Why does lifting get NO CRED

[Jodie10]

I've started looking at bodies differently since I started lifting and Pam Anderson still looks great at 47... It is obvious to me she lifts heavy, but that is rarely, if ever mentioned in the media. All credit goes to her vegetarian diet.

No wonder so many women are skinny fat.... how can a diet alone build muscle?


She obviously lifts:
http://www.celebrity-gossip.net/pame...-anderson-1467

But the focus is on the vegetarian diet:
http://www.boldsky.com/health/diet-f...an-220212.html

[Artemis00]

I'm confused. I just did a quick internet search of recent pics of Pamela Anderson and I don't see anything that would indicate that she lifts heavy.

As for the article, I wonder how valid it is with a comment like this...

"According to the blonde babe, just being vegan itself is the secret behind her fitness and doesn't believe in dieting or gyming. Her favourites: Tofu & lettuce salad, steamed vegetables, cheese and fruits."

[Cass40]

I vaguely remember an interview where she said that when she was young she was thinking of becoming a bodybuilder.

I think she's always been athletic and just genetically has a great body.

[Edman316]

Genetics more than anything else. Some people are born blessed.

[Jodie10]

She def lits. Check out her arms, shoulders, glutes and legs. She's got a bikini competitor body at a higher body fat. 47 years old I guarantee she's hitting the weights

[Artemis00]

She def lits. Check out her arms, shoulders, glutes and legs. She's got a bikini competitor body at a higher body fat. 47 years old I guarantee she's hitting the weights

Well then we will have to agree to disagree. Cause I checked out a ton of recent pics of hers and I can hardly see any muscle definition at all. I wouldn't insult a female bikini competitor by claiming she looks even remotely similar.

And have you looked at recent pics...not ones from 2012. She looks to have much lower body fat and very thin. Like a typical person that maintains their weight purely thru diet.



Edit...Oh I was wrong...according to this article from 2013 when she was prepping for a marathon, she lifted weights

http://articles.latimes.com/2013/sep...haiti-20130930

"Anderson admitted that she's working on boosting her stamina with the elliptical and StairMaster machines, doing ab workouts at home, lifting 5-pound weights, doing Pilates and "moving my body as much as I can," Anderson told the newspaper. She added that she's also "running different distances on different surfaces."

Yeah, she be lifting heavy. LOL

[Jodie10]

ahhh... finally!

http://www.examiner.com/article/pame...n-diet-secrets

"and has long been an advocate of weight-training and calisthenics"

Anyway the point is, the media is obsessed with diet but hardly ever mentions how important weight training is to keep muscle as we age. So annoying and misinformative.

Instead we are fed pics of bodies like this:

http://trend911.com/2012/05/25/nicol...h-smokey-eyes/

with a bunch of starvation diet tips.

[kimm4]

Well then we will have to agree to disagree. Cause I checked out a ton of recent pics of hers and I can hardly see any muscle definition at all. I wouldn't insult a female bikini competitor by claiming she looks even remotely similar.

And have you looked at recent pics...not ones from 2012. She looks to have much lower body fat and very thin. Like a typical person that maintains their weight purely thru diet.



Edit...Oh I was wrong...according to this article from 2013 when she was prepping for a marathon, she lifted weights

http://articles.latimes.com/2013/sep...haiti-20130930

"Anderson admitted that she's working on boosting her stamina with the elliptical and StairMaster machines, doing ab workouts at home, lifting 5-pound weights, doing Pilates and "moving my body as much as I can," Anderson told the newspaper. She added that she's also "running different distances on different surfaces."

Yeah, she be lifting heavy. LOL

I completely agree. But my definition of lifting heavy and carrying a decent amount of muscle is probably not the same as everyone else.

[Jodie10]

Here's a better example. She obviously lifts:

http://munfitnessblog.com/how-to-tra...-jessica-biel/

but it gets underplayed by comments in the article about light weights and many reps. And of course she has to 'eat clean'.

Come on!


Side note: LOLing at kimm4's new tag line 'Plain Jane who Lifts'. There's nothing plain about kimm4...

