There are at least 100 good reasons to lift weights. Fat loss, muscle gain, sports specific training, powerlifting, general fat loss, and so much more. These are all great reasons to start weight training.
Have you ever thought there might be some bad reasons to lift weights? I was contemplating this while watching the New England Patriots stomp the Miami Dolphins yesterday, and I decided that the following 8 reasons to lift are probably ill conceived for the most part. What do you think?
The 8 Worst Reasons to Weight Train
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You want to be a professional female bodybuilder.
Female BodybuilderIf you are a woman and you want to be a professional bodybuilder, then it might be a good time for you to check your sexuality. Once you start living the lifestyle of a professional female bodybuilder, you can be sure that no man will be interested in you for your femininity. If you are lucky you might find a very sexy lesbian who is interested in he-shes.
Why does this happen? The professional female bodybuilders use steroid and growth hormones just like professional male bodybuilders. Many of them have to fall back on subscription based, pornography websites to make their living, as only the top 2 or 3 bodybuilders in the industry actually make enough dough to live on.
The heavy use of androgens causes a thickening of the jaw line, growth of facial hair, and many other symptoms that basically result in the woman looking like a man.
Furthermore, professional female bodybuilders are single handedly responsible for the myth that women who lift weights will develop big bulky man-muscles. 99.99999% of the time, a woman will not get bulky muscles unless she trains like a bodybuilder, eats like a bodybuilder, and supplements (illegally, I might add) like a bodybuilder.
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You want to sport the biggest arms in the world.
The biggest arms in the world use to belong to a man named Gregg Valentino… I don’t think the record has been broken. To beat his record your arms will have to attain a 29 inch circumference. Mr. Valentino has claimed time and again that he didn’t inject oil into the muscle tissue to artificially swell them up. Believe whatever you want.
Greg ValentinoRead more about Greg Valentino.
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You want to be a professional male bodybuilder.
To have any hope of ever winning a professional bodybuilding contest, you will have to use every drug in the book, and besides you’ll end up with a big swollen belly. I mean I’ll give props to the bodybuilders for all the hard work they put into making their bodies appear huge and perfect, but it’s definitely not for me.
Below you will see Ronnie Coleman, a truly awesome, freakishly huge, 8 time winner of Mr. Olympia. But do you really want to compete with bodybuilders of that caliber? Good luck.
Ronnie Coleman -
You want to be the strongest man in the world.
If you even try to win the World’s Strongest Man award, Marius Pudzianowski will kick your ass. Then he will eat you.
Furthermore, you are not as strong as Marius. Sorry, but unless your name is Bill Kazmaier, you’re just not.
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You want to show off your massive chest and arms to the girls.
Sure, this is how we all start lifting as teenagers. Bench presses and bicep curls. Big arms and big chest are the way to a woman’s heart, right? HA!
If you don’t train smart, you will end up with pencil legs and risk injury from muscular imbalance. Weight lifting is a full body exercise strategy, and should include as much lower body work as upper body work. You should also include as much back work as chest work.
Furthermore, I can’t tell you the number of women that I’ve talked to, who have laughed profusely at men with big arms and skinny legs. Guys, if this is you, you should know that the women are laughing at your resemblance to a stick figure, rather than at your massive 17 inch pistols.
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Marathon RunnerYou want to run a marathon.
Being that your legs needs to sustain the weight of your body for 26 miles, you are better off weighing as little as possible. This actually turns out to be good news since marathon-style endurance running is extremely catabolic.
Furthermore, endurance running might be the best way to drain your body of muscle mass. In fact, I can’t fathom why a marathon runner would want to lift weights at all, even super high reps. Correct me if I’m wrong.
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You want to lose weight.
First of all, you are more likely to gain weight when you first start lifting because muscle weighs more than fat. A better goal would be to lose fat rather than to lose weight. Lifting weights and adding muscle or muscle density to your frame will elevate your metabolism, causing an increase in your BMR (basal metabolic rate), which means your body burns more calories just by being alive.
Furthermore, you are wasting your time even trying to lose fat if you eat like a hog. Diet is responsible for at least 75% of your results from working out.
I have read several studies, which have determined that people lose little or no weight by exercising when sticking to a typical trans fat, processed carbohydrate, sludge-filled American diet.
Not only don’t they lose weight, but their overall body composition barely changed, which suggest 0 muscle gained and 0 fat lost. Dieting is the key to fat loss, not weight lifting.
If you really want to do something that will help change your body composition and make you healthier all around, try an acai berry supplement. You can get a free trial of Acai Slim today, or you can browse the Sambazon acai product catalog and choose from the very best acai products on the planet.
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Girl AthleteYou want to pick up women at the gym.
