Put it down, woman!
1. You might break a nail.
2. You could even bruise a male ego or two.
3. You’ll eat properly and still be able to lose fat. Work of the devil!
4. You’ll look more like an athlete and less like a runway model. Skeletal is sexy, right?
5. You’ll be able to lift heavy things without asking a man for help, thus upsetting the balance of the universe.
6. You will be seen in public without high heels.
7. You’ll grunt, sweat and feel sore. So unladylike!
8. You’ll be proud of your pert bum instead of being self conscious about it like a normal woman.
9. You’ll be more active and confident instead of sitting around looking pretty. What are you, some kind of feminist?
10. You’ll be stronger, leaner and sexier – and we all know where that can lead!
 Stumble it!
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Bruising the male ego is actually a significant concern for some women, I’ve even had a woman quit because she beat her boyfriend in an arm wrestle. He freaked out.
I do feel that men should be physically stronger than women, but that does not mean that women should be weak, it means men and women both should be strong.
Obviously a trained woman will be stronger than an untrained man. Since most men are untrained, a trained woman will be stronger than most men. I do think this actually scares some women, that they might be stronger than a bloke they date, they might scare him off.
Of course you can get the flipside, like my client Louise who decided on a goal to shame 10 men back into the weightroom. She’d got to 5, last I heard, after beating a professional footballer in an arm wrestle.
lol !! this is awesome: we can go on and on with this !
you will actually be bothered more about the weight on the bar rather than that on the belly and butt .
you will start loving exercise instead of seeing it as punishment !
you will feel clueless among girls who discuss the benefits of Bikram Yoga vs Tai Chi and Pilates for weight loss and joint health .
you will not know what to say when people making a beeline for low calorie snacks at a party, stare meaningfully at your butter chicken kebab or steak fried in ghee .
Forsooth -of all the worries to wrinkle the womanly brow –
A convoluted love for weakness must be the ultimate foe.
@ Varsha: Spot on, love your first one in particular! Wish I’d thought of it myself…
@ Kyle: That’s interesting. Sometimes I think that I would like to date a non lifter because men who lift weights seem to hate the idea that a woman could know more about lifting than they do. So going out with someone who isn’t interested in lifting seems to be a good solution!
Love it. My arms are naturally big and I’ve always been strong. Because of this, I never wanted to lift weights for fear of looking more manly! But, after seeing so many lovely female weightlifters, I’m into it.
My arms will never be cute skinny girl arms, so I might as well give them some better muscular form!
Being strong and healthy is way more fun than giving a crap about how other people think I look!
Amy, I’m the same about my legs. They will never be skinny so they might as well be strong and powerful. I have finally learned to love them. And I’m loving the definition coming out in my quads at the moment.
Strong bones, tendons, and muscles that also look and perform better; what woman would want that…?
Simply put, a weight trained woman will look better, feel better, and be better prepared for life — always!
[...] 10 Good Reasons Why Women Should Stay Away From Weights [...]
[...] - 10 Reasons why women shouldn’t lift weights: http://gubernatrix.co.uk/2012/01/10-good-reasons-why-women-should-stay-away-from-weights/ [...]
I feel strong and confident about myself! I am happy to feel good and be fit! I don’t care what people say, i am still a woman not a man or don’t look like a man! Especially, my hubby have the same passion!
Yes! This is amazing. Don’t forget that you it’ll make all the ladies out there “bulky”. LOL
Are you kidding?!? Jamie Eason is probably one of the hottest women alive. I’ll take a girl who could probably kick my ass over some dainty prissy and needy whine-bag any day!
#6 amuses me. The guys I used to lift with always were telling me “Powerlifting is not a beauty sport!” whenever I felt self-conscious. The Part B to #6, however, is that when you DO get in heels, you look better than ever. I’m 31 and after lifting for three years look way better than I ever did in my teens or 20s. I mean, I have an ass! Dude. Awesome.
11. You might speak some unladylike adjectives.
[...] den direkt från http://gubernatrix.co.uk/ Det här inlägget postades i Okategoriserade av GymElof. Bokmärk permalänken. [...]
Best form of exercise I ever took up. Now truly strong for life! Love the ’10 Reasons’ post thanks.
I know a women should Not look like a man. I Unless there are underlying issues. A women can be be fit, strong, and womanly. The Let’s face it if your bigger than your man your juicing. And need a sex change. Really! I AM A WOMAN, NO GUESSING WHEN YOU LOOK AT ME.
This is very motivating to me. I have decided that this is the year that I start lifting and this is the kind of thing I need to see to get me moving! Can’t wait to get started!
