Women and Weightlifting: What positive effects have you noticed?

[Anonymous]

I recently started lifting heavy again after a 2-year injury-induced hiatus, and my "bulk" really seems to be the fat I have + muscle growth. My clothing is currently too tight -- especially in the butt and thighs, but is looser in the waist.

I know from past experience that as I keep building muscle, I will look less bulky and start looking thinner & toned with highly visible muscle. My pant + top clothing size stays as it is the same once the fat decreases and muscle grows, but I typically go up a bra-band size and down an underwear size.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I don't know why so many of you are pretending like you don't know what bulky means or that women can't bulk up. A muscular body will look thicker than skin and bones, period. I don't care if these women are a size 4 in real life. Visually they look bulky, and a lot of typical DCUM types don't consider that feminine or desirable.

I personally strength train, am strong, and look strong. For me, going up a couple of dress sizes to accommodate my growing muscles (lats, arms, core, butt, and legs) was NBD, but I can see how it would be traumatizing to someone who admires a heroin chic aesthetic and bases her value on being a size 0.

Yes women can bulk up but it takes a LOT of effort. The women pictured likely went through many round so bulking (eating in a calorie surplus while lifting heavy and doing exercises specific for muscle hypertrophy followed by dieting while still lifting heavy in order to lose the fat while keeping as much muscle as possible). The average woman lifting in the gym is not working hard enough to put on serious muscle.

They also use steroids. They work extremely hard but those are not natural bodies.

Came here to say the same. This is not a good example of what can be achieved naturally. These women are obviously on gear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am always amazed at how many women there are all over the internet who bulk up without trying, but I have yet to meet one in real life despite having lifted for over a decade in a number of different gyms in

Sorry posted too fast.

in several countries. For most it is super difficult even if they actually try. Those who I have seen in real life who thought they were getting too muscular either confused some initial inflammation and pump from lifting with actual muscle gain and others just gained extra fat because lifting makes you hungry but did not want to admit to the reality.
Lifting is awesome. I am size 2 and deadlifting close to 300 pounds. Lifting is my therapy and something I hope to be doing for the rest of my life. And I love my defined body.

Please. You’re a size 2. You have no idea what it’s like to live in a larger body and look muscular. You’re also being incredibly patronizing to those of us who do and who have had to deal with what that’s like. Also, those of us who do have this experience mostly aren’t going to talk to women like you about it IRL, because we know how judgmental you can be.

I wasn’t size 2 all my life. I used to be much larger and I carried way more fat and way less muscle now. Readjusting my body composition resulted to me being much smaller. And I definitely do look muscular at this size. People keep commenting on my upper body all the time. And btw. keeping a size 2 takes a constant effort. I am definitely not a naturally lean type.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I don't know why so many of you are pretending like you don't know what bulky means or that women can't bulk up. A muscular body will look thicker than skin and bones, period. I don't care if these women are a size 4 in real life. Visually they look bulky, and a lot of typical DCUM types don't consider that feminine or desirable.

I personally strength train, am strong, and look strong. For me, going up a couple of dress sizes to accommodate my growing muscles (lats, arms, core, butt, and legs) was NBD, but I can see how it would be traumatizing to someone who admires a heroin chic aesthetic and bases her value on being a size 0.

Yes women can bulk up but it takes a LOT of effort. The women pictured likely went through many round so bulking (eating in a calorie surplus while lifting heavy and doing exercises specific for muscle hypertrophy followed by dieting while still lifting heavy in order to lose the fat while keeping as much muscle as possible). The average woman lifting in the gym is not working hard enough to put on serious muscle.

They also use steroids. They work extremely hard but those are not natural bodies.

I would say the first 3 are likely not natural but the 2 on the right look natural.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I started lifting heavy during quarantine. Before that, I was primarily doing pilates, yoga, HIIT (Barry's) and spin. I enjoy some aspects of it, and I think it's much easier than my HIIT routine so it's easier to convince myself to actually get up and do it. The negative is that I started bulking up much more than I wanted to, so I've abandoned it and gone back to pilates. My shoulders got broader and my thighs and rear got bigger, which I wasn't a fan of. My stomach stayed flat, but building up core muscles also made me somewhat thick in the waist. I started quarantine as a size 0/2 and over the course of about 2.5 years got up to a size 6, so I decided to quit weights and go back to my old routine.

