I keep seeing "you NEED to lift heavy"

Okay, I apologize for saying "duh". Maybe I'm a little heated up for reasons outside of MFP.

ARGriffy wrote: »

What I object to is people who say they want to tone up a little or do a recomp to reduce their last jiggly bits (yea im using terms that people who need help would use, don't jump on me terms and definitions police) and then get told that lifting heavy is the only option.the only way.the gospel! I disagree, simply because I don't know what you consider heavy, but I lift my body weight and nothing more. I do it often but still, never is more weight added. This has done crazy things to my body, it gave me definition I've never seen before, visible abs, split shoulders, lovely back definition and I'm only getting stronger, but not getting bigger (which is key for me, I like being cut and petite! ) I think it's important people find what they enjoy and what works for themselves as individuals not just "you need to lift heavy" because no one can deny that is a one line answer a lot of the time on here!

Hey @ARGriffy...I took an online course through Ideafit a while ago (wish I could remember the name)...anyway, your post reminded me of that because the instructor for the course actually trained for a bodybuilding competition and his prep program was entirely bodyweight exercises. I knw when he said that and then showed pictures of himself in the competition I was like WTF? You say you like being cut...I'm not surprised at all that you are able to attain that with only bodyweight routines.

cerise_noir wrote: »

Gisel2015 wrote: »

RoxieDawn wrote: »

Sued0nim wrote: »

Also whenever I say lift heavy it is to emphasise that a 5 or 10lb dumbbell is not what is meant

Women have been poorly served in the fitness industry by the concept of greater reps and pink Dumbbells ...IMHO

Win!

rather the words heavy lifting is a named trend or not, the term is used here that most of us come to see a lot and very used to in which we mean to specially say heavy lifting always means not the 5, 10 pound weenie weights!

Wow, my gym has sets of 15 and 20lbs "pink" dumb bells, so I guess that the color makes them weenies...

So sad an unfair to put labels on what people want or can lift.

I honestly can understand though. It's not labeling, IMHO. We as women have heard it all from "women shouldn't lift more than 10lbs", "You don't need to lift more than 10lbs" and many, many women actually believe that they just can't, but it is a mental "I can't". Many women believe that they're weak as because they are told that they are. However, some women have decided to break through that blanket-statement thinking and prove them oh so wrong. There was a time where I couldn't bench press more than 2 5lbs dumbbells and I believed I was 'weak'. It wasn't until someone here smashed that way of thinking for me and I finally decided to test myself. I was actually able to bench press 60lbs and do 3x12 and I learned that I was not challenging myself before at all. Now I think those little weights are weenie for me and everyone has to start somewhere, don't they? That doesn't mean anyone who lifts like that is a weenie, or that they're being made fun of. Not at all. We all have to start somewhere, but breaking down that mental barrier is a must. Whenever someone does break down that mental barrier, it becomes such a huge surprise and it encourages them to keep lifting.

My problem with people calling any weights weenie weights is that it is belittling and discouraging for many people. In addition, to me it comes off as rather...I hesitate to use the word ignorant but I will because I can't think of a better one.

There's a place and use for big weights and there's a place and use for small weights in many people's programming. As I mentioned earlier in the thread, I use small weights for my shoulders on a regular basis. YTLW exercises, rear delt raises, lateral raises, etc. do not require a lot of weight. Curls, if I feel like doing them at the end of a workout, also don't require a lot of weight. And even if I am doing something that will have my working sets at higher weight, I'm going to warm up with lower weight. That means sometimes I sometimes grab a set of 10s as my very first warmup set for a dumbbell bench press. I'm secure enough in what I'm doing that I don't really give a flying fig about people looking at me benching that amount.

But for a complete beginner in the weight room, somebody who is nervous about being in there and doing something new and possibly looking foolish, flippant and derisive comments can have a serious affect on their training. So if somebody here on MFP asks about building muscle or "toning" and mentions having a set of 3, 5, 7 lb dumbbells, I will state that they are going to have to add more weight in order to progress, but I'm not going to tell them they are using weenie weights.

As a runner, I find that incorporating a good strength training routine has really helped me build up my strength in areas that help my running as well. Most people are suggesting to lift heavy to people who have lost weight and are not what you may call "skinny fat" meaning they did nothing but cardio to lose the weight and still have a lot of "softness" that can be remedied by lifting and building/maintaining muscle. You don't have to join a gym or "lift heavy" to do this. All you have to have is about 15min and a little bit of imagination. Congrats on your weight loss - just keep doing what works for you and what makes you happy. You shouldn't by any means take other's advice as gospel... but just as a suggestion from others with more experience.

I am waiting for an example of a thread where heavy lifting was thrown out by the masses that didn't have to do with body composition or retaining muscle mass or looking toned or asking for work outs to start with.

I've been here a long, long time -- I want some of these examples, OP. Since they happen so often, it shouldn't be hard for you to locate one.