Good luck Holly! If you are London-based, I run a women’s lifting course called Ladies Who Lift, which is a great way to get started. Check out http://strengthambassadors.com/courses/ladieswholift/
Tweeted and shared this on facebook, absolutely fantastic post. It’s very frustrating to have to explain to women that they won’t get huge, but from now on we’ll just send them a link to this post!
“11. You might speak some unladylike adjectives.”
Oh, I never needed lifting for doing that
I love this list and will be sharing.
[...] I Train Is Your Personality Making You Put on Pounds? The Secret Advice of a Vegan CrossFitter Sarcasm: 10 Good Reasons Why Women Should Stay Away From Weights Exceptions to the “RULES of FITNESS” Opposites Don’t Attract (And That’s Bad News) [...]
You may inspire other women to get off the treadmill and into the squat rack. You crazy revolutionary, you. What next, equal pay or equal work?! Lol love the list.
[...] 10 good reasons why women should stay away from weights » by gubernatrix in: women specific Put it down, woman! [...]
[...] in the Show: One Million Kilo Challenge Paula Deen has Type 2 Diabetes 23 1/2 Hours Graham Kerr 10 Reasons for Women to Stay Away from Weights Body Fat Calculators Body Fat [...]
If you are bigger than your man you are not necessarily doing steroids. Your man may need to start training more and lifting heavier stuff, that’s all there is to it… Guys afraid of strong women are just weaklings.
quote from a Dan john article i think it true too
“My friend, Josh Hillis, notes that when a woman can do three pull-ups and deadlift or squat 135 for five, almost universally they’re around 19% bodyfat, which is what he calls “Rockstar Hot.” Since he told me this, I’ve been carefully watching the physiques of women, although to be honest I’ve been doing that since early puberty.”
That’s quite random. I wonder if there is really any truth in it? Still, if you are a woman and can do three pull ups, it is safe to say you are not overweight!
lol, it is random but its a good reason to do weights i guess.
that is true not over weight and if you can do decent squats or deads, your legs and butt should be ok i guess.
eh i am sounding like right chauvinist here haha!
just to even it up my kickboxing coach is a lady and will own me on all the bodyweight lowerbody stuff, sparring etc, but pushup and chinups she will struggle compared to me.
Men are stronger than women, it’s a fact. There are a small number of exceptional women who can be stronger than men regardless of training, but they are rare.
Do you know of any strong women events coming up to qualify for english/british competition 2012?
If there are any, they will probably be posted on the Sugden Barbell forum competition thread: http://www.sugdenbarbell.co.uk/forum. There aren’t usually qualifiers; the starting weights/events are announced in advance so if you think you can manage those, you can just enter. Looks like Britain’s Strongest Woman will be in Swindon on 9 Sept.
There’s an open in Tamworth on 24 March: http://www.sugdenbarbell.co.uk/forum/Power-Plant-Gym-Strongest-Woman-12676.
I had to choose between weights and my husband – the former improved my health, the later made me sick! I chose the barbels, dumbells and squatrack and have never regreted it!
Brilliant Helen! Well, men may come and go but 200 pounds is always 200 pounds (to steal from Henry Rollins… see http://www.oldtimestrongman.com/strength-articles/iron-henry-rollins)
You forgot the real reason women should stay away from weights. It’s totally revolting.
[...] Women do themselves a serious disservice when they avoid strength training. When you avoid strength training, you avoid becoming stronger, having less pain, and building better bones! Muscle helps to burn fat even when you are resting so having muscles will help keep that body looking toned. There are more reasons to lift weights than reasons to not lift weights. [...]
Great post! I think having definition is sexy in addition to all the health perks associated with lifting weights.
I’m a guy and I don’t find muscular women attractive at all. There, I said it! It really does make women look like guys when they get too big. But even a little muscle on women just looks gross to me. I don’t like veins or even small biceps on women. Am I insecure? No more insecure than a woman is that wants to build up muscles I guess? You see, it goes both ways.
Question – Why do you want to change yourself or get strong unless YOU’RE insecure with your femininity and being weaker than a man? Don’t accuse men of being insecure of muscular or strong women when you know that’s not the full and complete truth to this equation. You know what guys like. We’ve always let women know what we like. But you’re to insecure in yourself that you feel the need to do something radical to yourself to change your image? That’s about like Brittney Spears shaving her head to make some stupid point.
If you’re not attracting the right kinds of men it might not be your physical appearance that’s the problem. It might be your mental personality that we find unattractive. Too many women trying to be like guys today and too many guys trying to be like women if you ask me. If men wanted women to be like guys, men would have been gay a long time ago and only stuck with guys. Why would men want 2nd best – a woman trying to be like a guy when men could have the real deal – another guy?
Women need to just stick to being women. Men need to just stick to being men. All this arguing over gender equality is retarded. We’re both polar opposites of each other and that’s what makes us attract. The more we become the same, the more we’re going to find we don’t like each other. Just saying.
