To think some women could lift heavier in the gym?

How much does your class and any other essential costs (eg membership) cost @BitOutOfPractice ?

I've been inspired by this channel, seeing the real function difference lifting can make and its importance to aging well

I’ll mention that to the instructor at my Lift Club class tomorrow.

Don’t think it’s a ‘raw nerve’ think it’s OP’s judgemental comments and assumptions about others.

If OP is in a small, quality class, involving correction and training on good technique that’s one thing. Not accessible to many women.

Les Mills, for example, or YouTube free tips, aretotally different.

They could be people recovering from surgery, health problems and looking to increase their strength as they ho along.

This sort of statement really upsets me.

strength training may indeed be important and it does protect against all sorts of things. But it isn’t essential. Not for everyone.

that sort of attitude is exactly why I don’t go to the gym and only work with my HCPs and under their guidance.

Please go. Please give yourself the freedom you deserve.

Nothing is easy. Ignoring the morons (because that’s what they are) is part of the battle.

I find it heartbreaking that people feel so uncomfortable in their own skin that they won’t wear the clothes they want or go where they want.

If you do go, please remember you are cheered on. You are! All power to you.

I totally agree with the OP. Bear in mind, she is in a strength training class - the women lifting only 2kg weights and not pushing themselves at all have chosen to do strength training! What they are doing is the opposite of with strength training.

The first culprit - aside from ignorance - is the instructor, who isn't guiding these women properly. This is a strength class, so they absolutely should be being pushed more by the instructor; otherwise, they are throwing their money away while gaining very few health benefits.

Strength training is essential for women, especially as we get older. Not only does it increase your functional abilities for everyday tasks (to carry things, pick things up from high shelves, get up off the floor, pick things up from the floor, move in a variety of ways) and increase your strength (very important), but it also strengthens your bones as well as your muscle and is extremely beneficial for your all-round health, particularly cell health and metabolism. It protects against diabetes, cancer, dementia, osteoporosis, sarcopenia, arthritis, heart disease and a whole host of other diseases and conditions. It can help deal with conditions such as arthritis (I have knee arthritis and the problems stemming from it have almost completely disappeared since I started strength training).

And for that, yes, you do need to push yourselves and lift as heavy as you can. If for some reason you can't push yourself to the max (e.g. my partner has a hiatal hernia and she has to be careful with breathing and her diaphragm) then increase the number of reps, but still always be trying to increase the load you can lift and progress to a higher weight.

When you're in your 70s, 80s and even later, you will be very grateful that you pushed yourself to the max!

But, if strength training isn't your thing, then don't go to a strength training class!

Hear hear 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 perfectly said. I was taught that cardio is for women, and if I use weights they should be light for 'toning'. Utter, utter bullshit. Women were taught to fear the gym/weights and it's a bloody shame

Obviously work on your grip strength is one option but also, have you tried using alternate grip (or mixed grip) once your grip strength starts to fail? I rarely use straps for conventional deadlifts but have to use alternate grip from about 60kg onwards and I'm able to lift 120kg for multiple reps in a set without straps. I would try switching your grip before using lifting straps.

As I'm lazy, I've just copied the explanation from Google:

"An alternate grip (or mixed grip) deadlift involves placing one palm facing toward you (supinated) and the other away from you (pronated). This technique prevents the barbell from rolling out of the hands, allowing for much heavier loads than a standard double overhand grip, making it ideal for heavy, top-set lifts."

And, if you have particularly sweaty hands (I certainly do!), use chalk on your hands. You can buy bottles of liquid chalk to take into the gym rather than blocks of it.

I would try the alternate grip and chalk before attempting to faff around with straps at your current lifting level.

He? Most instructors are female and in 40 years of working in gyms and 28 years of teaching classes I can't work out what class you are talking about. A class designed to get women to their maximum lifting potential? Body Pump is the most common weights based class and that is designed for all levels and absolutely doesn't focus on heaviest possible weights with a decent instructor

I can't see an issue with OP's question on an anonymous forum.

We all people watch. Everywhere. Not just at the gym.

Just don't be THAT person who thinks they can dump their unwanted opinions onto others.

Controversial (apparently !) but I agree. I mean, yes it's up to them at the end of the day, but if people think they'll get results from this, ,they'll be disappointed. You need to challenge your muscles and lifting weights should be HARD. I also used to think 'toning' was a thing (there's actually no such thing, you're either building muscle or you're not - the 'toned' look comes from low fat and visible muscle) and it's a shame that so many women still think that lifting heavy weights will create bulk. If only it was that easy! I've been lifting for 3 years and have very little visible muscle 😭

It's like going for a run to develop cardio fitness, and then strolling at a snail's pace all the way round. Fine if that's what you want for its own sake, but it won't get the results you want. There clearly needs to be a huge amount of education for women in the gym and in the fitness world. We've been sold a lie sadly. However, yes some women go for the social aspect and that's fine too.

