Women weighlifting - Is it really worth it?

Question

I was watching the women weightlifting +75Kg competition a while ago when I thought that this sport isn't really worth the damage it does for those girls.

Look at their bodies. It's not about being fat at all. I mean, they almost have deformed bodies even if they aren't really heavy in weight.

Even the guys who lift weight...I wonder if it's even a sport. When people play sport, they do so to feel and look healthier.

Is it really worth it?

Would you personally lift weight and have a body like that? Why or why not?

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Well, Olympic weightlifting is different from powerlifting. In olympic, its not about how much weight you can squat for how many reps, its about how explosively strong you are.

In regular lifting, which most women and men who lift do, the core exercises are bench, squat, shoulder press, row, clean and deadlifts. the goal of powerlifting is to increase ones maximum strength both weight wise and endurance wise. powerlifting builds muscle and strengthens weak joints, believe it or not, squats are actually GOOD for your knees by making the muscles around them stronger (As long as you use proper technique).

Olympic weighting focuses on max power in short time, otherwise known as explosive strength. they do different lifts, clean and jerk and the snatch. The goal isn't to gain muscle mass or make your self overall stronger, but to see how much you can lift in a single rep. That 170 lb guy snatching 375 lbs may be strong at the snatch, but ask him to bench his max, and he probably can't get much more than 220. This is because of the different way the muscles are being used. The problem with olympic is that they use such heavy weights it puts stress on joints, that's why they all wear raps around elbows and knees. muscles can handle heavy weights but joints cant. that's why sh*t like this happens:

https://www.YouTube.com/watch?v=I8l6hiW9FL8

however, that girl might just be fat because of her diet, to say the least.

TedStar · Accepted Answer

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Weightlifting means the world to these people and I'm sure they couldn't care less what we think of them. Is it worth it? most definitely. If I had the chance to compete to be the best person in what ever I love to do I'd be there too. Sport is about enjoying yourself and pushing yourself both physically and mentally while enjoying the camaraderie of your fellow competitors. I wouldn't personally lift weighs, but if I had to change my body in order to be compete in the sport I love I'd most certainly do it

crookthings · Accepted Answer

Really? I think they look fine... Just because they look different doesn't mean they're not healthy. What's unhealthy about it? They train carefully, and most of them are smart enough to keep an eye on their actual health. I'd venture to say Olympic athletes are probably more body-aware than your everyday person. "When people play sport, they do so to feel and look healthier." Haha. Plenty of people just play sports because it's fun or because they like competition. If you're talking about the Olympics, their dream is to win at the Olympics, not impress everyone with how "healthy" they are.

pineappleshortcare · Accepted Answer

In that kind of perspective, hardly any rigorous, comeptitive exercise is "worth-it" based on health alone

Those cute little gymnasts often tear up their bodies pretty badly as well. Sports are not kind to the body. Exercise is for being healthy and looking good. Competitive sports are because humans have a competitive spirit and desire to push the limits of the human body and mind. So much about sports: commitment, determination, leadership, courage ... go beyond the physical that it's hard to explain unless you've been into competitive sports.

XcessiveDreamer · Answer

I yes its a sport because it requires a good amount technique and strength that anyone can't just come in a do it. Besides you expect say a derrick rose or michael phelps to go in a do what they can do like that. Maybe a NFL player type might fare better but you get my drift.

And looks can be deceiving they may not have mainstream athlete look you be surprised fast some of them can run a 40 yard dash and I have guys like that do splits and handsprings. And the woman who power lift do date and some are mothers. BELIEVE OR NOT

With exception to maybe some that use performance enhancers they are healthy not the standard look but they are healthy.

I often get the that look because of my broad shoulders and my lower body strength the power lifter look works for some people not everyone but some.

kmhco · Answer

They do it because its something they are good at and considering they are at the olympics its because they are the best at it in the world. Sure if you do a sport casually its because you enjoy it and do it for health reasons. At that level of competition none of the athletes are doing it to be healthy. Actually, many of them are risking severe injury to be there. Just look at marathon runners, while running is generally considered healthy and good for you, running a marathon drastically increases your chances of having a heart attack. Or look at the list of injuries competitive gymnasts face. Every sport is good in moderation but every sport has risk of bodily injury.

CatholicVirginia · Answer

Can't you really say this with any sport, though? Look at gymnasts. By 16, their bodies are BROKEN. Especially now that the COP has changed and the tumbling gets harder and harder, their bodies can't recover. They will never be the same.

To be great at a sport requires physical transformation of some sort. That's why not everyone can be great, why only those who have been training since childhood are the best of the best.

Lupianwolf · Answer

No, I think both women and men look kinda weird,

but it is a 'competition' so you would expect to see the extremes

If a person enjoys weight-lifting then they shouldn't be put-off by what other people think of them,

they should do whatever they want e.g. male ballerina, female in an eating contest

prettymuscle · Answer

Well really my thoughts are that they shouldn't really do it. That type of lifting is pointless because its not being used in the real world. its good lifting weights as in bench and machine  for heath but for that type of movement for the olympics as in the snatch is no point. I think all weight lifting movements aren't really that good. Its better to stick with body weight as in push ups and etc

WeaponZero · Answer

You can't compare competing powerlifters to women doing it for health reasons and fitness.  Two totally different things.  Lifting weights doesn't get you a body like that.  Lifting weights and eating 10,000+ calories a day does.  The way those women train is VERY specialized for their sport.  Saying women who lift weights will turn into that is like saying putting higher octane gas in your car will turn it into a drag racer.

kheserthorpe · Answer

The women you linked are fat.  They are not fat because they are weightlifters.  In fact it probably hurts their Olympic lifts.  why not post some non heavyweight lifters? Yeah. Deformed. *eyeroll*

MyNameIsJonas · Answer

If that is the sport they choose to compete in good for them. You picked out examples of some female power lifters who are really meaty/massive. There are other females lifters that look a lot healthier for i.e

Alison nyc she has a YouTube channel

https://www.YouTube.com/watch?v=Uq_iiDsC-nA

She has a great build. Also very pretty girl.

Prof_Don · Answer

That sport is their passion...those cons you described they are probably aware of, but still decided to pursue it.

Similar to marathon runners and how it's been said that the strain on the shins and on the bones is dangerous for running that distance.

Similar to American football players and the risk of concussions due to the blows to the head.

Every sport has risks...they truly believe that risk is worth it.

Everyone is different, Sally. 8-)

xzinax2 · Answer

i think they're impressive. life is only about looking pretty if you make it about looking pretty. they chose to do something that requires hard work,dedication,and winning on your own-to me,they're inspiring.

Konnour · Answer

They look very unappealing and the truth is that weightlifting is a sport made for men, same way as ballet is for women.

Anonymous · Answer

I agree with what you said, if it's done in moderation, then it's cool. but to lose weight there might be better options out there.

THE_Godfather · Answer

I go to the gym 6 days a week. Those are real women. You should try it.

Anonymous · Answer

"When people play sport, they do so to feel and look healthier." I think that most athletes play sports to compete.

ImperfectDVM · Answer

Wow, I miss lifting weights. I've got to get back into it.

koalayes · Answer

imo. everyone has her goal in life. Those women who do weight lifting think it worthwhile.

Love2Ball · Answer

Ew not those bodies but you could get a muscular like magazine cover body.

stylez1976 · Answer

Its beautiful <3

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