gym doesn't have one, you can find one in your area by doing a google search, and just let them know you need ONE session just to teach you form. Unless you want to make the equivalent of car payments on regular training sessions. See my above post on what i think of your gym keeping free weights in an "advanced" area. I would love to tell them what i think of their rule, but...it's not my gym. Nor will it ever be. 'Nuff said.

Train insane or remain the same

alaine5377 wrote: »

arditarose wrote: »

alaine5377 wrote: »

I lift weights with cardio mixes. I don't lift to bulk. I'm toning right now so I stick with light stuff.

What does mean to you? If you want to "tone" you should still be lifting heavy with a progressive overload, whether it's high rep or low.

Depends on the level of "tone" you're going for. Solid definition with cuts (?) needs the progressive workout you're talking about. I don't want that. I don't want a flabby arm or beer belly, I could careless about getting the 6 pack from it.
Sorry I'm not good with lingo nor am I a trainer. i just do as I'm told from a trainer lol.

fire your trainer then.

1. Tone is not a thing...you have muscle tone all the time but you can't "tone" muscle. That would be a fitness industry hype word...and your trainer fell for it...means they didn't do any research.
2. I did a heavy progressive load lifting program for three years...I do not have "solid def with cuts" I am stronger and I kept a lot of my muscle while losing 50lbs.
3. The only time you can really see muscle on most women who lift is when they flex

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1096001-halp-heavy-lifting-made-me-supah-bulky?page=13#posts-19366042


I don't have flabby arms or legs and my butt is hard...belly eh it needs more work.

alaine5377 wrote: »

arditarose wrote: »

alaine5377 wrote: »

I lift weights with cardio mixes. I don't lift to bulk. I'm toning right now so I stick with light stuff.

What does mean to you? If you want to "tone" you should still be lifting heavy with a progressive overload, whether it's high rep or low.

Depends on the level of "tone" you're going for. Solid definition with cuts (?) needs the progressive workout you're talking about. I don't want that. I don't want a flabby arm or beer belly, I could careless about getting the 6 pack from it.
Sorry I'm not good with lingo nor am I a trainer. i just do as I'm told from a trainer lol.

Definition comes from BF% not how heavy you lift.

http://www.sparkpeople.com/blog/blog.asp?post=you_asked_how_much_weight_should_i_lift
http://www.sparkpeople.com/blog/blog.asp?post=you_asked_when_should_i_increase_the_weight_i_lift