Sigmund Freud was onto something with his whole “penis envy” approach I think. This doesn’t necessarily mean that a female wants to have a penis on herself, but it certain means she feels inadequate and wants to be more like a guy so she can feel complete and as capable as him – basically SHE is insecure with herself or being physically weaker.
But I find the strongest women are those who are secure with themselves and their femininity and don’t feel the need to be something better than what they are. Same goes for men. But to the women who are going to say, “Well, I just want to build some muscle for myself and this has nothing to do with men”. Then fine, that’s your choice! But don’t be upset if it doesn’t make a damn bit of difference in your relationships with men. It may as well hurt potential or current relationships with men just the same. Perhaps you should talk with your current man and get his opinion first since your change will ultimately affect him as well? If he says, “Sure, I’d like to see you with some muscle” then knock yourself out and put some on. Just be warned that he is always his own person and allowed to change his opinion in the future at any time. So if you get too big or he doesn’t like the “new you” then he’s always free to make a choice as well and dump you for somebody else he’d rather be with. Might seem shallow to you, might seem cruel. But it would be just as shallow or cruel to deny him a say in the matter or to live his life the way he wants just the same. He’s not your property either.
Just some things to think about. Just felt the list on this site was stupid. It’s obvious the list is just somebody’s simple and cheap ploys to encourage women to change themselves because they seem to have a grudge against men. That was obvious when they attacked men for being insecure without knowing that there’s more to it than that. I don’t think most men feel intimidated by strong women or muscular women. Most women, even with muscles are still barely as strong as an average man. This is mostly due to women having smaller frames than men and men in general have 50% more upper body strength than women and about 20% more leg strength than women to begin with. Is it possible for a woman to be stronger than most men? Sure. But not any woman. Usually it would have to be a large woman to begin with. But she’s always going to be much weaker than the strongest man. It’s just biology and I don’t think men are scared of losing their edge over women in the strength department because of a few women that suddenly want to bulk up and trade their femininity up for masculinity. Most men are just going to think you’re a freak and were too insecure to be a woman.
Hi there,
Thanks for your comments. The article is a lighthearted piece, of course.
Personally I really enjoy strength sports and get a lot out of them. I don’t have a particular grudge against men, but I enjoy supporting women who want to play with heavy things too.
I am not sure who you are referring to when you say “If you’re not attracting the right kinds of men it might not be your physical appearance that’s the problem.” I haven’t said anything here about my physical appearance and don’t see it as a problem.
I did make a comment to Lyle about dating non-lifters but that was to do with knowledge rather than physical appearance, and to be honest, can be said of many different professions/jobs.
I’m honestly not at all worried about my relationships, but thanks for your concern
@Someguy
SO basically youre saying that although biology allows for the female body to create and sustain muscle, she should go against nature to conform to a social norm?
Jamie Eason, while cute and very informative, still has disgusting, unfeminine man arms. As a dude, I don’t dig chicks with muscle!
@SomeGuy:
Some parts of your discussion were valid, such as people wanting to change for themselves being a valid choice than changing for others.
However, I have a serious issue with this: “[I think strong women are those who]…don’t feel the need to be something better than what they are.”
Seriously, what the hell? You’re saying that NO ONE, EVER should try to better themselves? (Or just women? Because I’m pretty sure that would be the ultimate definition of misogynism).
If the human race listened to your advice, we wouldn’t *be* humans, we’d still be primitive beasts. Maybe I misunderstood you and you were talking more about accepting aspects of yourself which you can’t change (like height, or ethnicity, or your parents, or the length of your fingers or something), but to say that people should just accept being weak because that’s what they happen to be right now is ridiculous.
You asked why a woman would want to get strong, unless they were really insecure with themselves?
I strength train because my body was made to move, to lift, to stretch and to grow. I make my body do all those things every week, give it good fuel and good rest, and because of that I feel awesome and will probably do so for many decades yet.
Notice how none of my above paragraph mentioned men or relationships. In fact, you can’t prove one way or the other if I am male or female right now. By the end of this comment you still won’t be sure, because strength and the potential for strength has nothing to do with sex and everything to do with being human.
You saying women shouldn’t strength train because they’ll never be as strong as stronger men – well, duh, for a start – that is basically saying no one should try anything because there will always be someone better at it than them. Chess? Oh, there’s Russians who’ll kick your ass at that, better not even attempt it, even if you find it enjoyable. What would be the point?
What, you can do something fun that’s good for you and not mind that someone, somewhere, is better at it? Well, I’ll be.
