Some thoughts and discussions from me.

CAN WOMEN GET

OK, ok. Before I lose all of my my fellow female lifters for that title, hear me out. Yes, women are able to get bulky – it just depends on what that woman’s definition of bulky is.

If you read my blog at all, you know that I am 100% pro women lifting weights – and heavy ones at that. My favorite exercises include heavy deadlifts, front squats, trap bar deadlifts, and pull ups.

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I think a muscular, athletic build on a woman is a very good look. When it comes to aesthetics, I lift weights to have defined arms, a booty, some ab definition, and curvy, muscular legs.

However, not every single woman wants to look muscular. Some of my clients come to me with a very specific goal – to lose weight. They say, verbatim: “I don’t want the bulky look.” Although I might think it’d do them good to put on a little muscle, they may not think the same. It seems like there’s one, canned response to this, that’s really not 100% true:

“Oh, well don’t worry. Women can’t get bulky. We’re going to lift heavy anyway!”

And it bothers me that it’s become so mainstream and forced down people’s throats that women can in no way, no how, get bulky. Instead, I like to ask that woman what bulky means to her. If she references some female body builder, with guns blazing, muscles bulging, and veins popping, then, I can tell her not to worry. That she won’t look like that no matter how heavy we lift.

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Yeah, a body like that cannot be built solely in the gym through natural means.

BUT, if that woman’s definition of bulky is someone like Jessica Biel? Then, yes, with some hard work in the gym and the right diet, she possibly could get a body that she considers bulky.

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Believe it or not, not everyone think JB’s body is bangin’. Some women want a lean, lithe, physique.

So when it comes to my clients, yes, I want them to know that being strong is an empowering feeling, and that seeing strength gains and improvements in the gym can make their workouts fun and exciting. But with a client who doesn’t want to put on much muscle, I don’t typically have them lift heavy. *gasp!* Now, we don’t go lifting 5 lb. pink dumbbells, but I also don’t disregard their feelings and throw them into a program that’s going to have them put on muscle. It’s my job to help them get the body they want in a healthy, efficient manner.

Some things get repeated over and over and over in this industry that it just becomes dogma and common knowledge, and people – even fitness professionals – don’t dig deeper to see if there could be more to an answer than what’s at the surface. Some that come to mind are: abs are made in the kitchen, ass to grass squats are the supreme key to a good booty, crunches are bad for the spine, and, you got it, women cannot get bulky ever.

Do you lift heavy? If so, what does that mean to you?

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