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In high school we had a girls' weight lifting class as an elective, I believe it was a semester, I loved how it made my body look and was a good addition to running cross country and training horses. This was a while ago, when the majority of kids were still athletic and active.
To this day I continue to lift, not necessarily heavy, but enough that I feel and see it work. It is good cross training for running and has helped my core and glutes a ton = better running form and stamina. I like having cut arms too. ; ) Weight lifting for me, also helps strengthen connective tissue around my joints reducing chances of injury. (and re-injury)
Studies have also shown that women who lift reduce their chance of getting osteoporosis as they age, of which I am of prime demographic for, so I want to be proactive in reducing my risk of getting that. I could lift all day and not bulk, so I don't get the hyped fear about that.
My mom has always kept herself fit, and at age 74 still runs races, competes in duathalons and cyclocross, I hope I can be as active as her when I get to that age!
I guess if lifting a few weights makes me a fleek a$$ beeotch, then, yup.
Female actors and athletes use weights to tone their bodies and build strength. Do you think those dancers doing handsprings came by it naturally?
Do you watch "The Walking Dead?" Take a look at the arms on Danai Gurira (Michonne). Her arms are strong and toned and sexy as all hell. The days of Olive Oyl pipecleaner arms on women are long over.
I began lifting in the mid 1970's and I know there were female bodybuilders competing by later in that decade. By 1980 Rachel McLish, Cory Everson and Carla Dunlap had the sport in full swing and internationally recognized. Bev Francis, an Australian IIRC, was among the largest and most imposing in the female sport. Not to mention female power lifters. . . .
I don't remember many women lifting when I was in college in the 1970s but our workout facilities was really poor. I also don't remember many women running in the 1970s. I joined a Nautilus gym in 1979 and there was a growing number of women who began working out at this club. Nautilus seemed to open the door to women doing resistance training, and there seemed to be a boom in various kinds of health clubs in the early 1980s. Many YMCAs added Nautilus rooms around this time and female members gradually started migrating over to the free weights.
I think once people get involved in one form of exercise, they start looking at other things they can do to get better results. Many people, and especially women, still believe old myths about getting bulking and muscle bound. I wish I had a dollar for every time I've heard someone say, " I don't won't to get big muscles, I just want to tone."
I think Crossfit is giving a boost to women lifting weights similar to what Nautilus did around 1980. My daughter does Crossfit and there seems to be more women involved than men in her gym.
I think this lifting has turned quite a number of girls too masculine, i.e. built upper body as opposed to curves in all the right places.
Skinny/slender/lean arms (and legs) with no obvious muscle are ugly to me, whether they are on men or on women.
I don't care for the overly bulky look, either; however, I can't imagine beautiful arms on a woman where there is not even a hint of curve of a tricep.
If only all the strength training I've been doing for the last 15+ years would reduce my lower-half curves. I'd be willing to trade a smaller butt and hips and thighs for the risk of looking "too masculine".
I notice girls talking about lifting as if it's "on fleek".
popularized by social media?
I dunno, seems like a lack of imagination when people have to follow the latest trend.
I think this lifting has turned quite a number of girls too masculine, i.e. built upper body as opposed to curves in all the right places.
JMO. More power to you if this is your thing.
Uh....girls have been lifting weights since like the 80's. I was lifting them before you were born, most likely.
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Before the trend there was Abby 'Pudgy'' Stockton!
