Does Lifting Weights Make Women Bulky? Expert Sheds Light On Common Misconceptions About Women In The Gym

From being intimidated by the idea of weights to thinking that somehow touching a dumbbell in the gym will make their biceps as big as bodybuilders, there are countless misconceptions surrounding women and fitness. We spoke to online coach and founder of Eminent, Vikram Sudarshan, to help us debunk some common myths about women and weight training. Keep reading to learn more.

What Are The Most Common Misconceptions About Women In The Gym?

When asked what are the most common misconceptions encountered by female clients, Vikram Sudarshan said, “I’ve come across a fairly large number of women who go on severely drastic dieting measures for prolonged periods trying to reduce their hip size.”

It is critical to realise that there is no way to modify bone structure. Sudarshan explained that it is possible to lose fat around one’s hips, but it is impossible to lose hip fat after a certain point if a person's pelvis is inherently wider.

Does Lifting Weights Make Women Bulky?

The simple answer to this most-asked question is no. If your goal is to build muscle and train consistently, you can achieve a ‘bulky’ or muscular physique, but that requires patience and hard work. However, if you want to start lifting weights to stay healthy, then a few bicep curls aren’t going to make much of a difference.

Sudarshan gave us a great perspective on the intimidation behind women and weights as he explained, “Weight lifting is a part of your daily lifestyle. You pick up and put down decently heavy things almost on a daily basis. You move things around. Several women drive two-wheelers. All these activities require strength. Suddenly, a 2.5kg dumbbell at the gym starts being intimidating. The intimidation factor is almost only because of going to the gym specifically for training and using dumbbells or barbells. It’s not a direct reflection of your strength.” He further suggested, “Weightlifting will have a huge impact on your daily life, both physically and mentally. Put aside your fears, and pick up a pair of dumbbells; after all, no one ever complained after a good workout.”

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Does Menstruation Impact A Woman’s Strength And Performance?

Most women talk about facing difficulties while working out when they menstruate. Sudarshan said, “This is very individual dependent. There are a lot of studies that suggest that strength and performance are impacted by the fluctuation in hormones throughout the month due to the menstrual cycle. But we have to understand that pain tolerance and how menstruation affects each individual are different.” He also suggested planning one’s workouts based on how the person feels rather than planning them based on statistics and studies.

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