To not 'get' the weight lifting craze?

[bellaiceberg]

It's only my own opinion, and I accept we are all different, blah blah.
But I don't get the contemporary obsession with building muscle. Keeping toned and fit? Yes. Strong and capable? Yes, sure!
But basically eliminating natural female curves and softness to a large extent makes no sense to me. For those who are into body sculpting, that's great, but for the general population?

It kind of reminds me of Germaine Greer when she asked why is 'equality' now about imitating men, rather than men meeting us in the middle?
We women do seem to be growing more and more towards the masculine whilst pushing the naturally feminine away somewhat. Strength is something that isn't always skin deep, and our natural bodies perform just perfectly without terrifying hip thrusts and being able to lift up a small car.

Im exaggerating, but I do feel that our culture is becoming more and more weird about women's bodies. Building muscle in theory is great, and we do tend to lay more fat down, but there's a point where it all starts getting weird. Just seen images of a woman with a fabulous figure who was slightly overweight. She had soft curves and looked pretty fit. Everyone advised her to get everything built up at the gym, that her curved thighs and soft (flat) stomach were not 'healthy'.

AIBU to think it is all bollox? That it's gone from a healthy fitness thing towards a fear of the feminine? I know many women dont have curves and are still obviously feminine. I also know that what we term 'masc/fem' is pretty fluid anyway. But I am strictly focusing on weight training here, and the idea that this is the optimal way for a woman to get fit and healthy.

If I look at some instagram accounts where people are into this, I would honestly say it's more of a fashion/vanity project that health related, for both men and women. Whilst some are concentrating on having exaggerated 'booty's', others are desperate to eliminate any softness or curve. As if it is wrong to have any soft flesh at all.

I agree that muscle is as much feminine as masculine, but we still live in a society where our culture teaches boys to look down on anything traditionally associated with girls (from colours ~ pink!, emotional expression, nurturing, softness, intuition, etc). IMHO we have had to imitate men to become acceptable as opposed to men gaining more respect for US.

And yes yes i know people will pile on and say weight training saved their life/the third world/their obesity, etc. But I do think it's bonkers when a perfectly healthy woman is told any softness is unhealthy.

To clarify my previous post: I meant to say that weight training has helped get rid of some of the fat around my middle as well as building muscle on hips, thighs and bum, thus giving me a curvier shape.

You wont look like some magazine for ripped women. that takes serious dedication, dieting and poss steroids. Actually lifting heavier weights and doing high impact exercise will reduce the chances of Osteoporosis in later life. Bone density thins a lot as you age. Also a strong core is going to make lifting/carrying so much easier and those abdominal muscles are helping keep you upright.

This is one reason I love weights. In my mid fifties I was in decline. Getting out of the bath (I was overweight) began to be a bit of a struggle. That's called premature decrepitude in medical terms and we get it because we don't exercise properly, especially upper body. Weights make us strong and energused and have a knock on effect of making us happier. I love feeling strong - it gives me a buzz.

Goldfinch - my knees would sublux (partially dislocate) in my sleep. It was extremely painful. I didn't know what was happening. I was in my early 30s. Now I get out of bed in the morning and although I look like standard shit I can swing my legs out and walk around without a 30 minute ease into it. I used to struggle with the stairs first thing, if an early parcel came and I woke and had to go straight down I feared for my life! I think some people think weights reduce mobility but the opposite is true, unless you're training way too hard and not taking steps to adequate recovery. It literally solves so many issues. I remember looking at the weights at school with curiosity and not getting to use them, not once. When teens hit the hornonal stage they should be taught to lift as standard and it should be considered normal to keep doing it. I really wish the govt/NHS would realise how important it is and create some kind of campaign. Unfortunately there's so much other stuff going on and they're so underfunded... ugh. It's what I'd change if I were in power, once all the other dots were joined.

