Why do you lift?

[Lckymii]

My husband asked me why women want to lift and/or become bodybuilders.
So I thought I would bring the question here to see why do we lift? What are your motivations/inspirations?
I guess I'll start:

I know that I lift for me, the way it makes me feel and how strong it has made my body and mind.
I love my muscles and I like looking athletic.
I also like the fact that lifting and how much I lift shocks people because I am considered short, petite and very girly...
I like to be an advocate for strong women to prove that we can lift heavy and voila! we still have boobs and our ginas don't suddenly expand into penises lol

[valpo2518]

Originally Posted by Lckymii

we still have boobs and our ginas don't suddenly expand into penises lol

Well, I gotta say the lower my bf goes the more the boobs shrink But why do I lift? I love the way it makes me feel. Why should men be the only ones who enjoy having muscles? I like being strong and capable. I really like being the only woman in the room who can crank out 30 pushups! I also think it's a great example for my daughter.

[heidismommy]

For me, lifting just happened by accident and it didn't take long for me to become hooked.

The biggest benefit for me initially, even before physical changes took place, was that all of the sudden the anxiety I've always had around food decreased dramatically. I noticed I allowed myself to not be so rigid and controlling with food. That, in itself, has been worth it.

Some other benefits are a change in shape for the better. I love watching my muscles grow. That is new to me since in the past I've always wanted to be as skinny as possible. I love that I'm looking athletic. I love being strong emotionally as well as being strong physically. Lifting weights is very empowering and it has helped me to be able to better cope with life in general. My self-esteem is heaps higher and I now walk with confidence.

I sometimes wish I had discovered strength training a lot sooner. I wonder if things would have been different for me. But I'm glad I'm doing it now and I'm glad I can set a good example for my daughter. I want her to know that being a strong woman is a very good thing.

[funkosaurus]

I lift because I love feeling strong and capable. I love that each workout there are improvements, even if it is just one more rep or a bit more weight. I love feeling good about my body for once. I feel beautiful now, even if I don't conform to society's current idea of beauty (I say current because we are going to change it ) I love being healthy and waking up every morning feeling great because I am taking care of myself.

And I just love working towards goals, improving and bettering myself. Woo!

[JVo]

I wonder if anybody else started lifting for the same reason I did? I started because I'd read that you could raise your metabolism like 50 calories per lb. of muscle, which sounded really good to me since I was only eating like 1200 calories a day (in retrospect, I probably artificially lowered my metabolism to that). Since then, I've realized that 50 is probably a little higher than reality, but I still think it would be cool to raise my metabolism by 200 or so....especially when the norm for most (non-weightlifting) people is to have a decreasing metabolism as they age.
Aside from that, I love the way my arms look (something that I'd never realized that I wanted), and for the first time in my life, I actually have a butt!
Plus, weightlifting is beneficial for bone density, which is sort of a problem in my family.

[houstonheather]

#1 reason: For my health. It helps me lose weight and stay strong. I need that.

#2. It helps me manage my mood disorder, enough that I jokingly call it my fourth medication. Some days, I really need to lift.

#3. It's helping me turn my body into something my husband and I enjoy.

4. I like the challenge, and the fast improvements.

5. My husband is disabled and we work together. We spend almost every moment together. Lifting is "mine" and it's easy - I have a little home gym in the garage.

6. It helps me respect myself. Knowing I am doing everything I can to take care of myself is very important to me.

7. I love the routine - even when I have to change things up.

8. It's fostered a very healthy relationship between me and my body.

Mainly it's all about #1.

[Lckymii]

So many good reasons.. it's a very inspirational list. After everyone gets her 2 cents in I'm going to print it and put it on my gym wall!!

[lopaw]

I lift because I can.

[kimm4]

Bodybuilding is my art and it's a great hobby. I love the transformation process and bringing the best package I can to the stage. Working out keeps me healthy, focused and motivated. I do it because I love it!!

[Mindi911]

why do I lift

I first started because I needed to lose weight desperately. I was the heaviest I'd ever been and hated myself.

Since then however things have changed as my body had. I now lift because I love it and can't imagine my life without it.