Have you considered that you got bigger because of added weight as opposed to the weightlifting? If you're replacing HIIT workouts with just weights then you're doing less cardio. I'm assuming you didn't give up spin or any of the other non-weights workouts?

I've lifted heavy since my late 20s (mid-40s now) and I do tend to show muscle really fast and can bulk up, but even when I've lived way heavier than I do now, my weight stayed the same. I'm also a size 0 and at most, I'll go up to sz 2 for example if my shoulders/arms were broader or my thighs/butt got bigger from muscle. But any size bigger than that would be from weight gain.

I'm the 11:34 PP, who also bulks up from heavy lifting (even when I'm also doing cardio) - even if what you suggest happened, i.e., doing less cardio, theoretically the added muscle mass should increase BMR, right? I mean, that's what everyone considers the magic of heavy lifting: build muscle, increase your resting metabolism and presto, you're a fat burning machine.

As a woman who bulks up fairly easily with heavy lifting, I'm so tired of being told that can't happen to women. It can.

If you're "bulking up" that means you're eating too much.

Thanks for the mansplaining. I don’t look fat when I bulk up, I look muscular. Like, random guys stop you on the street and ask what you bench muscular. It’s annoying AF.

You should be proud of that!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I don't know why so many of you are pretending like you don't know what bulky means or that women can't bulk up. A muscular body will look thicker than skin and bones, period. I don't care if these women are a size 4 in real life. Visually they look bulky, and a lot of typical DCUM types don't consider that feminine or desirable.

I personally strength train, am strong, and look strong. For me, going up a couple of dress sizes to accommodate my growing muscles (lats, arms, core, butt, and legs) was NBD, but I can see how it would be traumatizing to someone who admires a heroin chic aesthetic and bases her value on being a size 0.

Yes women can bulk up but it takes a LOT of effort. The women pictured likely went through many round so bulking (eating in a calorie surplus while lifting heavy and doing exercises specific for muscle hypertrophy followed by dieting while still lifting heavy in order to lose the fat while keeping as much muscle as possible). The average woman lifting in the gym is not working hard enough to put on serious muscle.

They also use steroids. They work extremely hard but those are not natural bodies.

I would say the first 3 are likely not natural but the 2 on the right look natural.

I would have some doubts about the last one, but number 4 probably is natural. With a little bit of fat on she will just look “toned” and this is pretty much the size a lean natural woman should expect.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am always amazed at how many women there are all over the internet who bulk up without trying, but I have yet to meet one in real life despite having lifted for over a decade in a number of different gyms in

Sorry posted too fast.

in several countries. For most it is super difficult even if they actually try. Those who I have seen in real life who thought they were getting too muscular either confused some initial inflammation and pump from lifting with actual muscle gain and others just gained extra fat because lifting makes you hungry but did not want to admit to the reality.
Lifting is awesome. I am size 2 and deadlifting close to 300 pounds. Lifting is my therapy and something I hope to be doing for the rest of my life. And I love my defined body.

Please. You’re a size 2. You have no idea what it’s like to live in a larger body and look muscular. You’re also being incredibly patronizing to those of us who do and who have had to deal with what that’s like. Also, those of us who do have this experience mostly aren’t going to talk to women like you about it IRL, because we know how judgmental you can be.

I wasn’t size 2 all my life. I used to be much larger and I carried way more fat and way less muscle now. Readjusting my body composition resulted to me being much smaller. And I definitely do look muscular at this size. People keep commenting on my upper body all the time. And btw. keeping a size 2 takes a constant effort. I am definitely not a naturally lean type.

If by "constant effort" you mean constant dieting, you need to be clear. This thread is about weightlifting, not about dieting. There's a myth that heavy lifting will lead to magical fat burning and that's not true (as per a PP who pointed out that the increased BMR is negligible). If what changed your body was lifting heavy and watching your diet like a hawk, that should be spelled out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am always amazed at how many women there are all over the internet who bulk up without trying, but I have yet to meet one in real life despite having lifted for over a decade in a number of different gyms in

Sorry posted too fast.

in several countries. For most it is super difficult even if they actually try. Those who I have seen in real life who thought they were getting too muscular either confused some initial inflammation and pump from lifting with actual muscle gain and others just gained extra fat because lifting makes you hungry but did not want to admit to the reality.
Lifting is awesome. I am size 2 and deadlifting close to 300 pounds. Lifting is my therapy and something I hope to be doing for the rest of my life. And I love my defined body.