[Cass40]

Well Jessica Biel obviously lifts.

She actually has the best body of any female actresses I can think of. Hnnggh..

[rockangel]

Well Jessica Biel obviously lifts.

She actually has the best body of any female actresses I can think of. Hnnggh..

http://bretcontreras.com/how-to-atta...a-zoe-saldana/


They are not "lifting heavy".

[bellanor]

I am sure they employ different types of trainers for different roles? Like with the Jessica Biel example?

So maybe they will lift 'heavy' in preparation for a role, but still swear by vegan diets/pilates and what not as preference? There is maybe some kind of endorsement things going on in the background too. Even with celebs it seems to be about trends

[Cass40]

http://bretcontreras.com/how-to-atta...a-zoe-saldana/


They are not "lifting heavy".

She looks more muscular than me and I've been "lifting heavy" a year now but whatever...

[VO2Maxima]

http://bretcontreras.com/how-to-atta...a-zoe-saldana/

From the article: "target weight with excessive muscle"

How the heck does that even happen? I've seriously never even heard of anyone saying "I'm happy with my weight, but I want to lose muscle and gain fat." It's hard enough to put on muscle that I don't think anyone really does it by accident. Plus every woman that I've ever run into that says her arms (or whatever) are too big just thinks it's muscle, but in actuality, it's fat.

[rockangel]

She looks more muscular than me and I've been "lifting heavy" a year now but whatever...

Shes not that muscular at all. But she is 5 inches taller than you at the same weight, her body compostition may be better than yours...has nothing to do with "lifting heavy"....

From the article: "target weight with excessive muscle"

How the heck does that even happen? I've seriously never even heard of anyone saying "I'm happy with my weight, but I want to lose muscle and gain fat." It's hard enough to put on muscle that I don't think anyone really does it by accident. Plus everyone woman that I've ever run into that says her arms (or whatever) are too big just thinks it's muscle, but in actuality, it's fat.

I doubt its a "thing" for many but you will always have that "one" that claims to have too much muscle and needs to lose it (reminds me of the pysho lady a while back). Im sure he put it in there to keep "those" quiet, lol.

Side note, wonder if Iris Kyle is going to lose muscle now that she is retired. She would fit into the category as ideal weight and very muscular.

[rockangel]

Down in the comments:
"Awesome article! I do have a question for you though…I’m a girl that falls in your last category of being 5’7 and 115-120lbs but I have more muscle than I’d like, especially in my legs (both quads and hams), and somewhat in my abs. I actually haven’t lifted weights in years and built the muscle mostly from bodweight exercises, though I used to lift about 10 years ago. I’ve been athletic my whole life (always playing at least one sport a season growing up) and I’ve just always been more muscular than most girls. And I’ve always disliked it."

[VO2Maxima]

Down in the comments:
"Awesome article! I do have a question for you though…I’m a girl that falls in your last category of being 5’7 and 115-120lbs but I have more muscle than I’d like, especially in my legs (both quads and hams), and somewhat in my abs. I actually haven’t lifted weights in years and built the muscle mostly from bodweight exercises, though I used to lift about 10 years ago. I’ve been athletic my whole life (always playing at least one sport a season growing up) and I’ve just always been more muscular than most girls. And I’ve always disliked it."

I was almost going to post that her legs are probably just fat and she thinks it's muscle, but then I saw the height and weight. At 5'7 115, I think she's more likely to have body dysmorphic disorder than anything if she honestly thinks she's too muscular at that size.

[shesprints]

I have to be honest, I DO kind of notice this one:

"5. Less focus on progressive overload – continuous progressive overload can make people very hungry. It’s a natural response. You’re telling the body that you want it to be stronger, so it responds by gaining muscle. For overweight individuals who are dieting, it helps them retain muscle mass while shedding fat for weight loss. But for some ideal weight individuals, it can backfire in the long-run by forcing weight gain. This is why powerlifters have such a hard time staying in their respective weight classes over the years."

I tend to be able to maintain my weight by eating intuitively, but I've absolutely noticed this effect--the harder I weight train, the higher my appetite is and the harder it is to stick to a reasonable intake for weight maintenance or loss. Recently I've backed off on liftng and my appetite is far more manageable.