People ask me what my goals are or do I have an end game. I say nope no end game here. They say what you can't lift your whole life. I say why not, if I am physically capable of lifting then watch me.

The other reason is it's fun. I love being at the gym lifting and that fun motivates me.

Lastly I like the way I look.

[petersmom]

I lift because its my release and a way of working though all the poop that has gone on.
I started to loose weight and stop hating myself and so it continued- and its a much better therapy than the drugs they were pumping me with
Nari

[OnTheRoad]

Because it has made me walk around with my head held high....like a strong, fit, athletic person...

it also is a great example to my daughters who now never talk about weight but about how many push up's they can do and how their biceps look.

[LilRed03]

Well I started lifting when I played sports. But I've continued lifting because I love it - for several reasons. I love being physically active, and not competitively playing sports leads me to lifting consistently. It makes me feel good and gives me energy. I'm also a very competitive person - so it gives me the urge to work hard so I can "beat" people. For example, when I workout with my boyfriend, I know I'm not going to lift as much as he can, but I try to do things like - well if I can do half of the number of pushups on my last set as i did on my first set, I win. Something like that...And finally, I really like being athletic/"tough" being so short.

[CharliC]

Originally Posted by heidismommy

The biggest benefit for me initially, even before physical changes took place, was that all of the sudden the anxiety I've always had around food decreased dramatically. I noticed I allowed myself to not be so rigid and controlling with food. That, in itself, has been worth it.

x2!

Aside from this:
1. I feel so uplifted after a weights workout- it gives me a big energy boost.
2. I enjoy competing with myself to add more weight or reps than last time.
3. I like to be able to disprove the small and skinny=weak stereotype

[Aeris]

Originally Posted by Lckymii

So I thought I would bring the question here to see why do we lift? What are your motivations/inspirations?

Because I hate the way I look, and complaining and being depressed about it would get me nowhere. And I wanted a productive hobby.

[pairus]

Originally Posted by lopaw

I lift because I can.

That was the first answer that came to mind.

I feel the same about the other reasons posted too: formy health, because I like feeling strong, to push my limits, to keep improving and getting stronger. Looking great is the icing on top

[Brielerose]

I started to get back into shape, but it quickly became an escape. I live on a 505ft ship and alone time takes on a whole new meaning. I also love the feeling of adding weight or reps to a certain exercise that was god damned difficult before.

I also quickly discovered that if I am not sore the next day I push myself 10x's harder the next day, becuase to not feel it isn't worth it anymore.

Besides, I'm tired of being the stereotype, and I hope to change my entire family's view on it as well.

[DanVanVliet]

I lift for the broads. of course

[WANNAGETHEALTHY]

I lift because it has worked before. I quit excersising and have steadily gained
12 lbs. It is time for it to come off. I've started it again. Hoping this forum will
motivate me to continue.

[sparky141978]

So I can hit someone that calls me a broad.

[dvsness]

Originally Posted by sparky141978

So I can hit someone that calls me a broad.

Lol!!

I lift because that's what it takes to achieve my definition of beauty, because it feels good, because I can.

Why do women need a reason to lift? Why, Lckymii, doesn't your husband ask men why they lift? I suspect the reasons are very much the same - self improvement, enjoyable, healthy, aesthetic.

"Let's make something clear, the women that decide to be bodybuilders never questioned if it was acceptable or appealing to the masses. We do it because we decide what is attractive..we're athletes and need no one's permission to be strong."

-Lenda Murray

[orangechic]

I lift because I love how it makes me feel, I feel confident, sexy and strong.

[do1more]

Because strength is power in its truest sense.




Also because it makes me feel good.

[DemetriaF]

Because...

1. I like 'feeling' and 'looking' strong.
2. It relieves stress.
3. Like Arnold said "I feel like I'm ******* every day."
4. There's nothing like looking good both in and out of your clothes.
5. A good body is the best accessory, beats a $2000 handbag by a long shot!
6. I can zone out while actually doing something good for myself.
7. I don't want to be a regular chick! :P
8. I can only control only one thing in life...myself.
9. Hopefully I'll live a longer and healthier life.
10. It's fun!