Unintended consequence of this thread...

OP - this thread has made me get out of bed, go to the gym and give myself a challenge by moving up to the next weight of dumbbells (which is certainly not 4kg).

YANBU - and I suspect you have touched a raw nerve in some posters.
I'm sure many of us (including me) could do with a nudge out of our fitness comfort zones.

I'm super strong ex instructor in my 60s. 50 years of weight training behind me still go heavy and technique is far far far more important than weight. I do weights based classes and see women going heavy with shocking technique and women going medium light with amazing technique. Technique gives results not weight

Thank you, I appreciate the sentiment but unfortunately the sneerers and judgement of people like the OP is louder. The irony is I would really like to go with my DD and/or my boyfriend, they are not judging me.

I have low self esteem as it is, I don't wear dresses ever or even shorts in summer. Last thing I need is that one comment or look in the gym. I exercise at home alone which is probably nowhere near as targeted or effective as I need to lose the couple of stone I'd like to get back to the size 12 I used to be.

Lol. I'm one of those people OP. 🤣 I have just started strength training in my 50s on 1kg 🙈. The reason for this is that I want to build up my tolerance very slowly and learn how to lift weights properly to prevent any injury. Long term back pain is no joke. I have no desire to look ripped or to compete with anyone. This is just to prevent the age related muscle decline we all experience. But I understand your question because I ask myself the same of people in other classes who put in minimal effort. I hope this answers your question.

I think it’s because personal training or small weights classes are expensive (or not available) and many of is will have had minor injuries from exercise and want to be careful. And fear injury lifting heavier weights without knowing the proper form.

not because of beliefs about leanness, bulk or whatever.

If small classes were cheaper and available think more would give it a go.

Exactly this!

Not everyone wants to or needs to train to their max out weights and reps. But, if it’s anything like my gym there’s folk who pride themselves on doing 2 or 3 classes back to back, or even 4 in a day, and to be honest, they’d probably be better doing just one of them with some effort involved!

I think some women are weirdly worried about looking ‘big’ or nobody is encouraging them so they think they can’t

Each to their own and all that and anyone who is in a gym working out is doing far better at exercising than most of the adult population so good on them. But the reason is that women have been told their whole lives that having a small body is the ultimate aim. They are also working on the (incorrect) belief that lifting heavier weights will make them bulk up so they don’t do that. You’re right OP, a non injured woman who has been doing strength classes for 6 months is unlikely to be doing much to their strength or bone density by bicep curling 2kg. They do it because they fear being “big”, “bulky” or having a “bull dyke” figure (all terms used on this thread). It’s just the same old thin=desirable.

I think the original post was badly phrased and op has shown herself to be a bit judgy but this thread has somewhat proved her point that there is still a lot of misunderstanding about weights that is probably holding women back. Lifting heavy won't make you bulky without serious intention and, realistically, taking steroids. Lifting too light won't help tone.

We don't know what those particular women in her class want or need. But some women aren't going to get what they want because of outdated, sexist information.

1. because its at a time that works for them
2. because the location suits them
3. because they enjoy it
4. because they like the teachers

I do not go to the gym with "goals" or to "train". I just go to move my body and feel good.

I used to go to a class like the one you describe. I was lifting probably the lowest weights. I went because it was the only one at my gym that suited my work schedule, and the teacher was a lady I knew who I really liked.

You obvious find "training" fulfilling and enjoy the challenge. Some people get that elsewhere in their life. I play the piano, have a challenging career & 2 young kids. My goals and enjoyment levels from exercise are different from yours. Not everyone gets the often touted endorphin buzz from exercise, I never have. I have always had to force myself to do it. I'm not unfit, ive done 10k runs and half marathons amd represented my university at two sports but it was the game I enjoyed, I don't enjoy strength & cardio training for how it makes my body feel.

There's a few reasons why people may be lifting lighter than their capability. In most cases, probably because of the belief they'll "get bulky" if they lift heavy. That erroneous belief still exists. Could be rehabbing injury, recovery from illness, or beginners who lack the confidence to try going heavier. People might also wrongly think that soreness after a workout = damage or injury and try to avoid that.

I usually do lift heavy but at the moment I'm really tired because of several months of stress and poor sleep and my body just won't do it, so it's better to still go to the gym and back off the intensity a bit than just sink into the couch. Ultimately, someone else's reasons for not pushing themselves to the max every workout are nobody else's business..

It isn't for another gym goer to challenge it. It's for an instructor or PT to try and understand why someone isn't pushing themselves a bit more if physically capable and support them to go outside their comfort zone.