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Original poster

Learn to lift for ladies

95 replies

shanghaismog · 03/12/2013 11:10

If your gym had a weekly (maybe twice weekly) class to introduce strength training would you go? Taught by a woman pt and for women only.

One hour class probably in the studio (although ideally in the free weights section), max 6-8 people, focussing on main compound lifts.

All thoughts welcome!

OP posts:
TheRaniOfYawn · 03/12/2013 21:03

Most of the women I know who do a lot of exercise do proper lifting. My pinterest feed is full of their pictures of dainty women with ginormous weights.

Juliet123456 · 03/12/2013 21:23

I lift a lot (but just in normal life) and am amazed how much stronger I seem to be than so many fit women who run etc. I love having the strength. i have never done it in the gym as I tend not to use gyms but I would encourage women to lift heavy things, move furniture and keep moving. It's really important to health.

I think strength in women is sexy too as it's healthy. You don't want to be a pathetic weak little thing who cannot carry her own suitcases. Try carrying two heavy toddlers around and up and downstairs. Get those muscles moving.

Wessex · 03/12/2013 21:30

"Try carrying two heavy toddlers around and up and downstairs. Get those muscles moving."

I agree. I lift in my day to day life as I have carried my children from birth until 5. Comes in useful when they get tired. My DP is physically much bigger than me yet his arms get tired very quickly carrying our 5 year old.

I have carried her on occasion in a back pack designed for toddlers and feel very powerful walking around with her on my back.

Since having children I've become so strong. I love the definition in my arms too.

Ephiny · 03/12/2013 21:32

I would go. I'm not normally a fan of special 'for women' things and am used to male-dominated environments at work etc, but I admit I am a bit put off venturing into the free-weights section of the gym - I feel self-conscious because of the combination of being the only woman there and being a beginner with no idea what I'm doing.

Wessex · 03/12/2013 21:34

Why don't you just call it "Weights for Women"

Juliet123456 · 03/12/2013 21:45

Wessex, glad I am not the only one. Some man was saying I should not lift something and I actually the reason I am fairly strong and fit is that I do a lot of lifting. Lift quite a lot of boxes at work too and garden stuff, massive branches. I should not be on the thread as I prefer just to move and exercise through normal life rather than in gyms but I do think weights in whatever form you lift them are very good for health and I don't mean having to get to some kind of awful Miss Universe look, just basic arm strength.

Quodlibet · 03/12/2013 22:01

I would go to this. One of my female relatives is a UK champion female bodybuilder, and I have found her journey very inspiring. We are of a similar natural build, but she spends serious dedicated time building the 'bulk' on her frame - it's not like training a few times a week with free weights is going to have you looking like Arnie. I would like to learn to lift for the strength and power, which I think would augment my performance in lots of other physical areas, and protect against injury if you do it right.

kaizen · 04/12/2013 09:17

I agree with calling it 'weights for women' or something - i wouldn't go to anything with 'ladies' in the title cos I'm a grumpy bugger. While we're on the subject I also have a pet hate in gyms when instructors refer to things like "getting your bum in shape for the beach"(cue cute giggle) - NOO!! I'm grunting away with weights to get stronger beat the arse out of the blokes in sea swim triathlons, not to parade on the fucking beach in a bikini (and breeeeathe)

After all that, I think weight training is great, heavier weights and low reps and it should hurt (in a good way). An interesting thing is that my trainer said that all the women he has ever trained who asked to be 'bigger' and stronger in their upper bodies have eventually shied away from it as their bodies began to change shape. Has brought up loads of stuff psychologically for me about body image and femininity...Smile

Original poster
shanghaismog · 04/12/2013 11:34

Thanks for all your thoughts. Definitely a lot to mull over still.

It's such a shame that being strong isn't seen as a good thing for women.

Another session I'd love to do, would be a boot camp type strength circuit for teenage girls.