It's not exactly about physique for me, but I do feel that my body tends to get forced into certain adaptations ('wanting' to gain muscle) when I lift too much as opposed to focusing on my sport (running and sprinting).

[rockangel]

I was almost going to post that her legs are probably just fat and she thinks it's muscle, but then I saw the height and weight. At 5'7 115, I think she's more likely to have body dysmorphic disorder than anything if she honestly thinks she's too muscular at that size.

I think so too, but i think also that most just do not have a grasp on true body composition and what it takes to change it. Thats why we keep hearing the "but i put on muscle quickly/easily"

I have the opposite problem though. I keep lifting heavy and feeling smaller

[VO2Maxima]

I think so too, but i think also that most just do not have a grasp on true body composition and what it takes to change it. Thats why we keep hearing the "but i put on muscle quickly/easily"

I have the opposite problem though. I keep lifting heavy and feeling smaller

I didn't realize how small I really was until I started lifting. Team Forever Small checking in! (Alright, I guess I haven't really been lifting long enough to be Team Forever Small. I guess I'll go with Team Small and Not Putting on Muscle Quickly/Easily).

It's not exactly about physique for me, but I do feel that my body tends to get forced into certain adaptations ('wanting' to gain muscle) when I lift too much as opposed to focusing on my sport (running and sprinting).

Running seems to be super catabolic for me. Even if I'm doing both, I get really small. Fair assumption though that you're focused more on short distance stuff? I feel like that's more compatible. I had more muscle on me as a steeplechaser than as a marathon runner, for obvious reasons, even though both times I was doing a really running-supplemental/not-conducive-for-hypertrophy lifting program.

[Cass40]

I certainly do not put on muscle easily, unfortunately that's why I assume that anyone who looks even slightly muscular must be lifting like crazy.

Although, my problem probably is my diet which is pretty bad...

[shesprints]

Running seems to be super catabolic for me. Even if I'm doing both, I get really small. Fair assumption though that you're focused more on short distance stuff? I feel like that's more compatible. I had more muscle on me as a steeplechaser than as a marathon runner, for obvious reasons, even though both times I was doing a really running-supplemental/not-conducive-for-hypertrophy lifting program.

Wow, major kudos to you for doing the steeplechase. That's hardcore and puts to rest any of those silly jokes people make about how running doesn't require coordination.

Yeah, shorter stuff for me, but of course, the REASON I do that is because I'm better at it, so it's a chicken-and-egg problem: do I run shorter distances because I have more muscle (maybe more fast-twitch muscle) to begin with? Or do I have more muscle because I run shorter distances? I'm pretty sure it's the former, because my whole family is like that, giant leg muscles and good explosive power even with little-to-no training (my dad ran a sub-15 100m at age 58).

When I WAS doing higher mileage (ran a half marathon, etc.) I still lifted but my biceps shrank a good 2 inches... buut I was also eating disordered at the time so there's that; I was forcing myself to eat unnaturally low quantities. Pretty sure that skews things. But yeah, it stands to reason that your body adapts to what you do. Running major distance = you want to shed ballast (plus, running jostles your stomach so much, eating a ton is hard even without restriction!). Lifting weights = you want to have some weight on you to help with that task, you may move more slowly... I think training adaptations can be so comprehensive. I think that training can dictate eating habits, resting habits, MOVEMENT habits the rest of the day. Even the foods we crave, etc.

[superja]

I was almost going to post that her legs are probably just fat and she thinks it's muscle, but then I saw the height and weight. At 5'7 115, I think she's more likely to have body dysmorphic disorder than anything if she honestly thinks she's too muscular at that size.

Lady in the pic 5'7" and 115:


I feel like it's just the low bodyfat that makes people think "muscular". Because obviously if you can move, there is some muscle there, and if you're lucky enough to not be skinnyfat, there will be definition- but as far as having "huge muscles"- absolutely not. I'll see girls comment things like "omg her biceps" on pictures of the vs girls... because you can see a bicep as there's no fat. But at an arm size of like, 8"?

