Why are many guys against women working out with weights?

[emmily2396]

Women can't get naturally big muscles, those who have them are taking steroids. Your "feminine" woman who doesn't work out will get eventually visible celullite and her flesh will get saggy with time because fat can't sustain itself without enough muscle mass and muscles get weaker as we age.

That is how women normally end up looking

All these women are thin and probably do some exercises and eat healthy, but the thing they have in common is that they don't look strong at all. Even women in fitness struggle with these issues, but to a smaller degree:

This is how regular girls who lift heavy weights look like:

They don't look masculine, they still have feminine bodies. They aren't perfect but working out helped them look their best they could ever look.

Updates

+1 y

It is like women are stuck in a vicious circle. If they have cellulite and saggy flesh men don't like it, if they work on it they are not feminine enough and men don't like it either. Women don't naturally look like magazine models who are in fact full of Photoshop. Not even those who actually look like that can keep that look for a long period of time because as they get older they start to look worse.

[Anonymous]

Who says men are against women working out with weights? Also these 'regular girls who lift' are not regular girls at al... They are models or fit girls who have every hour of the day to eat sleep and breath weights. 'Regular girls' have hobbies and work and don't want to work out 5 times a week to look good.

You clearly forget how much work and effort it takes to look like these girls. Most women work, have kids, a house hold they need to take care of.

Sure we should also work out. But please don't lure them in with an advertisement: if you work out you look like this, if you don't you have cellulite. 'Cause let's be honest to look real fit like the last three girls you need a lot of free time, and sometimes a lot of photoshop.

[emmily2396]

Lol, i workout myself. You don't need a lot of free time, you just have to stick to it. You clrealy don't know much. You can get great result with just hitting the gym 2-3 times a week. A full body workout can be done in 2h. As for diet, you just need not to eat junk food often or in big quantities and get enough protein. If you eat cooked food, fruits and veggies and get your protein and calories you get results. It is not that impossible as you try to make it look.
And the examples were to show how a woman lifting heavy weights looks like. Of course those women have been working out for years. And i never said that you will not have cellulite if you workout. I basically gave an example of a girl who workout qnd still has some, but to a kuch smaller extent. Actually, i added another picture of the girl, she is the one in shorts.

[Opinion Owner]

I work out myself. I have fast metabolism and stick to working out (with weights) once a week. The rest of the week I cycle 1h p/day. Hitting the gym 2-3 times a week is impossible for me, as probably for most women. Why? 'cause some of us get home at 6pm. Need to cook up dinner, take care of kids/household/homework, you name it. By the time it's 9pm I don't want to work out anymore. I get up at 6am in the morning. So 6 hours per week at the gym is not gonna cut it for me, and if I also have to research a diet and stick to it... come flippin on. I'm a normal woman with a normal busy daily life. Perhaps if you go to college and have no other priorities except hitting the gym, doing your make-up and looking good, sure spend 6 hours there... but for me. I got other priorities.

It is as hard as I portray it. I'm hitting the gym for 3 years straight now, every week. My weight gain is minimum as is my muscle definition. Sure I've grown a bit, but my body is just so tiny that I will never look like these models that you put out there.

What triggers me is that you make it sound like 'all' women can look like these models. While the reality is that most of us look like the celebrities with cellulite. Why do we need to look perfect? We are pressured into so many things. Being slim, having a pretty face, being nice, looking pretty naturally etc. etc.

A regular woman, lifting weights does not look like the ones in your pictures. 'cause some of us have actual lifes and don't spend half our lives at the gym.

[emmily2396]

Yes, all women can gain muscle, you don't see a big progress because you train only once a week. You need to donit at least twice. And yes, you have time to hit the gym twice a week. You can go on Saturday and in a working day. Some people go to the gym 4-5 times a week. Only twice a week is not much actually. Going 2 times a week is not half your life, but a small part of it.

[Opinion Owner]

I never said women can't gain muscle. You're shooting past the point here. I can decide for myself whether I have time to go twice a week or not. Perhaps you still live at home with your parents where everything is done for you.

Most grown women have their own household to take care of. And thus my point is that regular women will not and should not look like those overly perfect models you portray.