OP posts:
Lazysuzanne · 04/12/2013 11:52

Kaizen, re women who shy away from changing body shape, I guess there is something quintessentially masculine about the broader back and upper chest thickness that comes from heavy strength training.

Even so the level of muscularity that most women are able to naturally achieve even with perfect diet and training falls way below anything that I would consider manly.

Lazysuzanne · 04/12/2013 12:08

Shang, I think women like the idea of being strong but they don't want bigger muscles

Eg:
and I don't mean having to get to some kind of awful Miss Universe look

Problem is that there is a direct positive correlation between muscle strength and muscle size.

EauRouge · 04/12/2013 12:20

Kaizen, absolutely. I'm so sick of the assumption that women only exercise to look good. I only care about getting faster and stronger, not getting thinner.

kaizen · 04/12/2013 13:11

I'm often pondering about the masculinity/femininity and muscle size thing - myabe looking 'strong' means you don't look like you need 'rescuing'. Not sure. Anyway, I've reached a point where i am very 'fit' and strong looking, but because i have a good layer of body fat (which i keep for cold water swimming and as an excuse to eat pork scratchings and drink beer)I look quite bulky. I'm also quite tall, so not a 'cute' strong woman, which i think men like to see in the gym Grin

My back especially, and shoulder and pecs are bigger, and i really like the 'feeling' of a strong back, but i know its not the shape a lot of women in the gym aspire too, as they want to look smaller and slimmer. i told my trainer to help me work on my glutes to make my arse bigger and stronger for running Grin I like being strong though and it feels good. I had a shoulder injury last year too from pissed cycling and strenght training the muscles around the shoulder and back to support it has cured it.

Lazysuzanne · 04/12/2013 13:44

Possibly men like the contrast of smaller softer bodies because it makes them feel more masculine?

I can understand that but if women go along with that they miss out on enjoying physical prowess

Lazysuzanne · 04/12/2013 13:48

I think mostly it's because men and women are reluctant to break social norms, especially when it comes to what is considered appropriate for each gender.

kaizen · 04/12/2013 14:31

Yep, and maybe grunting and sweating isn't that attractive Grin

EauRouge · 04/12/2013 14:38

It's not the grunting and sweating so much as the farting in my case.Grin

Lazysuzanne · 04/12/2013 17:03

he he:o

Meglet · 04/12/2013 17:17

Well no, I already go to body pump and try and beat the men, which I could do before dc's. I do avoid anything for ladies I'm afraid, it sounds like it won't be challenging.

SparklyNewNameChange · 04/12/2013 19:49

I'd definitely be interested. I know full well that it takes serious, serious hours and months if not years of proper heavy lifting for women to develop anything like a 'masculine' muscle structure, but I'd still like a simple but truthful introduction to decent weights in a female only environment. I just wouldn't be comfortable starting out on a weights journey in a mixed class or public gym area. Having a women only space to start with would I hope give me the confidence to apply my new found knowledge by the end of it.

RiojaHaze · 04/12/2013 19:59

Some local guys near me run boot camps which focus on lifting and strength rather than running for miles.

The classes are mixed but are really popular with women who frequently post their photos on Facebook. Their results are amazing and they look great and this is what encourages more women to join up.

I think its a great idea.

Original poster
shanghaismog · 04/12/2013 20:36

Meg, this would be proper weights definitely not bodypump!

That's what my boot camp used to focus on too. All the boot camps/circuit classes in this area are much more cardio focused. Maybe there is room for yet another offering here...

OP posts:
Lazysuzanne · 04/12/2013 20:42

I'm wondering what kind of body are most women who strength train are after...anyone have any examples of woman athletes whose physiques they admire?

Wessex · 04/12/2013 20:52

Jessica Ennis, Zoe Smith

Lazysuzanne · 04/12/2013 22:48

my ideal physique would more along these lines:
3.bp.blogspot.com/-uClp_ssxe_U/TXWPGSce6eI/AAAAAAAANq8/-TylFkOQ5nk/s1600/dd%2B732484833.jpg