What would you say to a girl who's scared of getting 'bulky' from lifting weights?

**skelooth** · 01-25-2006, 01:39 AM

Countless times I come across women who think they will get bulky or look like a man if they lift weights. They usually want my advice but are hesitant of the idea of lifting weights, especially when I tell them to lift heavy and to do big movements like squats and benches. To this point my best arguement has been to show them a picture of you. Usually after they see your picture they open up to the idea of lifting weights, but I'm curious:

As a woman who lifts weights, what is the one thing you'd say to ease the fears of other women who are afraid to lift?

Thank you for taking the time to have this board on ironmass. You are a huge inspiration to many people. :nosthumbs

*Kendra Elias* · 01-25-2006, 03:27 AM

Hi skelooth!

Thanks for your question.

It's very common for women who haven't trained to be afraid of lifting weights. The first thing I would tell them is that it's actually very hard for most women to gain muscle. Many women, even with weight training, have to work very hard to add muscle to their body.

One thing to remember is that weight training can be a very important part of a program designed to lose weight. Just because a woman lifts weights doesn't mean she has to get bigger.

By including weight training in a weight loss program, a woman can make sure that she holds on to her muscle while losing fat.

The biggest factor that will determine whether a woman gets bigger or smaller is not whether she trains with weights, but how she eats.

Weight training will definitely help a woman acheive her goals faster than cardio or dieting alone.

Best wishes!

OXOXOX
Kendra

Trick D · 01-25-2006, 03:35 AM

How about the whole thing about women losing their boobs when they perform chest exercises like Bench Press? Is it true, and if it is, is there exercises that can be done that won't cause the shrinkage?

*Kendra Elias* · 01-25-2006, 03:52 AM

Hey Trick D!

Bench press can actually make a woman's chest appear larger, not smaller.

The thing that causes a woman's chest to get smaller is reduction of body fat. Losing fat causes the breasts to shrink, just like it does our hips, thighs, and stomach.

Honestly, this is why you see so many woman in the fitness industry with breast implants. It's simply impossible to have low body fat and big boobs.

What's a woman to do?!

OXOXOX
Kendra

Trick D · 01-25-2006, 03:53 AM

Lol... thanks for the advice... with me living in a house with 4 women and being a moderator on such a great board I get all kinds of "I want to lift weights but I don't want man arms and small breasts."

I am always like... hmm....

I always thought it made the boobs bigger myself, and thought it was the fat reduction that made them smaller, but didn't know how to tell them.

Thanks Kendra!

Hybrid · 01-25-2006, 12:35 PM

Show them a picture of kendra, then show them a picture of me.... and tell them that she benches more than me. I'm pretty sure she does.

*Kendra Elias* · 02-14-2006, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hybrid

Show them a picture of kendra, then show them a picture of me.... and tell them that she benches more than me. I'm pretty sure she does.

I'm sure you bench a LOT more than me Hybrid.

I can probably out dance you though!

OXOXOX
Kendra

**Fitnfirm** · 02-25-2006, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trick D

How about the whole thing about women losing their boobs when they perform chest exercises like Bench Press? Is it true, and if it is, is there exercises that can be done that won't cause the shrinkage?

And another add to that is : I dont mind losing some breast size but How do you avoid the funky breast look I see in alot of female bodybuilders, I hate that look! Like the spread in the middle is huge and it looks like 2 tennis balls, I never want that look. I still wanna look like a girl! Kendra, you dont look like that

sword- · 03-29-2006, 11:49 AM

^^ Wow nice avatar

METAL VIPER · 03-31-2006, 06:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fitnfirm

How do you avoid the funky breast look I see in alot of female bodybuilders, I hate that look! Like the spread in the middle is huge and it looks like 2 tennis balls

A.K.A. The fried eggs on a nail look

01-25-2006, 01:39 AM	#1
skelooth eh heh heh Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Behind you Posts: 7,205 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 158	What would you say to a girl who's scared of getting 'bulky' from lifting weights? Countless times I come across women who think they will get bulky or look like a man if they lift weights. They usually want my advice but are hesitant of the idea of lifting weights, especially when I tell them to lift heavy and to do big movements like squats and benches. To this point my best arguement has been to show them a picture of you. Usually after they see your picture they open up to the idea of lifting weights, but I'm curious: As a woman who lifts weights, what is the one thing you'd say to ease the fears of other women who are afraid to lift? Thank you for taking the time to have this board on ironmass. You are a huge inspiration to many people. :nosthumbs __________________ R I P

01-25-2006, 03:27 AM	#2
Kendra Elias IFBB Fitness Pro Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 54 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 5	Hi skelooth! Thanks for your question. It's very common for women who haven't trained to be afraid of lifting weights. The first thing I would tell them is that it's actually very hard for most women to gain muscle. Many women, even with weight training, have to work very hard to add muscle to their body. One thing to remember is that weight training can be a very important part of a program designed to lose weight. Just because a woman lifts weights doesn't mean she has to get bigger. By including weight training in a weight loss program, a woman can make sure that she holds on to her muscle while losing fat. The biggest factor that will determine whether a woman gets bigger or smaller is not whether she trains with weights, but how she eats. Weight training will definitely help a woman acheive her goals faster than cardio or dieting alone. Best wishes! OXOXOX Kendra __________________ IFBB Fitness Pro Please vist my official site: www.KendraElias.com ALRI Sponsored Athlete Proud Member of Team ALRI www.ALRIndustries.com/athletes.htm For Drug Free Bodybuilding, Nutrition and Training, please visit www.MichaelElias.com

01-25-2006, 03:52 AM	#4
Kendra Elias IFBB Fitness Pro Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 54 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 5	Hey Trick D! Bench press can actually make a woman's chest appear larger, not smaller. The thing that causes a woman's chest to get smaller is reduction of body fat. Losing fat causes the breasts to shrink, just like it does our hips, thighs, and stomach. Honestly, this is why you see so many woman in the fitness industry with breast implants. It's simply impossible to have low body fat and big boobs. What's a woman to do?! OXOXOX Kendra __________________ IFBB Fitness Pro Please vist my official site: www.KendraElias.com ALRI Sponsored Athlete Proud Member of Team ALRI www.ALRIndustries.com/athletes.htm For Drug Free Bodybuilding, Nutrition and Training, please visit www.MichaelElias.com

01-25-2006, 12:35 PM	#6
Hybrid IMPC Contestant Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Gibsonia PA Posts: 824 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 14	Show them a picture of kendra, then show them a picture of me.... and tell them that she benches more than me. I'm pretty sure she does. __________________ If you even dream about beating me you'd better wake up and apologize - Muhammad Ali

03-29-2006, 11:49 AM	#9
sword- New Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: I run VA Posts: 17 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 0	^^ Wow nice avatar __________________ Success is not final. Failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts. -Winston Churchill

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