[emmily2396]

I don't live with my parents smartass. And why do you get defensive over stuff like that? It seems that you feel like you failed to achieve what you wanted and you blame it on lack of time, then when I tell you there is time you are complaining that it is your life. Then stop complaining and being triggered. I just told you that with effort all women can get gains and it doesn't have to be your main concern in your daily life. Then you started to get defensive and find excuses, things which were not relevant to what we were talking about.

[Opinion Owner]

It's funny how you accuse me. I asked you, where did you read that men are against women working out with weights. No answer. I asked why you want women to look like models. No answer. If you really were open to a discussion you would answer it honestly. Though it appears you have no source to confirm anything you say. Don't accuse of men or women wanting something when you have no source.

[emmily2396]

Of course i have a source
What is the maximum level of muscle size and definition you would be fine with on women? ↗

And you can literally look on the numerous questions on this site where a good part of men say they don't like musclesnon women.
The first girl in my poll isn't even use weights that much, i see her mostly doing bodyweight exercises.

[lexiepotter]

Am I the only one who thinks the women on top look completely fine? Isn't that how you're supposed to look by the time you enter your 30s? Honestly, people age. Sure there are things you can do to delay the process, but it's a natural thing that must be embraced with grace

[emmily2396]

Yeah, but the thing is these problems start with women as young as 18. And the problem was that men are hypocrites.

[emmily2396]

90% of women get some cellulite sooner or later. Healthy lfestyle can make it a bit less visible, but somehow even that is not right for them

[lexiepotter]

So far I haven't met a guy who has a problem with cellulitis or stretch Mark's. Most of them are simply ok with those. Unless it's something extreme ofc. Maybe you're talking about these things with immature kids, try real men and you'll see what I'm talking about

[Twenty2]

Healthy lifestyle includes healthy diet too. Yoga is the best. You actually don't need weights.

[Hawky_]

Well said

[Junkberry99]

I don't think most men necessarily are against women working out. Some surely do. One thinks it isn't feminine, others will call them fake. Now for me, I am not against it, and I'd support a girl whether she does or does not work out, but for most of us it might be something about the way the can look. For me a woman with a lot of muscles is less attractive to me than one with less or none (visible)

[emmily2396]

have you read what I said?

[BeHappy1985]

No one in the history of man kind said that they are against women working out with weights or without.

We are against women who work out to the point where they start looking like a guy.

[emmily2396]

Really? i used pictures of these girls in other posts and they were too muscular for a lot of men. So yeah, plenty of people in history were against girls lifting. I know guys in real life who think that too

[BeHappy1985]

Few problems with that, how do you know they used weights to work out? Also only one of them looks like she is working out, the rest could very well look naturally like this.

[emmily2396]

Damn, they are instagram fitness models... they can do 100kg hipthrusts or more... they are very strong

[BlueWalker]

I don't see the problem with women who even want to do powerlifting if they so choose. Nor do I think cellulite is "bad" or "unattractive". At all. Just like I don't find muscles on a woman to be "masculine" either. A very muscular woman is still very feminine and attractive to me, just like she is if she has any other figure with cellulite. All women should be able to look and feel attractive, no matter what they look like. But sadly, I know it's not that way, nor is it anywhere that easy. 🙁

I just despise the extreme focus on vanity that our culture places on all of us. On women in particular. It distorts us all into believing what "is" and "isn't" beautiful, when in reality, beauty is SO much more than just a few narrow things that is fore fed to us in what we see online, in magazines and other media. Beauty is an incredibly wide spectrum and is NOT just what the media and pop culture tells us, or wants us to believe. All of this vanity insanity causes so many needless insecurities about our own bodies, our self-image and self-worth. Instead of focusing on WHO we are as people, we feel tortured to "look" a certain way because of all the insecurities it creates. It's so incredibly unhealthy and I hate it. 😕

However, I would debate to the death about guys not liking cellulite in particular though. If GAG has shown anything, more often than not, time and time again, when women here ask if guys mind it, the majority of the polls and answers say we don't... because the reality is most guys really don't. And no, we don't say it because we "have to" or that we say it because we "have to accept it" if a woman has it, but instead we say so because most guys either aren't bothered by it one bit, and some guys (such as myself) can even be additionally attracted to it.

