To think some women could lift heavier in the gym?

First rule of going to the gym - don’t judge others.

FYI, yes this was commonly repeated, esp in the past, but it's not actually true. Women, with lower testosterone, have to work incredibly hard to build muscle bulk. You can lift to your max/to failure and you won't appreciably bulk up. And definition is a function of body composition, so yes you can get some by lifting, but it's generally more affected by diet than exercise.

Couldn't you say that about anything?

Why do people settle for speaking only one language when they could challenge themselves by learning two, or even three?

Why do some people go out with frizzy hair when they could challenge themselves by learning how to do a professional blow dry?

Why do some people play only one instrument when they could challenge themselves by learning a new one?

Why do some people run for fun or fitness when they could challenge themselves by going faster or farther.

The list of why don't people is probably endless. Short answer, because they're happy or have different goals or don't want to, and are not there to please you.

I use 12.5kgs for bicep curls now. Should I judge those who use 8 kgs like you?

Just mind your own business and focus on building your own strength.

How does what other women are lifting impact you? Do you want a medal? Mind your own business and do your own workout while they do theirs. You sound insufferable.

Well mainly I think what the fuck’s it got to do with you?

I don’t agree with OP (let everyone make their own decision about how they exercise) but this is completely incorrect.

Toning is building muscle, and progressive overload is how it’s done. Big weights don’t result in ‘bulk’ (OP is only talking about 8kg weights anyway). (I strength train).

I would agree with you that they probably could. They are probably aware that they could. And yet they have chosen not to. So you must draw your own conclusions. Or mind your own business, whichever.

So, from your posting history, you're judging women not only in the gym but also in the bedroom.

Nice.

Good for you! Bravo!

I just do my own thing and don’t pay attention to what other people are doing in the gym. Why do you care?

This.

I work to my max or close to it, because that motivates me. I like to leave just a bit sore, very sweaty, and having gone up a couple of reps or a bit of weight on something.

There are people at my gym who are mostly there just for general fitness, they'll do a bit with weights because it's included in classes or they've seen their favourite influencers doing it, but it's not why they come to the gym.

There are others who are mostly there to socialise, or just to get out of the house, or in a few cases to try and find a girlfriend/boyfriend.

And for what it's worth, I don't just people-watch other women in the gym, everything I've written applies just as much to men (not all of whom are there to turn into Gymosaurus Rex)...

I started lifting to rehab a back injury.
I tend to 4 sets of 12-15 reps on most exercises, so I'm not going to be lifting nearly as much as someone doing 6-8 reps per set. I'm on about 5-6kg bicep curls, as a marker.

I want to be strong enough, with a reasonable cardio, so I do lots of reps in a short time with a short rest period, and a lot of super-setting 2-3 exercises together so I don't have any full on "rest" time.

You don't have any idea what other people's training goals are, so it's kind of silly to comment. Maybe they aren't lifting as heavy as they could. I don't. But I lift to suit the goals I have for myself, and it works for me. If you have different goals, great, and I wish you every success in them.

I think you should just mind your own business.

Nasty post.

How exactly does it affect you, op?

Not everyone wants the same results as you. It’s simple.

There is a woman who goes to my gym who makes it her mission to lift the heaviest weights possible.

I don’t judge or watch people at the gym, but she is impossible to miss. Her routine consists of running from machine to machine to squat rack to bench, whilst dripping in sweat and her hair in her eyes.

She picks up dumbbells she can barely lift from the floor and proceeds to swing them around, maybe does a couple of half reps and then drops it and moves elsewhere.

I wish she wouldn’t. It’s only a matter of time before she injures herself - or someone else when she runs into them or drops a 30kg dumbbell on them.

So I think the women you see have the right idea.

Keep your beak out! None of your business what other women choose to lift!

Reps with a smaller weight to tone rather than heavier to build big muscles.

None of your business whether people want to challenge themselves or not. Your not a personal trainer so your not there to tell them what to do, your there to do your own training and go home again and leave everyone else to do their own.

So as well as men watching them and judging them, women now have to watch out for women watching them and judging them?