See ladies? You can lift weights and still look feminine.
Some women say: "I don't want to lift weights because I don't want to get big and bulky." To me, that's like saying: "I don't want to take up running because I I'm afraid I'll look like Paula Radcliffe." Most people don't have the time or genetics to reach either of those goals.
I'm recovering from knee surgery and I miss running and the weight room ever so much. :'(
@amsci: I like lifting weights a lot and don't limit myself to the three-pound ones in an effort to stay super thin (ha, or become that, rather), but I do have a body type that builds muscle really quickly. So I don't really hate women who get nervous about bulking up because I sympathize.
I'd rather be strong and muscular than doughy at any size, but I hate it when my exercise regimen means I can no longer wear shirts with banded sleeves. My favorite shirt dress doesn't fit over my newly-buffened arm muscles!
So while I agree that mostly they're being whiny, I don't necessarily think all of them are being idiots.
@amsci: ARGH I KNOW. As a person who really wants to bulk up, it is hard as hell to get bulky. For most women, that is. Some ladies pack on muscle like nothing (you, my friends, should give me your muscles and you can have mine. They are slow.).
I want something there when I flex! Preferably something biggish.
@boxspelunker: Wanna borrow my genetics? I'm built to carry home large dead animals after the hunt. After only three weeks back with my trainer, I have nice big biceps that are straining my scrubs.
Protein is the answer, by the way. It's hell on your kidneys unless you drink tons of water, but by God will you bulk.
@Jo Aage: Yes, please! I am so jealous right now :D I eat lots of protein, but I'm just slow to change, really. I don't lose or gain weight easily, and muscle is the same. But water + protein (and hopefully no kidney stones; I've had a few and they are NO FUN) + time + hard work will hopefully = what I want.
@BabyFem: I have no fat-burning skills, but I will happily take that muscle-building thing off your hands. It seems that some people have more... I don't know... malleable? shapes than others. My sister bulks up quickly, but gains/loses weight quickly, too. I am like a turtle. I gain/lose SO SLOWLY. I could starve myself, it seems, and my body'd take a week or so to notice. So much for the calorie in/out theory!
I kind of don't like the fact that our President and First Lady are so health conscious. See, I'm trying not to be, but they're such good role models and I like them so much...
I feel like if I started doing frequent intense cardio workouts I would start to hate them and make up stuff about how Obama is like Hitler or something equally moronic just because I don't like change.
Damnations. If the president of the United States works out six days a week, my "But I'm so tired when I come home from work" excuse rings a bit hollow, doesn't it?
I have my Jillian Michaels DVD, but started hating her after two or three weeks. Sigh.
@lalaland13: Oh, I'm so glad to hear you say that about Jillian. At first I was like "Ha! She's funny!" and after about 10 days of dong the workouts I started to feel like she is one of those people who a) Is not as funny as she thinks she is b) Needs a lot of approval from people.
Maybe this was just me being sweaty and projecting, but I'm relieved to hear that I'm not the only one who grows to resent people in exercise DVDs.
@lalaland13: In the early 90s I had that Cindy Crawford workout tape. There are a couple of scenes where she's trying to talk to the camera and her trainer, Radu, totally shuts her down and forces her to work harder. The more I worked out, the more I came to really look forward to those moments, where a flicker of dismay would cross her pretty face. (Also, to this day I associate Crawford's visage with burning quadriceps, and not in a good way.)
@jemandtheholograms: Same here. I remember reading something about how Condoleeza Rice would wake up at 4 am just to work out and ever since then I've stopped letting "I'm to tired" or "I'm to busy" be an excuse for me!
eh. I actually think its kind of cool that a First Lady is getting attention for her weight training regimen. Many women still shy away from lifting, because its seen as too masculine.
Yeah, but I have been doing the same exercises for nine years, and my arms look NOTHING like Michelle's. Of course, I can't afford a first-class trainer to give me pointers.
@cocobanal: It's a question of body-type, too; some people naturally have a bit less subcutaneous fat, which makes for more defined muscle. The long, long limbs help, too. Damn it.
@dripdrop: Biceps, I think, are only about 25% of your upper arm. It's mainly triceps. At least that's what the lady in class says as she's screaming at me to do one more tricep dip.