In no way, shape or form does having cellulite make you "flawed" or "less than" in the eyes of most guys for having it. At all. And it's not just here on GAG. In my life's travels, the vast majority of guys I have ever talked to about it have all said the exact same thing. If you really want to know what guys are saying behind women's backs about it, they reality is the majority of us really don't care at all, and again, some guys even find it sexy. Seriously.

It just drives me nuts that there seems to be this conspiracy about how "most guys" don't like women that have cellulite, or that we have to "accept" the fact that she does (or may have it in the future). Sure, there are guys out there who don't like it, but they are the minority, I assure you. It's just not an issue whatsoever for most guys at all.

Anyway, yeah. It's just so utterly sad that this is what women feel they are reduced to feeling about themselves. This catch 22, damned if you do, damned if you don't kind of pressure to be something other than the beautiful women she already is. It really speaks volumes about us as a society. This sick culture of vanity insanity needs to end. It's just so twisted and incredibly unhealthy. I hate it. 😕

[GraveDoll]

I have never had a guy have a problem with my workouts i been the gym for 7 years I tight and tone. It my preference.
I am at a point where i can give two hens what "men" like or "men" want.

Women need to lift weight to age graceful. I mean It really important to our heath not just from a cosmetic view. I rarely meet a guy though who dislike women who lift weights. If anything most are impress. and decides I dont like fat men so...

I keep a very simple view: I won't be every men cup of tea and that OK. Because Not ever man I meet is my cup of tea. We can sip to that.

[ChurchOfIron]

I think you underestimate men's apathy and the degree to which they will be accepting of 80% of women's physical bodies. Unless you're talking about top tier men, in which case, they can be as picky as they like, as the most advantaged group in dating.

But yes. 'Some' men won't like one thing, and 'some' men won't like the other thing. I don't know why women would be basing their health on trying to please every one of the 4,500,000,000 men on the planet.

I think this is more of a woman's natural insecurity type thing, the thought that lifting weights will make them look masculine. Which, as you say, definitely won't. I totally agree with that premise and am all for women lifting weights. If I ever get married, the chick is marrying the Iron along with me.

[Saramad_Hill]

I have no issues with women working out. I've seen somewhat muscular girls look good, and I've seen slim toned women look good.

There may be a social stigma I'm not aware of for it, but every time I see a girl in the gym I dont even think twice about what they're doing and I just do my own workouts.

Also I'm going to add that most of the pictures of women you posted above all of them look good to me..

But yeah. I dont think it's a problem.
I mean I dont tend to check out super body builder chicks because their bodies fall outside of the range of what I consider hot, but I can also respect the immense amount of effort it took for them to get that way and I would probably want them on my side if I ever get into a brawl at a bar.

[anuragk033]

@emmily you're wrong about this.. there might be guys who prefer slime girl there are some who prefer average and there are some who prefer fat even... The nature body is most beautiful and more specifically my girlfriend's she is beautiful she is natural and she is comfortable in her skin because I don't really like the fake things asteroid and blah.
And you might mistook it like other people did idolized a certain body type which entertainment world presents to you.. fake surgeries and fake things can make them look attractive but they also know the reality that that's not real and that's not the person who they are they became what society wanted...

[anuragk033]

And yeah men like women who are conscious about their health and every human being should work out.. it's healthy for a longer life

[Bananaman177]

I don't have a problem with it, it's just that weight training can be REALLY, REALLY dangerous if you don't know what you're doing, very minor mistakes of posture and form can lead to very severe, sometimes permanent injuries.

If any woman wants to get into it, I think that's great, just make sure you really invest a LOT of time in learning basics and looking into hiring a professional to help you get started.

But I recommend the same to men who don't have any background in weight training. Don't just jump in and start lifting heavy shit, you'll fuck yourself up. Even guys who know what they're doing injure themselves, so don't take it lightly.