This is probably the worst place to attempt to pick up women. They already know you are looking and most of them don’t want to take it any further than that. What is the male to female ratio in the free weight or machine area anyway? Maybe 1 female for every 15 males? Those aren’t great odds my friend.
Furthermore, think about it this way: a woman goes to the gym to make herself sexier and that’s hard work. She’s concentrating on working out while every single male in the joint is eyeballing her no matter where she goes or what machine she uses. What makes you think she wants to be hit on right now? If just one in every 10 guys talked to her, she’d be giving out a dozen fake phone number each day.
Please gents, do the ladies a favor and keep a lid on it until she’s already showered and walking out to the car.
Tags: weight lifting, Weight Training, weights
#8 is interesting because I have had great success at the gym. Women want to improve and are afraid to ask for help. Some just have some issues and go Bionic Woman on you to prove a point. But generally they are eyeballin too, so stop it! I find that when I constructively offer advice they listen and end up hugging and kissing me when we meet again. This definitely breaks the ice especially if you know what you are talking about. But offer the advice, give them space, and watch them seek you out…because most of all they were attracted to begin with.
Don’t tell people not to be bodybuilders just because you think that they will never make it to the top. Follow your dreams and work hard if that is what you want to do.
That is true, however I think people should start by developing a solid base, rather than just jumping head first into a pro bodybuilding routine.
all i can say is the gym is the place I go to get away from all the idiots.. guys- dont hit on chicks at the gym, if they like ya, they will let ya know.. seriously.. just sit in the sauna with one nut hanging out, if they want ya, they will take care of the rest.. works for me all the time.. weed out the high maintenance gals!
I’ve never seen a co-ed sauna in the gym. If you are sitting in the sauna with one nut hanging out trying to get a date, I’d hate to think about what kind of ‘chicks’ you’re picking up. Yikes!
lmao
Wow! cut the guy some slack… keep doing what ur doing Steve.
“muscle weighs more than fat”
How can muscle weigh more than fat ?
1 lb is always 1 lb
maybe you should correct this and point out that muscle is more dense than fat
Indeed orson, you are correct. In fact, “muscle weighs more than fat” is a myth. A pound is a pound. Instead, we should say, “Muscle is heavier by volume than fat.” I suppose we could also say, “Muscle is more dense than fat,” as you stated.
The reality is that 1 lb of fat is much larger, softer, and looser than 1 lb of muscle. The point to take away from this is, if you lose 5 lbs of fat and gain 5 lbs of muscle, it will make a HUGE difference in the way you look, yet you will still weigh the same. This is why I prefer to focus more on losing fat than on losing weight.
I agree with Lisa. Among other things, number one ticked me off. What do you mean by that line, “No man will be interested in you for your femininity?” I have a wonderful handsome husband and four children, but I am not now, nor have I ever been “feminine”. I was still able to attract men — intelligent and decent men — with my personality, intelligence, sense of humor, etc.
What the hell is a gym bunnie? I take offense to that remark also. And the “chick” reference is another giveaway of your attitude towards women. You like to think of yourself as a modern man, but you don’t really believe that men and women are equal but different.
And yes, I lift free weights. And no, I don’t want anyone striking up a conversation with me. Not even to congratulate me on my courage. (eye roll here)
Susan: I say “No man will be interested in you for your femininity.” regarding the nasty changes that take place when females use androgenic substances like steroids. You might not be feminine yourself, but if you hit the juice you’d really start to look like a man.
Sorry that you are offended by the terms ‘gym bunny’ and ‘chick’. Maybe you would enjoy life more if you weren’t so uptight. I believe men and women are equal, but you probably would never believe me since I can tell you are some kind of man hating feminist. Sure you’re married but you probably give the guy a hard time each and every day. Glad I’m not stuck in that hell.
Furthermore, if you can’t handle a guy coming up to you and saying “Hey listen, I think it’s great that you lift free weights when so many other women are scared by it. I don’t see too many women lifting in this gym, so I think it’s great,” then maybe you don’t belong at a public gym. That would be the same as me going up to a guy doing some Olympic lifts and saying “Hey listen, I think it’s great that you are doing Olympic lifts. I don’t see too many people doing them around here, and I think it’s great.” It’s not about me hitting on you, it’s about me striking up a conversation with another enthusiastic weight lifter and giving him or her props for doing what most other trainees don’t have the balls to do.
I’m really sorry that you are so pessimistic about men because I’m not like what you think. If you knew me in person I guarantee you would like me. I can’t really think of a woman I’ve met in my life who hasn’t liked me, and not in a conceited every-woman-wants-me kind of way. You just don’t know me.
