May 13, 2022.
Thanks to everyone who shared what they have been told about weightlifting. I have to say some of them were absolutely hilarious. I am shocked someone opened their mouth to say these things. Let’s begin! Here are 5 notable myths and lies told on weightlifting:
Myth / Lie 1: Using the squat rack will stunt your growth
This comment was said to a fully-grown woman by a man. We don’t need to get into any research on this one. If you are past the age of growth, there is nothing to stunt. Common sense says this is false. However, I have read an article that pointed out that when you squat, spinal shrinkage occurs in which spinal discs compress due to the heavy load. This results in temporary height loss for an hour after a workout. The shrinkage reverses within the hour and the compression is about 3-4mm, which isn’t noticeable.
Myth / Lie 2: Weightlifting causes breasts to sag
Sounds like some dude trying to keep women out of the gym. Next!
There are several reasons why the skin in the breast can lose elasticity leading to sagging, but weightlifting isn’t one of those reasons. Some studies have argued that any exercise that strengthens the chest can make the breasts look perkier over time, but there’s no way to know until you try it.
Myth / Lie 3: Weightlifting makes feminine folks look too masculine
Firstly, we have to understand what is meant by looking masculine. From personal encounters, what people mean is your muscles are too defined and some might describe this as looking bulky. As a female who can deadlift more than her weight, I can tell you that it’s not possible given the proportion of hormones that we have. What makes someone look what people call “bulky” is the amount of fat cells they have in between the muscles. Also, I’ll let you in on a little secret – most models weightlift. Yes, the ones you see on Victoria Secret, google their workout schedules and you will see that they have weightlifting programs that they follow. It’s all about what you do with it. And the truth, to maintain a certain level of athleticism, weightlifting has to be a part of your schedule.
Myth / Lie 4: If you lift like person X, you will look like person X
Here is a truth that you only learn after you’ve reached your goals – the way your body looks when you do a program will never be the same as someone else’s. You can train in the same program, same time, eat the same food and will not look like the other person. Weightlifting is really a journey of self-discovery because you don’t know how you will look until you get there. Next time someone sells you a program and guarantees that you will look a certain way, question them.
Myth / Lie 5: You have to lift heavy otherwise it’s not weightlifting
Lifting heavy is not a requirement. You can enjoy the benefits of weightlifting without carrying huge plates or using machines with heavy loads. Doing lifts with light, free weights can be beneficial for overall strength versus heavy single-muscle, targeted machines. If you want to increase your strength, you will need to progressively increase the load. If you want to maintain, then increasing the weight is not necessary.
Why do people weightlift and why you should try it?
There are various reasons why people weightlift including revenge on their ex, getting fit, they like the way it makes them feel, toning, and sculpting to name a few. Whatever the reason may be, there are general benefits that we can all get from it. Research has shown that it increases bone mass and strengthens your ligaments and tendons thus reducing chances of injury. It increases your athleticism and strength. You can increase your muscle mass and muscle burns more calories, which is great for weight loss provided you are in a caloric deficit.
Question of the day:
- Next time someone says something about weightlifting ask them, do you have any research to back that fact?
Comment your thoughts and share with a friend who might benefit from reading this!