One last thing, for PP talking about protein intake - MacroFactor is a brilliant app for tracking. Not weight loss focused at all unless you want it to be, designed not to encourage disordered eating. One of the guys who part created it is a lifter who has tried a lot of different apps to track, he wanted to lose weight but you can set it to whatever your purposes and level of activity are and it just does the maths for you. Mine is telling me to eat just over 100g protein daily which I really find tricky unless I pay attention, it's very interesting to see how good I feel if I do manage it too.

Could we see the photo and comments? Where was this?

Work2live would you be interested in a support thread, iv been lifting for a couple of years, concentrating on compounds, i know im stronger but i dont look differentvery slow progress and im so confused sbout the diet ect!! I try to eat proein but mfpal just says really low protein intake!!

@Oorwulliesbucket definitely! It’d be nice to speak to other women who lift (I don’t know many tbh and I mostly train at home so don’t get to meet people at the gym much).

Would be happy to help out with protein intake/diet etc, but I would honestly recommend finding a reputable trainer to help with diet too.

I'd also be interested in a support thread.

I was going to ask where you get your protein from and that sort of thing.

I'm meant to be eating 100-120g protein a day and it's so hard. I get 25g in at breakfast in yoghurt, 20 or so g lunchtime in tuna, another 20g meat or fish for dinner and a protein shake 22g. This is under 100mg - may get a bit from broccoli and I eat roasted endemame as a snack but it's not easy.
I can't get my head round eating in a surplus at all though

I’ve started a weightlifting support thread over in the weights room, if anyone wants to join!

Here

Amazing, thank you xxx

@withiceplease - add a scoop of protein powder to your yoghurt in the morning and eat bigger portions of protein at lunch and dinner.

I remember when I started doing Body Pump at my local gym in my late teens. I was a recovering anorexic and the gym owner took me to one side and told me not to do more than one class a week as otherwise I would bulk up like a male rugby player. That was 20 years ago…I’m so glad that attitudes are changing. Weight training is the best.

It's criminal really how we were sold the 'don't touch weights, you will bulk up' and that feminine means be weak and fragile like a butterfly.

there was the 'you'll look like a man' brigade. You wont.

There’s no such thing as “toned and fit” that doesn’t involve building muscle. To look toned you literally have to build muscle and lose fat. There is no line to be drawn between “toning” and muscle.

The fact that you think that “toning” is some kind appropriate half measure of muscularity reserved for female bodies is misogynistic in itself.

Never the less, women should do whatever they want with their bodies. If that’s pulling an 18 wheeler or dead lifting 300kg of weights, so be it.

The fact that you think that “toning” is some kind appropriate half measure of muscularity reserved for female bodies is misogynistic in itself

Yes. As a personal trainer, I've often asked women what they think 'tone' is made of, given that our bodies are made of muscle, fat, water and bone. Sometimes I've had to go so far as to narrow it down: 'Do you think it's water? No? Bone? No? Fat? No? OK then, so what do you think we need to build up..?'

It's good that attitudes are changing, though, and the age range for that conversation is rising!

'Do you think it's water? No? Bone? No? Fat? No? OK then, so what do you think we need to build up..?'

Ah no but you see they only want to do exercises that build 'long, lean muscles'. Considering that muscles are sort of attached to bones, I haven't figured out yet how one can lengthen muscles without having actually your bones stretched.

Me too! I love the way my bum is more rounded when I do loads of weighted quats.

without having actually your bones stretched

So funny how people are resistant to this, even after I've shown them the implements..

IME most people I know doing it are doing it for the intensity benefits rather than body building

@OneTC

What do you mean by 'intensity benefits'?

Calorie burn and increased metabolic rate. I just mean that people use it as a form of hit and being a tank is an uncommon motivation.

Why do you and your "femininity" feel threatened by other women building muscle?

I think it's positive if this really is a development

Personally, as a 50 yr old woman I have found it empowering to get to a fitness and strength level to be able to compete in my sport with women and men half my age

I am strong and muscular but also feminine (with the soft belly you approve of)

What does "feminine" mean anyway? Feminine and strong are not mutually exclusive in any way