Girls, Girls, Girls

September 1, 2011

WOW... its September. Almost a month into our "new" life. Today is my off day, and I got to tell you, I looked at the WOD last night and I cant wait till Saturday so I can do it!!

I was looking for some inspirational words from women who crossfit and I came across this video clip. These women are the reason I am so excited about this adventure and new change in life. I can not wait to be one of these amazingly strong, beautiful, competitive, muscular, motivating people.

http://www.crossfitzen.org/p/crossfit-inspiration.html

After I watched it, I got thinking about why some women shy away from training. Lots of women get so caught up in being the "hamster" on the treadmill, or cant wrap their head around lifting more than 5lb dumbbells. When I talk about my lifting, even before crossfit, I have had women say to me "I dont want to lift that much." Women at the gym shy away from deadlifting, squatting, bench pressing... pretty much anything that is considered lifts that men do.

I found another article HERE that references an article about myths women hear about the gym...

1. Weight training will make you huge and masculine
2. Men train, women tone
3. There is a difference between toning, sculpting and firming
4. Women should stick to machines and stay away from free weights
5. Women shouldn't work on the leg and butt muscles, otherwise they will get too big
6. Weight training turns fat into muscle
7. Women should only lift weights to not get "bulky"

I have definitely heard these excuses many times and in fact I "wish" it was that easy for me to "bulk up." I have been at it for years...

What is said in the opening of the video is so true. She talks about the misconception that women have between being "thin" and being "fit." How we look at magazines, even fitness magazines and the cover model is thin and trim. Its so easy for us... as women... to think, "god I just wish I could fit into those pants," or "I want to look thin in a bikini next summer." It is much less likely for us to say to say, "I wish I could do an unassisted pullup," or "I want to deadlift twice my body weight."

To me it feels like there is a stereotype that that goes with being able to lift heavy with being butch or masculine and its pretty sad. Strong is beautiful in my opinion, and clearly, seeing those women in that video, you dont have to be humongous to be able to do a pullup, and you dont have to look like a Mr Olympia to deadlift, squat and snatch. (yeah I said snatch...)

I want to be a specimen for crossfit. I want to look in the mirror and know that I worked hard to have the body that I have. Another line in that article I quoted (check out the whole article its good) says "only people willing to work to the point of discomfort on a regular basis using effective means to produce that discomfort will actually look like they have been other-than-comfortable most of the time." Thats one of the things I love about crossfit. I am unccomfortable ever day, pushed to my limit every day... challenged every day, and it feels FANTASTIC.

So please, if you are a woman who is thinking that they want to get "skinny" stop thinking that. Start thinking about getting HEALTHY... start thinking about getting FIT... and help to break the stereotype that women shouldnt have strong bodies.

If you are looking for some more information about women and lifting, please let me know. I have plenty of resources about how our bodies work and what you can do to get healthy without looking "butch."

**Stepping off my soapbox now**