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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:
Mitchy1nge · 04/12/2013 23:03

who is that Lazysuzanne? she looks incredible

am an admirer of that sort of physique - in fact I find most 'worked on' bodies interesting and enjoyable to look at, male or female (maybe am a massive perv?) but there is something very exciting about such defiant muscularity in a woman

SparklyNewNameChange · 04/12/2013 23:05

That's far too much for me, Lazysuzanne, I'm more in tune with Wessex I think, Jessica Ennis, Denise Lewis, Kelly Holmes - all strong female athletes who clearly cross train with weights, but who are not specialist weight lifters.

Mitchy1nge · 04/12/2013 23:11

lots of athletes in pants here

Lazysuzanne · 04/12/2013 23:12

I found the pic here Mitchy:

fastbodybuilding.blogspot.co.uk/2011/01/elena-shportun.html

I've not actually heard of her before, just came across her pic while looking for female bbers.

Of course I have no hope of coming close to that kind of body (well maybe her legs in some of the less muscular pictures)but I'm not sure any women could develop that level of upper body muscularity without 'help'

No I dont think it's pervy, I hugely admire that kind of body but not in a sexual way

BsshBossh · 04/12/2013 23:17

I'm a heavy lifter so wouldn't attend myself but I think it's a terrific idea! I know too many women (myself included at one point) intimidated by free weights and the "men's section" of the gym. Don't put ladies in the title though! Women is sufficient!

Sleepwhenidie · 05/12/2013 09:41

HI - I think its a great idea. I am another heavy lifter who is always the only woman in the fw section of the gym and giving Hmm this to the women waving 2kg dumbells around randomly forcing myself to shout ' stop wasting your time!'

Like others, I hate the idea of any class with 'ladies' in the name though. Conjures up images of middle aged women with pink tracksuit bottoms and cardis Smile - not the image most of us who are interested in weights are going for!

In terms of bodies to admire/aim for, Suzanne's pic was a bit much for me too and is one that would reinforce most people's totally misguided ideas/fears about how you will look if you lift heavy for a couple of weeks Grin. Mine would be more like jamie eason or more like this.

Sleepwhenidie · 05/12/2013 09:42

2nd pic down on the second link by the way!

Original poster
shanghaismog · 05/12/2013 10:11

Very interesting. The bulky look is far too much for me as well. I'm much more interested in the kind of muscles that are honed and defined whilst still being useful - ie. sprinting, lifting things, jumping, throwing stuff around. The kind of look that crossfit often gives
looking good

Who knew the word ladies was so offensive to many! I use it all the time, as in "right ladies, stop chatting and move your asses", so what's the correct collective noun in that situation other than "oi you lot !".

OP posts:
ChristmasCareeristBitchNigel · 05/12/2013 10:14

I don't weight train for vanity purposes. I do it because I enjoy it and I enjoy being strong. I was at a charity thing last night, we were putting the room back how it was supposed to be last night, went to move a bench. Some of the men were struggling with them, I just picked it up merrily and put it in place. There were several surprised faces and that's what I enjoy.

Having said that, this would be my dream body :)

Mitchy1nge · 05/12/2013 10:21

well, women is the correct term for a group of women Grin

why can't you say 'come on everyone, stop chatting' or 'right you lot, let's go'

I mean 'ladies' ugh, it's so fucking twee

Mitchy1nge · 05/12/2013 10:23

I don't see what's wrong with a bit of vanity though. I would like to like the way my body looks as well as prizing it for all the stuff it can do.

BsshBossh · 05/12/2013 10:27

I weight train for both strength and vanity; I also love how I can eat more and not put on weight. I'm another fan of the Jamie Easen body.

ChristmasCareeristBitchNigel · 05/12/2013 10:41

sorry, I should probably have been a bit clearer :

My main drive for weight training is not vanity. However, if my body looks better as a result then that is obviously very pleasing and a great side effect.

If it didn't make me look better I wouldn't stop doing it.

Lazysuzanne · 05/12/2013 11:18

Personally I think Jamie E needs bigger legs :o
seriously I appreciate that my tastes are ott for most people.
The extreme female bber look is too much for me and the pic I linked to was quite reserved to my eyes.

I think I train in part because female muscularity is transgressive, some perverse enjoyment of the appalled looks in the gym when I do 4 sets of very strict pull ups.

Sleepwhenidie · 05/12/2013 11:39

I definitely get that Suzanne - at the moment I can still only manage about 4 pull ups in one go - 4 sets could be a long way off! Grin...but it is immensely satisfying getting to the assisted pull up machine as a man has just finished using it, removing the pin from the weight stack and watching the face....Smile. I'm sure the people at your gym aren't giving you appalled looks by the way - I'd bet that they are looks of "whoah - respect!"

My main driver is getting better at kickboxing and I also love feeling strong for day to day tasks, but I have to admit that vanity also plays a big part too. I love the definition weight training gives my muscles.

SparklyNewNameChange · 05/12/2013 11:39

The woman in your link looks like a man to me. Other than the superfluous white bandeau on her chest she doesn't look like a woman. Her jawline is incredibly square and her brow line also looks like a mans. Whether that's because of the results of the training or because of other 'help' I don't know. It's not that I can't see that it's an attractive look for some, I can, but she doesn't look like a woman (to me).

Lazysuzanne · 05/12/2013 11:55

Very low body fat tends to make a persons face and jawline look more defined and masculine.

Well done with the pull ups Sleep, my sets are generally 6, 5, 4, 3 and to be fair I am short...short levers are always an advantage with weight lifting!

Sleepwhenidie · 05/12/2013 12:05

Thanks Suzanne, I am very proud of managing even 1, it took a long time! Its fantastic to feel proud and excited about what your body can do rather than focussing on how it looks!

I was just pondering the body fat thing too - looking at that model's stats on Christmas's link. 58kg and 170cm tall Shock she must look pretty tiny, being that muscular and only 58kg! If I got my body fat down to get proper definition on my body I know my face would look gaunt - something you need to be careful about if you are a bit older, I am 40. Also, I enjoy nice food too much to stick to the level of dedication required to get it right down - being able to eat really well is more of a reason to train hard for me than to look ripped, I ain't going to be bikini modelling in my lifetime Grin.

Lazysuzanne · 05/12/2013 12:16

A smaller person (in terms of muscle mass) with very low body fat will always appear more muscular than a bigger person with higher body fat.

It's all in the muscle definition ;)

But very low body fat is hard for women to maintain, poss also detrimental to health ie menstruation stops below a certain level etc

beckslovestimmy · 05/12/2013 19:45

Where abouts are you Shang? I'd definitely be interested but I might be a bit beyond beginners as I've been training with a PT for a while now. I love lifting heavy (never thought I would) did a 100kg deadlift a few weeks ago! Would like to meet like minded women and maybe get a training partner.

RhondaJean · 05/12/2013 19:58

I'd love something like this. I love love love feeling string and lifting and Jamie Eason is actually my hero, I cannot get the diet right though! At the moment ice found it really really hard to come back from a torn calf muscle from kickboxing and this type of thing would be ideal.

Original poster
shanghaismog · 06/12/2013 07:02

Becks I 'm in East Surrey and would LOVE a training partner :)

OP posts:
beckslovestimmy · 06/12/2013 08:36

Too far away :( I'm down in the sunny southwest!Smile

beckslovestimmy · 06/12/2013 08:40

I have a thread in 'weight loss' called anyone weight lifting/ strength training. We could be virtual training partners? Training later today doing a 'pull' session.

rubbishfamily333 · 06/12/2013 23:13

I would be interested in this class, but I would like to start with little weights and build up Xmas Smile

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