Please. You’re a size 2. You have no idea what it’s like to live in a larger body and look muscular. You’re also being incredibly patronizing to those of us who do and who have had to deal with what that’s like. Also, those of us who do have this experience mostly aren’t going to talk to women like you about it IRL, because we know how judgmental you can be.

I wasn’t size 2 all my life. I used to be much larger and I carried way more fat and way less muscle now. Readjusting my body composition resulted to me being much smaller. And I definitely do look muscular at this size. People keep commenting on my upper body all the time. And btw. keeping a size 2 takes a constant effort. I am definitely not a naturally lean type.

If by "constant effort" you mean constant dieting, you need to be clear. This thread is about weightlifting, not about dieting. There's a myth that heavy lifting will lead to magical fat burning and that's not true (as per a PP who pointed out that the increased BMR is negligible). If what changed your body was lifting heavy and watching your diet like a hawk, that should be spelled out.

I no am not constantly dieting. My maintenance is around 2500 calories and that is what I normally eat. Sometimes I get off track mostly when life gets stressful and gain a few pounds, so I adjust. I am currently doing that and it means I am eating 2100 calories. So I would really not call this constant dieting. Even when cutting I eat dessert daily and do take outs at least twice a week. But of course my body is the outcome of keeping both my lifting and my nutrition in check. I never tried to claim that I look the way I do through lifting alone, but I also would not look the way I do with just “constant dieting”. These things go hand in hand and women who do not get results they hope for from lifting alone should not be blaming it on lifting. Nutrition is a huge component in the loom you will achieve. If you start out with a lot of bodyfat and just add lifting without cutting down the fat, yes you will end up looking bulkier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I don't know why so many of you are pretending like you don't know what bulky means or that women can't bulk up. A muscular body will look thicker than skin and bones, period. I don't care if these women are a size 4 in real life. Visually they look bulky, and a lot of typical DCUM types don't consider that feminine or desirable.

I personally strength train, am strong, and look strong. For me, going up a couple of dress sizes to accommodate my growing muscles (lats, arms, core, butt, and legs) was NBD, but I can see how it would be traumatizing to someone who admires a heroin chic aesthetic and bases her value on being a size 0.

Yes women can bulk up but it takes a LOT of effort. The women pictured likely went through many round so bulking (eating in a calorie surplus while lifting heavy and doing exercises specific for muscle hypertrophy followed by dieting while still lifting heavy in order to lose the fat while keeping as much muscle as possible). The average woman lifting in the gym is not working hard enough to put on serious muscle.

They also use steroids. They work extremely hard but those are not natural bodies.

I would say the first 3 are likely not natural but the 2 on the right look natural.

No, sadly they are not natural either. Both of those women on the right are Mr. Olympia bikini champions. They are definitely using steroids as well, all the pros on that level do. Very hard to be that lean and have that much muscle definition naturally. Anyone that is a 'natural' competitor will have natural in their profile/bio. Otherwise assume they aren't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I don't know why so many of you are pretending like you don't know what bulky means or that women can't bulk up. A muscular body will look thicker than skin and bones, period. I don't care if these women are a size 4 in real life. Visually they look bulky, and a lot of typical DCUM types don't consider that feminine or desirable.

I personally strength train, am strong, and look strong. For me, going up a couple of dress sizes to accommodate my growing muscles (lats, arms, core, butt, and legs) was NBD, but I can see how it would be traumatizing to someone who admires a heroin chic aesthetic and bases her value on being a size 0.

Yes women can bulk up but it takes a LOT of effort. The women pictured likely went through many round so bulking (eating in a calorie surplus while lifting heavy and doing exercises specific for muscle hypertrophy followed by dieting while still lifting heavy in order to lose the fat while keeping as much muscle as possible). The average woman lifting in the gym is not working hard enough to put on serious muscle.

They also use steroids. They work extremely hard but those are not natural bodies.

I would say the first 3 are likely not natural but the 2 on the right look natural.