@una.perra.andaluza: Or you can do the way-easier version and advance from there: facing the ceiling with your front, put your hands and feet on the floor with your butt a little ways off the ground, like you're going to crab walk. Bend and straighten your elbows (making sure the motion is coming from your arms and not your butt, which can sometimes look similar but is cheating) a few times until your arms are tired.
Sometimes I also do this using a chair or ottoman under my hands but keeping my feet on the floor. Just depends on how much I feel like crab walking that day.
Unpossible. Everyone knows the only way to stay thin and have good arms is to Master Cleanse bi-weekly, wear 9 lb wristbands while sleeping and get monthly injections of muscle-growing serum.
Honestly, I never thought sex was all that confusing until I started scanning the covers of magazines at the grocery checkout. Now I feel like I should be operating off a very detailed list of checks and balances. If I'm not in the mood for sex because I'm tired/stressed/needing alone time, he should buy me shoes. if he buys me shoes, I should fuck him as a thank you. Does the price of the shoes affect the amount or quality of the thank-you sex? If he buys me Christian Louboutins, do I have to invite over two of my young, nubile friends?
This whole article is a monument for shitty advice.
New shoes? I'm really not that into shoes, plus not every woman wears the same size across brand.
Their advice for dealing with a woman who is self-conscious about her body is to stop complimenting her because apparently saying "Nice legs" makes women think you hate their butt. What?
The article say that women don't orgasm because they think to much but all of there advice basically involves bossing her around. As if just doing what Men's Health says should work, no need to actually ask her how she likes to be touched.
09/08/09
[www.ironworkout.com]
09/08/09
"Tom Platz did high rep squatting as a regular part of his workout routine.
Not only did he have huge legs, but he was huge and thick all over."
09/08/09
09/08/09
Some women say: "I don't want to lift weights because I don't want to get big and bulky." To me, that's like saying: "I don't want to take up running because I I'm afraid I'll look like Paula Radcliffe." Most people don't have the time or genetics to reach either of those goals.
I'm recovering from knee surgery and I miss running and the weight room ever so much. :'(
09/08/09
I'd rather be strong and muscular than doughy at any size, but I hate it when my exercise regimen means I can no longer wear shirts with banded sleeves. My favorite shirt dress doesn't fit over my newly-buffened arm muscles!
So while I agree that mostly they're being whiny, I don't necessarily think all of them are being idiots.
09/08/09
I want something there when I flex! Preferably something biggish.
09/08/09
Protein is the answer, by the way. It's hell on your kidneys unless you drink tons of water, but by God will you bulk.
09/08/09
@BabyFem: I have no fat-burning skills, but I will happily take that muscle-building thing off your hands. It seems that some people have more... I don't know... malleable? shapes than others. My sister bulks up quickly, but gains/loses weight quickly, too. I am like a turtle. I gain/lose SO SLOWLY. I could starve myself, it seems, and my body'd take a week or so to notice. So much for the calorie in/out theory!
09/08/09
I feel like if I started doing frequent intense cardio workouts I would start to hate them and make up stuff about how Obama is like Hitler or something equally moronic just because I don't like change.
09/08/09
I have my Jillian Michaels DVD, but started hating her after two or three weeks. Sigh.
09/08/09
Maybe this was just me being sweaty and projecting, but I'm relieved to hear that I'm not the only one who grows to resent people in exercise DVDs.
09/08/09
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09/08/09
Doesn't stop me from usin' it.
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09/08/09
It's also a relatively inexpensive form of exercise and something you can do at home or outside. Minimal equipment, no expensive membership required.
09/08/09
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09/08/09
What if you're short, huh? Is Michelle Obama's body attainable THEN?
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09/08/09
Sometimes I also do this using a chair or ottoman under my hands but keeping my feet on the floor. Just depends on how much I feel like crab walking that day.
09/08/09
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09/08/09
MWWWWWWWWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
08/31/09
08/31/09
08/30/09
I need a flow chart.
08/30/09
New shoes? I'm really not that into shoes, plus not every woman wears the same size across brand.
Their advice for dealing with a woman who is self-conscious about her body is to stop complimenting her because apparently saying "Nice legs" makes women think you hate their butt. What?
The article say that women don't orgasm because they think to much but all of there advice basically involves bossing her around. As if just doing what Men's Health says should work, no need to actually ask her how she likes to be touched.
Its one big fail.
08/31/09