[Anonymous]

I beg to differ
First of all, cellulite has to do with genes. Not all women have it or are likely to get it in the future, it's written in your DNA. Most of the women on these pics are either pear-shaped or hourglass. Not all women have this body shape though. I've never seen cellulite on "apple-shaped" or "inverted triangle" women.
Secondly, lifting weights isn't for everyone. Mesomorphs tend to put muscle very easily, so some women who already have muscular legs/muscular calves, may not like to accentuate that any further. I really don't understand this modern obsession with lifting weights. There are types of exercise too. Such as cycling, swimming, dancing that tone your whole body too

www.rachaelattard.com/.../

[Opinion Owner]

*other types of exercise too

[Opinion Owner]

But yea I agree with your update OP. Most guys think that women should look like magazine or Instagram models and that if you work out, you'll look like that. That couldn't be more far from reality. The women on the last three pics are genetically shaped like that. They actually have narrow hips and a bubble b utt. Sometimes, they get plastic surgery too, such as liposuction or use things like corsets.
But they complain when they see women that are as toned as Serena Williams (which is a very strong woman and great athlete)
That's why I avoid lifting weights at all

[emmily2396]

90% of women get it at some point... read about how fat is different on women than men...

[Opinion Owner]

I don't think the percentage of women with cellulite is that high..
20% of women are apple-shaped. That means they store fat more on their upper body and belly, not on their hips.. We also have women who are rectangle shaped and store fat all over their body..

[emmily2396]

Tgay has nothing to fo with body shape. Look on the internet...

[Opinion Owner]

Yes, but some body types are more susceptible to cellulite..

[emmily2396]

one in the girls in the pictures is basically a model type of girl. She is very skinny and still has some. It has more to do with the aging process. Sure, a higher amount of fat will increase the chances and make it more obvious, but being skinny doesn't guarantee you won't get it. Women tend to have different fat from men, that is why men don't get it. Some women are lucky and don't get it too. But that is rare. At least, most of the girls I se eon the beach have some, I rarely see one without.

[Opinion Owner]

"She is very skinny and still has some."

All the women on the pics you linked though are still either pear-shaped or hourglass. Being skinny doesn't have anything to do with the way your body distributes fat.

"Women tend to have different fat from men, that is why men don't get it."

Actually some women have the same type of fat as guys (visceral and abdominal). Not all women store fat on their hips. That's what I'm trying to explain

[Opinion Owner]

Sure, it has to do with the ageing process but also has to do with your body type and diet.
Eating processed foods, even once a month means more cellulite

[emmily2396]

Not that type of fat... i mean the structure of the fat itselfnis different for men and men. Men don't have it when they are overweight... and body type has nithing to do with cellulite. You can get it almost anywhere. Some people have it on their belly or arms... why would only sp3cific body types get it? It makes 0 sense. And I don't see that many pear shaped women in that picture... i am pear shaped myself and i know what it looks like.

Actually, I have seen girl that are smaller than me and straight like a cutting board and had cellulite on her legs. I only have it on my lower butt, though I store most of my body fat on my thighs and butt. Do yeah, muscle mass plays a big role. When I used to be lazy I was also skinnier but the cellulite and banana rolls were more obvious than now when I am heavier and stronger.

[PinkMichae]

I don't think men mind a woman that uses weights to tone her body. They just don't want us looking like them. I've never seen men complain unless our arms, legs and body is as big as them. And a few men are even ok with the body building women that look more masculine than feminine.

[emmily2396]

I have seen plenty of them complaining about women who look just like the examples i gave

[Cocacolaaddict]

Perhaps they are threatened by them maybe their scared they will be able to beat them if they reach the same strength of them regardless its not really an issue I think a lot of men in fact like women who work out

[emmily2396]

@Cocacolaaddict What is the maximum level of muscle size and definition you would be fine with on women? ↗

the first girl does mostly bodyweight exercises, and anything over that was too much for 30% of guys.
First 4 types i gave there still look feminine and good to me.

[Cocacolaaddict]

Honestly all sizes are OK with me its what's inside that counts

[PinkMichae]

If they are complaining I would say they are intimidated I guess. But I believe the majority of men would be ecstatic to have the women in the pics you provided.

[EyeKnowMeNahYou]

Most women are against working out in the gym with weights. Because they believe that they will look bulky and won't be soft. I'm talking to so many ladies who will constantly say well how do I get rid of this belly or I want to flatter stomach I don't really want the muscles I just want to flat stomach change your diet is what I say. You obviously don't want to work out so don't ask me for workout tips because that's going to involve you sweating and actually physically changing your body. Well I don't want to do weights cuz that means I will gain a lot of muscle, know that is a misconception you will gain some muscle because the thing that you will look anything from masculine or bulky like anybody that is a bodybuilder who's probably had 10 or more years dedication is preposterous

[Janncis]

What are you talking about? I have nothing against of woman who works out in gym to be fit. And your updated statement about not being to able to keep body fit is totally rubbish. If you eat right and work out your body will be fit period. In fact i know plenty of woman whos body you say its impossible to keep but yet they have that body for years, decades even.