[rockangel]

agreed, jessica biel has some shoulder separation (little easier to see in the Blade photos) but that doesnt make her muscular. And madonna is crazy lean with definition and all, but again not really muscular...

Like i said, i dont think people really get body compostition, so any one who is lean with a little definition is super muscular and "lifts heavy". Which also leads into why people think that if you lift heavy you get bulky....

When someone says "muscular" i envision erin stern, nicole wilkins, etc.... "very muscular" is what i would consider a bodybuilder, and bikini girls i find is about "average" (which is what makes it so durn popular). Models and actresses i would put on the "skinny" side of labels as they have low body fat but very low muscle. Even bret says it in the article that they dont want muscle on film, so why would any one thing these people are "super muscular and lift heavy" is just odd. Most "fitness" models arent even muscular since they need to fit into the main stream.

[Jodie10]

http://bretcontreras.com/how-to-atta...a-zoe-saldana/


They are not "lifting heavy".

I like how he highlights in the article the actresses who rely soley on diet to control their figures... and how crappy it looks on them!

His advice to women who are 'skinny fat': eat and lift!

[Botika]

agreed, jessica biel has some shoulder separation (little easier to see in the Blade photos) but that doesnt make her muscular. And madonna is crazy lean with definition and all, but again not really muscular...

Like i said, i dont think people really get body compostition, so any one who is lean with a little definition is super muscular and "lifts heavy". Which also leads into why people think that if you lift heavy you get bulky....

When someone says "muscular" i envision erin stern, nicole wilkins, etc.... "very muscular" is what i would consider a bodybuilder, and bikini girls i find is about "average" (which is what makes it so durn popular). Models and actresses i would put on the "skinny" side of labels as they have low body fat but very low muscle. Even bret says it in the article that they dont want muscle on film, so why would any one thing these people are "super muscular and lift heavy" is just odd. Most "fitness" models arent even muscular since they need to fit into the main stream.

Your definition of muscular is probably a minority one though compared to the mainstream view. You have a bodybuilding view shaped by your experience and everyone else likely sees some muscle as being muscular. That doesn't make their view incorrect, it just means they have a different perspective. The term "lifting heavy" is also subjective. You could go to the extreme and say unless you are a competitive powerlifter you aren't really lifting heavy. Pretty sure most people that are training hard would consider they are lifting heavy, even if their lifts aren't record breaking.

[rockangel]

Your definition of muscular is probably a minority one though compared to the mainstream view. You have a bodybuilding view shaped by your experience and everyone else likely sees some muscle as being muscular. That doesn't make their view incorrect, it just means they have a different perspective. The term "lifting heavy" is also subjective. You could go to the extreme and say unless you are a competitive powerlifter you aren't really lifting heavy. Pretty sure most people that are training hard would consider they are lifting heavy, even if their lifts aren't record breaking.

I understand that my views are more minority, which is exactly why most people think jessica biel is "too muscular" when she really isnt, she just has a bit of separation and people assume.

But that is sorta my point.... the mainstream does not want even a hint of muscle on their women. So when people come here to a bb'ing site and wonder why "lifting gets no cred" its because 1) most of these people do not lift or if they do, its not going to be heavy (and i am defining heavy by progressive overload and adding muscle/strength, not by amount of weight lifted) ETA: Im pretty sure that many of my lifts not be considered heavy. Im certainly no powerlifter, but i do work on progressive over load and adding strength, its not always about the amount on the bar.

2) they dont want to be muscular. so they are not muscular..at most they are "toned" with some definition

and 3) they will never admit to lifting, if they do... it will be "light weights and tons of reps" or "nothing over 3 pounds". It will never be "oh ya know, i go into the gym and squat 200 pounds" or some such.

Also, i do believe that this has societal undertones to the issue. Because women are not supposed to have muscle, be strong, be "big". It goes against every societal concept of femininity. So when you talk about "mainstream" well...they are more interested in telling women how to get flat abs, or lose 10 pounds in 10 days or how to please a man.

Even the fitness mags are airbrushing the muscle off the competitors and trainers these days.