Can someone try convince my girlfriend otherwise...

heisenberg123

I started my gf on some kettlebell movements(1 arm swings, presses, rows, goblet squats) w/ a 12kg bell. Relatively speaking not a very heavy bell but she is a total beginner and finds it heavy. Then she read this article http://www.herald.ie/lifestyle/weights-are-great-for-women-and-wont-turn-you-into-hulk-29403808.html in the Herald:rolleyes: during the week and is convinced she is going to bulk up like arnie and not achieve that toned look that women thrive for.

Lifting very heavy weights and doing very low reps of eight or below will build muscle mass. You should not do this, no matter what anyone says, unless you want to get bigger.

By training heavy with low reps, the female body can begin to produce testosterone, hence the reduction in breast size and the deep voice that female bodybuilders tend to have.

She wants to revamp the workouts now and keep the weight light and the reps high.

So who is right here?

JJayoo

If she believes sh1te like that maybe it's best to just dump her now.

cc87

heisenberg123 wrote: »

I started my gf on some kettlebell movements(1 arm swings, presses, rows, goblet squats) w/ a 12kg bell. Relatively speaking not a very heavy bell but she is a total beginner and finds it heavy.
She wants to revamp the workouts now and keep the weight light and the reps high.

So who is right here?

Maybe not for you, but it could be for her if shes never carried out any of those movements before.

Why not try easing her into it a bit, start with bodyweight movements and work up to using weights.

Deano7788

heisenberg123 wrote: »

I started my gf on some kettlebell movements(1 arm swings, presses, rows, goblet squats) w/ a 12kg bell. Relatively speaking not a very heavy bell but she is a total beginner and finds it heavy. Then she read this article http://www.herald.ie/lifestyle/weights-are-great-for-women-and-wont-turn-you-into-hulk-29403808.html in the Herald:rolleyes: during the week and is convinced she is going to bulk up like arnie and not achieve that toned look that women thrive for.

She wants to revamp the workouts now and keep the weight light and the reps high.

So who is right here?

The first 3 paragraphs of that article are pretty much grand. The next 5 are nonsense.

rubadub

She should have stopped reading after this

Weights are great for women... and won't turn you into Hulk

By training heavy with low reps, the female body can begin to produce testosterone, hence the reduction in breast size and the deep voice that female bodybuilders tend to have.

The pros would be on steroids and have VERY low body fat, low fat will cause the smaller boobs, steroids causing voice change.

I heard my mates sister saying she had to stop lifting so heavy since her bicep got to 12 or 13" -at least she realised she did have to simply stop lifting, some go on like you will bulk up overnight and are stuck for life with it.

Here is a site for her to read http://www.stumptuous.com/

heisenberg123

cc87 wrote: »

Maybe not for you, but it could be for her if shes never carried out any of those movements before.

Why not try easing her into it a bit, start with bodyweight movements and work up to using weights.

Self conscience issues about working out in public means the workouts are restricted to the backgarden. Bar the 12kg bell, I've a few 5ibs and 10ibs db's in the shed in which I can replicate some bodybuliding movements.

Tiddlypeeps

That article was painful to read

You could try to convince her to try a heavy weight low rep routine for a bit. Even if what that article says was true (I don't think it is) she wouldn't turn into a she hulk overnight. Just tell her that if she starts to see herself turning into something she doesn't like the look of then she can change what she is doing then to address the issue.

At the end of the day there is no harm in her doing a work out that has light weights and high reps if she insists on it, it is just inefficient. Her workouts will take longer to get similar results. At least she is doing weights, a lot of women are terrified of them full stop and will only ever do cardio in the gym.

cc87

heisenberg123 wrote: »

Self conscience issues about working out in public means the workouts are restricted to the backgarden. Bar the 12kg bell, I've a few 5ibs and 10ibs db's in the shed in which I can replicate some bodybuliding movements.

I meant bodyweight movements like squats, lunges, press-ups, dips. No need for any equipment and can be carried out anywhere. Get a good circuit going and it will be nice and effective, then look to add some resistance like the KB after a few weeks

jimmyRotator

Make her read the women and weights thread:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=71575595

Seems to be plenty of women on this forum lifting big while keeping toned non-bulky body shape.

xgtdec

Karl Henry....is there a facepalm big enough for Karl Henry

gctest50

Might help with the undoing of it

nice_guy80

xgtdec wrote: »

Karl Henry....is there a facepalm big enough for Karl Henry

nice_guy80

gctest50 wrote: »

Might help with the undoing of it

she probably has a high metabolism... I'll get me coat

boogle

By training heavy with low reps, the female body can begin to produce testosterone

That's just great stuff right there.

kevpants

No positive outcome begins with reading the Herald.

hollypink

xgtdec wrote: »

Karl Henry....is there a facepalm big enough for Karl Henry

It's not Karl Henry, it's Pat Henry. I don't know much about him but I've heard him on the Marian Finucane show on a few occasions talking about fitness and diet. He was on the show on Saturday talking about risks associated with Bikram yoga.

/edit. Google tells me he's Karl Henry's dad so the facepalm is probably valid!

amazingemmet

xgtdec wrote: »

Karl Henry....is there a facepalm big enough for Karl Henry

Anyone notice he looks like Pee Wee Herman?

paddy147

Rainier Wolfcastle and some Powersauce Bars will sort it all out.:pac::D

xgtdec

hollypink wrote: »

It's not Karl Henry, it's Pat Henry. I don't know much about him but I've heard him on the Marian Finucane show on a few occasions talking about fitness and diet. He was on the show on Saturday talking about risks associated with Bikram yoga.

/edit. Google tells me he's Karl Henry's dad so the facepalm is probably valid!

jeebus sorry about that......in my defence i hear fitness..herald...henry...im not really gonna read on!!

cletus van damme

kevpants wrote: »

No positive outcome begins with reading the Herald.

gotta say i love the local courts section

cloudatlas

You could introduce her to this site http://www.myomytv.com/ Marianne is a pro. Also get her to read this http://www.niashanks.com/2012/10/myth-buster-6-female-strength-training-myths-that-wont-die/

lorrim

I want to lock trainers like those guys into a garden shed & set it on fire.

I weight train, I love it. But then my friends read this rubbish & tell me I need to be careful, blah, blah, blah. I've gone from a size 14/16 to a size 10 - not sure that's what you call bulking up, maybe I've been doing it wrong

rick_fantastic

i would say a 12kg kettlebell starting off could be a little heavy.... depends on her condition i guess...

form with the kettlebell is very important, its very easy to injury yourself if your new at it.

maybe start her off on a lower weight 6 or 8kg and progress up