Maybe, just maybe, you should pull your head out of your ass for two minutes and see what this site is about – strength training makes you *healthy*, which is a *good thing*, regardless of who you are, and Sally is in this case using humour to try to make it less scary for women who, their whole lives, have been unfortunate enough to listen to dropkicks like you tell them that they shouldn’t do it because [insert chauvanist reductive bullshit here].
If you like weak women, great. Go find one, chain her to the stove in the kitchen and tell her every day that you know better than her so she doesn’t get any crazy ideas abour ‘bettering’ herself.
Also I think you need to go have words with those tribeswomen and other ladies who lift huge loads of food and water all day because their survival depends on it, and tell them to put all that stuff down because it’s not impressing their menfolk one bit. What is she thinking, that could build muscle definition!
You have a right to your opinion, but you have NO right to espouse it as the only correct one, or the best one. You are basically saying no men like muscular women and therefore women should not strength train. You’ve attempted an Argumentum ad populum, or appeal to the majority, which is a logical fallacy making your argument invalid, but you haven’t even given any evidence that other people believe what you believe!
You do not speak for your entire sex. I have no doubt there are men in the world who don’t like muscle definition and prefer slim women, and that’s fine – I don’t fancy people who like watching NASCAR, but I don’t go around telling everyone not to watch NASCAR because if they do no one will want to have a relationship with them.
End rant. I need to go deadlift some big weights until I feel better. Because, like I said, I lift to feel good – not because my “man” said I was allowed to.
Oh and you still don’t know if I’m a girl or a guy. But either way, I am strong so I win.
Fantastic comments cledbo!
@Frank: hey, that’s your choice, mate. I love my muscley arms!
SomeGuy, you say you’re not attracted to women with even a hint of muscle. That’s okay, but I’d just like to point out that of the 3,500 million women on this Earth, extraordinarily few of them are trying to be attractive to you as an individual.
I realise that may come as a great shock to you, after all, isn’t it all about me? But no.
I mean, I am quite fond of women with dark curly hair, yet strangely the entire female population of the world has failed to get a dye and perm, this constantly surprises me. How dare they have straight or blonde hair? Ridiculous. Don’t women know they have a DUTY to be attractive to me personally?
Alternately, maybe the vast majority of them give a shit what you or I think is attractive. Maybe they’re trying to be attractive to other men with other tastes, or maybe they’re not trying to be attractive to any particular men at all, maybe they just enjoy being as they are.
Just tossing that possibility out there for your consideration. I hope it didn’t blow your brains out your ears with its radicalness.
Spot on response, Kyle!
I see you have the good sense to have the right kind of hair, Gubernatrix. Well done, not like those OTHER women, they should really all change to suit me, those FREAKS.
I lift because I enjoy it. I lift because I have seen the degenerative spine disease, brittle bones, and loss of coordination (from under-used nerve pathways) that are the result of NOT lifting. I lift because I’m good at it. I lift because it makes me feel and look younger. I lift, frankly, because cardio bores the crap out of me, but I still gotta burn off my margaritas somehow! I’m not trying to be stronger than any man (or any woman, for that matter). I am not insecure, but I do enjoy the feeling of accomplishment I get from increasing my weight on a given move. I have always, from birth, had a pretty muscular build. But as we get older, if we don’t train the muscles, we lose them, and blubber ensues (as well as a whole list of degenerative ailments). I am very feminine and I like it that way – I have an hourglass shape and I always have polished fingers and toes. I have long hair and love getting dressed up sexy when I go out. I am a mother of two and a wife. My husband loves my body, as do I. As do many men, if admiring glances and compliments from lots of random strangers are to be believed. I’m not going for a “ripped” look – I like the bit of softness I still have in places, though I do totally respect women who want to go for that leaner aesthetic. I am 100% woman. I am strong and healthy and sexy. And I will never EVER arm-wrestle my husband….because he doesn’t work out at all, and yes, I am afraid I just might win. But let’s just keep that between us.
I lift, have done for many years and have a good physique . I too often get comments from others and as nice as they are I lift for one main reason, just for me.
I love the idea of a woman lifting I think its sexy and if a woman beat me at an arm wrestle, I would say well done… please don’t think we are All the same
[...] I love this post about 10 good reasons why women should stay away from weight training. They’re right, it’s just not good for our feminine [...]
[...] Ten Good Reasons Why Women Should Stay Away From Weights [...]
Some men’s egos are so frail that a woman wouldn’t even need heavy weights to bruise them, a 2kg dumbell can do the job!!! I am not a out to forgo the many benefits of weightraining just to make some insecure asshole happy! I am nearly 50, 5.4 and weigh 58 kg and about 18% bodyfat , hardly the incredible hulk. I can fit into
[...] “10 Good Reasons Why Women Should Stay Away from Weights” (tongue & cheek, of course) [...]
@someguy – you sound really insecure. Do you even lift?