I would have some doubts about the last one, but number 4 probably is natural. With a little bit of fat on she will just look “toned” and this is pretty much the size a lean natural woman should expect.

well I meant natural in terms of muscle, not in terms of her boobs. Those are definitely far from natural

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I don't know why so many of you are pretending like you don't know what bulky means or that women can't bulk up. A muscular body will look thicker than skin and bones, period. I don't care if these women are a size 4 in real life. Visually they look bulky, and a lot of typical DCUM types don't consider that feminine or desirable.

I personally strength train, am strong, and look strong. For me, going up a couple of dress sizes to accommodate my growing muscles (lats, arms, core, butt, and legs) was NBD, but I can see how it would be traumatizing to someone who admires a heroin chic aesthetic and bases her value on being a size 0.

Yes women can bulk up but it takes a LOT of effort. The women pictured likely went through many round so bulking (eating in a calorie surplus while lifting heavy and doing exercises specific for muscle hypertrophy followed by dieting while still lifting heavy in order to lose the fat while keeping as much muscle as possible). The average woman lifting in the gym is not working hard enough to put on serious muscle.

They also use steroids. They work extremely hard but those are not natural bodies.

I would say the first 3 are likely not natural but the 2 on the right look natural.

I would have some doubts about the last one, but number 4 probably is natural. With a little bit of fat on she will just look “toned” and this is pretty much the size a lean natural woman should expect.

well I meant natural in terms of muscle, not in terms of her boobs. Those are definitely far from natural

I never said anything about anyone’s boobs. They are pretty much fake by default for bodybuilding competitors.

[Anonymous]

I am 50, have been lifting heavy since I was 25.

I can lift anything I want to lift. (The impact of heavy weightlifting was never more obvious than when I had a toddler--he is 99%ile for H & W and not light.)

I eat whatever I want to eat, whenever I want to eat it, and have not meaningfully gained or lost weight (other than extreme weight loss caused by illness) since my 20s. My sizes are all the same so I don't have three wardrobes going at any given time, no doctor ever BS's me that my health problems have been caused or exacerbated by my weight (HCPs are insanely fat-phobic), and labs reveal that I am not on-track for heart disease or diabetes, which are two of the likeliest things to kill you overall.

I have no idea how many calories I consume in a day. Talking about calories and eating is one of the most boring topics on Earth so I am glad not to do any of that.

Those are the positive effects I've noticed. Also there are no meaningful negative effects. I have tweaked my SI joint a couple of times, but I've also done it a couple times in everyday life--if anything, I think heavy lifting is helping to hold that joint together and resulting in less pain/debility overall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am 50, have been lifting heavy since I was 25.

I can lift anything I want to lift. (The impact of heavy weightlifting was never more obvious than when I had a toddler--he is 99%ile for H & W and not light.)

I eat whatever I want to eat, whenever I want to eat it, and have not meaningfully gained or lost weight (other than extreme weight loss caused by illness) since my 20s. My sizes are all the same so I don't have three wardrobes going at any given time, no doctor ever BS's me that my health problems have been caused or exacerbated by my weight (HCPs are insanely fat-phobic), and labs reveal that I am not on-track for heart disease or diabetes, which are two of the likeliest things to kill you overall.

I have no idea how many calories I consume in a day. Talking about calories and eating is one of the most boring topics on Earth so I am glad not to do any of that.

Those are the positive effects I've noticed. Also there are no meaningful negative effects. I have tweaked my SI joint a couple of times, but I've also done it a couple times in everyday life--if anything, I think heavy lifting is helping to hold that joint together and resulting in less pain/debility overall.

Thanks for your post. I am just starting...age 53!
Can you tell me your weight and height? I am just wondering for no particular reason really, just that you've been doing it for so long and stuck within a weight range - and I am wondering what weight I should aim for, having lost 20 pounds recently. I am 5" 4.25 inch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone suggest a site with a workout for newbies to weight lifting? I occasionally do the circuit machines at my gym and I do pilates but nothing heavy. I think I need to step it up a notch. I could go twice a week, maybe three times....

I like Strong Lifts 5x5. It’s a nice minimalist whole body workout.

DP I am not a newbie so is this good for experienced weight lifters? No bicep or tricep or chest focus lifts.

[Anonymous]

I love weight lifting.

I did injure my elbow last year and had to take many months off heavy lifting. But I was boxing a few times a week and I think I was more toned from that than any lifting.