Maybe you should look outside of your little dome to see whats happen in world to? People in Europe are a lot more healty than in USA, in fact when i was in hight school, we didn't have any kid who would be ower weight. At university in entire campus i know two, rest of them are fit to really fit.

[Uru_DS]

I personally prefer a woman with a toned body. Shows she takes care of herself.
Do you know what toning your body means? You don't need weights at all. You can do that by simple body weight excercises and with like 2-3 kilos of weight.
Women don't have the testosterone required to produce big muscles and I don't expect them to. But you do have testosterone in your body so upto an extent it helps you to workout out and get in shape.
Quite frankly after a certain age, most men look that way too. Saggy skin and visible cellulite isn't exclusive to women.
P. s - In your question you said 'weights' and in the photos you're comparing women who lift 'heavy weights'. If you meant heavy there too then there you go. There's a difference.

[Anonymous]

I don't see women like this at my gym. I wish I did. They are all fine.
Women should work out for themselves to be healthy first, attraction second. If you take care of yourself and feel good about yourself, the confidence you gain will pass onto the guys.
A few girls on my HS track team could bench press more than all but three guys on the team. They were all in great shape and the majority were the hottest girls in HS. I also met some women from the US Olympic Hockey team who were talking about how much they lifted. They were in amazing shape and I don't think any guy would even remotely think they lifted too much. I was shocked to see in the team bio how much they weighed as it was a lot more than I would have guessed. It was pure muscle though.

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure who these men are who you claim are "against women working with weights." When the results are like the smoking hot babes you listed above, ALL guys are fans of that. It's only the very, VERY rare cases where the girls start to look like dudes where it gets freaky. But that's not 99.99% of women who lift.

[HomoFuge]

I don't think many guys are against women working out with weights. I am still very much a newbie at the gym and don't understand how to set up the equipment a lot of the time. A lot of guys at the gym help me and give me a lot of great advice. A guy has never said to me, 'you're a girl so you shouldn't be lifting weights.'

Thanks to apps like instagram, it's becoming more common for women to start weight training. Guys are used to seeing this now.

[NineBreaker]

A lot of women fear getting too buff. It's not imposisible, but is highly unlikely for the overwhelming majority to get really buff. Even for men who are prediaposed to it, it will take an enormous amount of effort, time, and proper training.

My advice to my sisters who want to get fit, but are worried, don't worry. Do as much strength training as you can. Don't worry about getting buff, buy l because if that starts to happen, all you need to do is decrease your resistance while training.

[Éire1995]

I think its insecurity, men like to feel strong and are intimidated by a girl who lifts, if you ask any guy who lifts, he more than likely won't have this view, if anything its a good way to weed out insecure guys

[Cocacolaaddict]

Agreed

[Kurαȷ]

Because I hate thick legs and asses, much more so than some cellulite.
Besides, if you keep yourself thin, there won't be much cellulite.

Except for Vita Sidorkina and Kate Moss (who is old), the other women displayed here aren't particularly thin whatsoever (I mean, Iskra Lawrence is 0.6 BMI away from being clinically obese...) so, yes.

[nathanp97]

From what I've seen women are the ones against it. Secondly, the only times I'm against women lifting weight is when they steel equipment from the general side and leave it on the womens section, when we pay the same as women for less stuff in the gym, when women use certain equipment for a long period of time (men do this to, but I've noticed women do it more often) and if you happen to look at them, they will give you a dirty look, but then the same thing to another guy.

[aaronbw]

What on earth are you going on about? We like fit women and we like when they work with weights. The insecure men who like barbie dolls are the ones you need to look out for. They care more about themselves and their own masculinity and are too easily intimidated by "rivals" and stronger women that they get all weird and abusive.

[AD240pCharlie]

Why should you care? Some men like it, some men don't. Some men like petite shoulders, some men don't. You want to work out? Go ahead, it's great that you're taking care of your body! The guy you like don't end up being attracted to you because of that? Well, let him go and try to find someone who doesn't find it unattractive.