Lisa:
How can you even say that? I don’t hate women; I love them. I want to help women! Can’t you see that? I got into this business as a trainer and nutritionist years ago to help overweight people to get back into shape. I’ve helped both women and men get back into shape, and I will continue to do so.
If you have a serious point you are trying to make with that comment, I encourage you to please write back so I can address the issue. Project Swole is a place where both strength athletes and overweight women who are looking to start exercising for the first time ever, should feel comfortable reading and seeking additional help.
This blog smells of misogyny.
Great list. It should manditory reading for everybody thinking about joining a gym.
Hey Andrew, if you don’t like it, don’t read it. Thanks for helping me out by posting comments though. Peace.
Swole on Urban Dictionary
Wow what a totaly ignorant list. but I would expect no more from a site called “Project swole.” give me a break.
Numbers 1-7 are just total bullshit and based on ignorance more than anything.
The inclusion of greg valentino gives me A hint that you were trying to be funny, but realy your mostly just wrong.
Number 8 is true but can be reversed too. So I’d say don’t take up lifting weights if you think the gym is a social gathering. Just go train and get out. Oh and leave your mobile phone in the locker room.
This was a very humorous article, and although funny, it rang with a lot of truths. The main reason some people lift weights (for a day or two) is to get in shape and lose those horrible bellys and thighs.
The shame is no one has ever succeeded in two days!!
Hey Steve.. Thanks a bunch!!! I know the site has issues but I didn’t know that was one of them.
PS: Im a constant reader of your blog! I Live in Hawaii and sprained my ankle (2nd degree) in late July and went to Florida on vacation for 10 days in Early September and had buffet meal after buffet meal. Gained 15 pounds from July 15 to September 15. Hit the gym and had a moderate diet starting on September 25th and dropped 14 of the 15 pounds. Did 40 min of elliptical 5 days a week with 45 minutes of weight training. Cheating on the weekend, and thanksgiving LOL.
Thanks for the read.
Hawaii Weddings:
Your website breaks in FireFox when I click on any of the Popular Blog Categories links on the blog page. Just thought you should know.
You are totally on point about muscle density being more than fat and weighing more. But supplemented with cardio, and a eating clean, weight training is a great aid to taking off BAD pounds due the increased metabolic rate.
So I am sort of agreeing with you, but not fully 🙂
Very funny and true. #8 is why I cant stand going to a gym. the dudes annoy me.
I use a notebook as a training log and I record nearly everything: warm up time, sets, reps, weights, and my own comments during the workout.
I don’t transfer anything to the computer, but I do keep all my notebooks.
You know, since you mentioned it about training, I would ask you how lifters manage to remember everything without notes?
I first started actual gym weight lifting for college basketball, and we were given spreadsheets to carry with us so we could write down our reps and weight, and also to check off all the lifts we do.
I never see any other lifters carrying these things around nowadays, unless they have just just just started and the gym/personal trainer gives them one. Do you serious lifters just have a bang up memory and remember all the different weights you lift, or is it routine, or what?
Actually I might strike up a conversation with you about your training. It would be the same kind of conversation I would have with another male lifter. I would also probably congratulate you for having the guts to lift in the free weight area with the meatheads. Yes, I have definitely had this conversation before. This is how I usually end up making friends with the gym bunnies, rather than scaring them away.
I imagine you are the nice guy who minds his own business except to ask if I am done using a bench/machine.
Unfortunately, I always run into the 50 year old, sweat suit/sweat band/wide belt wearing Mr. Charm who thinks women only leave the house in general to shop for males. And of course we would be shopping for a model twice our age.
I suppose gyms are kind of like bars. While they are mostly filled with people who are there to use the facilities, they are also a$$hole magnets of the first degree.
Well, I’m a guy and I think women are just grand, but even I know enough not to bother chicks at the gym. It seems though, that 99% of the rest of the male population doesn’t seem to have this knowledge.
Bravo on #8! There is nothing more maddening than trying to get done with your workout and head home and some jackass has to keep talking to you. AND, they always have to screw with your workout! “Have you tried this lift? What about this machine? Come over here, I’ll spot you.” FO buddy!! Just because I am a girl doesn’t mean I am too damned dumb to put together a decent lifting program, and it sure doesn’t mean I need you as a personal trainer because, tee hee, I might just chip a nail on that big ol’ heavy weight if you aren’t there to help me. And gee, there’s no way a girl like me could ever figure out how a DUMBBELL works if you weren’t there to explain it to me.
Here’s a hint guys. If she is wearing more than a miniscule sports bra and spandex shorts, she probably ISN’T there to pick up guys! She probably just wants to (gasp!) get stronger and/or fitter! I know, crazy talk.