I don't think "mannish" looking arms look good on a woman. Don't get those biceps too toned!

I've always put on muscle pretty easily...I've always been careful not to 'overdo' strength training for that very reason! Being a tomboy all my life AND biceps could give someone the wrong idea! Although it was much fun in school beating almost all the guys arm wrestling and out lifting them.

Been training with weights for 40+ years. The only females I've ever seen get "mannish" from lifting were on juice (testosterone).
Work out to your hearts content ladies, you wont get man arms withoout man hormones.

caveat: One in a million women will have enough testosterone naturally to take on some male secondary sexual characteristics. At 1/1000000 I think your odds are safe enough.

But it is possible to put on enough shoulder & arm muscle to look somewhat scary in a tank top. I've always avoided much upper body strength training for the same reason.

Nah, I think muscle on a woman is sexy. Not 20" bicep muscle, but definition muscle. I like a women that is fit and not a fraid to show it. Kind of like tall women that arent afraid of wearing 4" heels. Be what you are and go with it. Confidence is hot.
Having said that, I think folks should develope themselves to the point they like. Not me or anybody else.

See tho, Becca and I both get extra workout already from hauling hay, feed, mucking stalls, etc...already having wide shoulders (or at least I do) I can be downright scary...people always are thinking I'm a cop for cripes sake!

Speaking of hormones...it's not something you often think about really...but I had a Dr recently say "you've got GREAT testosterone levels" Who knew?

I can do all the upper body weights I want and I'll never have bulky muscles. It's just not in my dna.

How you doin'!?!?

We all have both male and female hormones, low testosterone is a bigger problem in women than most imagine. Good T in women has certain....advantages!

When you've already got broad shoulders for your size it starts affecting the difficulty of finding clothes that fit, too. Especially jackets. I already have to order my riding coats a size too large just to get enough room in the shoulders to be able to move. Suit coats look awful unless I get them tailored down.

Having said all that, I agree completely that fit is WAY better than super skinny. I just want to take those girls home and feed them a cheeseburger. They look hungry.

True, she doesnt. But her arms stay firm and fit. I have seen a very very few women that can develope real muscular size without benefit of hormones, but its rare. It also depends on what your overall % of body fat is at and several other things.

Conversely, there are some men that struggle to develope any kind of dicerable muscle, but most just havent worked at it much.

This describes my boss. We had a meeting of our small running group last night and she was going over some form drills and strengthening exercises, it was a little disturbing for me

She wears a lot of sleeveless stuff at work, I think most of it is to remind everyone here that she's frightening and intimidating!

Okay, having muscle definition is different than being a body builder. When I see a woman with well-defined arms, I don't think "Ew!" I wonder "What is she doing that I'm not?"

Here ya go, Mani!

::runs::

HA!

Last time I try to be supportive...

That may be because of the hat, riding boots, and mirrored sunglasses....

Hey - what happened to Dani's post?

Dani - that is great! I remember how I felt when I broke the 200 barrier! When you are at that weight, you can lose by diet alone up to a point. Then you will need to add exercise, and everything I am reading points to weight training over pure cardio - especially if you want to avoid the "loose fat/loose skin" look.

Also, look into High Intensity Interval Training where you do short but very intense cardio work followed by a longer medium level effort. It's not as dreary as trying to crank out 60 minutes on the dreadmill and helps you burn more fat.

Here are a couple of articles on that:
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/6-ways-to-jumpstart-your-interval-training-today.html

http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/fitness_articles.asp?id=621

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-intensity_interval_training

And now, I cannot believe that I am wearing size 2 pants from Express!!!! Yowza!

Found a T-shirt that I used to wear as it was one of the few that fit even though it was a little tight. Now, if it was just a couple of inches longer, I could wear it as a "Dress"!

Whose that lady by the water with your shirt on?


Great job to both of you!! Cracking those barriers and reaching goals help. Finding new interests in exercise, changing things up and setting new goals all can help. But mostly just sticking with it...consistancy... That is what is keeping you going and what seperates you from the masses.
Keep it up!

75 pounds down and counting. 10 more to my current goal, might bump it up to 15. Size 2 pants feeling very comfortable now.

Yay!!!

Also - Zing Bar came out with a new flavor - Double Nut Brownie - so..oo..oo... decadent - but nutrition-wise, same as their other bars. Makes a great breakfast on the go - 200 calories, between 10 to 12 grams of protein, and while there are 10 grams of sugar, the forms of natural sweetener they use has a lower glycemic value and doesn't cause a "spike".

www.zingbars.com

Yea for you...BUT, 15 more? You'll disappear!

LOL!!! No.., those 15 pounds are hiding out on the belly and it needs to GO! I can hide it in clothes, but now I want to look "decent" in a bathing suit! Okay - I want to look HOT in a bathing suit...

Way to stick with it PR!! After 6 months its a habit. After a year its a lifestyle change! You seem to be healthier, energy is still good. If you stick with the healthy lifstyle and keep the exercise as a consistant element of your life, bathing suit hotness will be a plaesant side effect.

At lunch today I went to Express because the size 4 pants I bought 4 months ago are quite loose. So the pant size that fit? Size 0 as in ZERO. So happy I bought 2 pairs! (And it was Buy One - Get one 50% off)

So here's the wild part, I have lost a total of 8 pounds from 4 months ago, but am still losing inches like crazy.

PT session tonight after work! I am pumped!!! Or Amped, or what-ever the kids say these days.

That's awesome Princess Romeo

Way to go PR!!!