You should really be careful that you don’t get too manly-looking
Someone actually said that to me this morning while I was working out. He took the time to stop and interrupt one of my sets to give me this pearl of wisdom. Can you believe it?!? Yeah, I can’t either. I realize that there are still “lightly educated” people when it comes to women and bodybuilding, but I have to be honest…I’m really tired of it. This encounter was wrong on so many different levels. To begin, I can’t imagine approaching anyone else in the gym except to say hello or give words of encouragement. Next, if you have something to say you should probably know what you’re talking about. Maybe do a little reading about women and bodybuilding. Learn the facts - women who lift will not get big muscles like men. I want to quote Tina Marina in her article, Training Myths and the Female Athlete:
“We have all heard this one from some woman at one time or another. Ladies, no - lifting weight will not make you develop muscle like a man. Quick lesson in anatomy:
Both men and women have hormones coursing through their bodies. These hormones are testosterone, estrogen, progesterone and DHEA. For those of you who are not aware, men and women share all of these; however men have a much higher number of testosterone and DHEA than women do and women have a much higher concentration of estrogen and progesterone.
Testosterone is a very powerful hormone, this is one (if not the) primary factor that enables men to build muscle the way they do. Are there women in this world who lift weights and look like men? Yes. Why? They take testosterone or other androgens to help them achieve that look. Does the average woman who wants to get in shape and attain a ’sexy’ body have to supplement this way to achieve her goals? NO.”
So, that’s that. I just needed to vent to whoever will listen. I would bet the farm that there are other women who deal with this ridiculous nonsense all the time. On the brighter side, he has encouraged me to work even harder. Tomorrow, I’m going to do an extra set of push-ups just for him, then blow him a kiss when I’m done.
July 23, 2008 at 8:29 am
He should really be careful that you don’t throw a weight at him. Ignorance is frustrating!
July 23, 2008 at 8:30 am
WOW I love the lack of intelligence of some people!! I also love the comments from some women; OH if I lift heavy I just get huge!! OK Cool lets see it!! You keep training hard and keep looking beautiful. My wife is a WNBF Pro bodybuilder and she looks like a woman. And she is gorgeous!! Good luck with your training!!
July 23, 2008 at 8:31 am
Hey you made a very good point and nice job on pulling out the quote,this gym was wrong in so many ways.First off he has no idea what he’s talking about,secondly he doesn’t know what look you are trying to achieve maybe you want to add a littel bit more mass to you frame it’s your business not anyone else’s.i believe there are so many uneducated people out there men and women on this whole"women shouldn’t lift weight or they’ll look like a mna thing" keep doing what you do. He might have been upset casue you were lifting more then he was,lol.
July 23, 2008 at 8:40 am
Another idiot with a jewel of wisdom… Cripe, women on avarage have 10% of the levels of testosterone men do. Plus, far few people want the smooth soft Hooters girl look instead of a lean healthy woman. Cripe, why are some people so unenlightened or self-inflated…
July 23, 2008 at 9:43 am
Funny at my gym most ladies are afraid to use weights because they don’t want to get big. But I do my best to assure them that they won’t, you would think they would listen after all I am supposed to be wiser being the old f*** I mean gentleman. lmao
July 23, 2008 at 2:06 pm
Judging by all comments so far, it is clear that any person educated in basic physiology knows that a woman cannot be "manly" by any amount of lifting without unnatural levels of testosterone or steroids.
Great quote to slap in his face with- Sucka!!!
Next time, be sure to let him know that just because he is a "chubby-chaser" and can’t see his "masculinity", doesn’t mean you can’t look stunningly healthy!
Kudos- Keep it Up!!!
July 23, 2008 at 8:48 pm
lol So what did you do after he said that? I bet he caught you off guard, right? Oh well, at least you know better. Maybe you should suggest he log on to this site and see all the women on here that workout. You might be doing him a favor. Anyways, it sounds like you have the right attitude about the whole situation. Keep lifting and never mind the haters. Later, Anton
August 4, 2008 at 4:42 pm
You should have cut him off mid-sentence to explain to him you had to hurry over for a few sets of ultra heavy-squats. His brand of logic is what leads legions of nutrionally unsavvy women into terrible dieting schemes and self-esteem issues. People are meant to look athletic and strong regardless of gender.
October 6, 2008 at 2:36 pm
At least you know what your talking about, I can’t believe a guy would propigate this stuff. So many women, though, think just like he does and it is a serious shame.