[Linwe]

So my flatmate was flabbergasted when I told her that I could bench press using 10kg (x2) dumbells and at least 5kg at most other exercises. I only train at the gym once a week for an hour (weights plus some cardio) but over the course of a year I've improved my strength level from 'noodle' to 'pretty decent'.

Now I'm in no way training to be bulky but it seems most asian girls go to the gym (judging by other soompi threads and my RL friends) to get rid of thigh fat, waist fat and the general "I want to be more skiiiiiiny."

Personally, I'd rather look like Jessica Alba in Honey than be thin with limbs that look like a 5 yr old could snap in half. I don't dig the frail and delicate look.

...so does anyone actually go to the gym to look toned as well as slim?

[twix0rz]

I can bench 45-55 lbs ( i know, not a lot..but i am still proud, ok? XD). I did it before for cross country. There is no gym around here so i don't know if i can do it now.
I want to be skinny but i want to be toned skinny.

I am in China right now and most girls here think running two miles is tiring., but even if they can't run, most girls are still very skinny. They do eat. Three meals a day..sometimes midnight snacks but they are still skinny. -sigh-

So i am just trying to get toned..nothing flabby and i will be okay. ^^ I can't compare with the girls here. haha.

[Linwe]

Oh that's awesome twix! I'm sure your muscle tone is very defined

I have terrible stamina so I envy you cross-country runners. I just got new running shoes so hopefully will be motivated to run more!

[dafleur]

Personally, I'd rather look like Jessica Alba in Honey than be thin with limbs that look like a 5 yr old could snap in half. I don't dig the frail and delicate look.

totally agree with you. to me, skinny girls with no muscle tone just look very unhealthy.

i was always one of those 'skinny girls' and started going to the gym to get toned. i go to the gym about 5/week, mostly using the weight machines. my strength has greatly increased since i started going on such a regular schedule and i LOVE the difference it's made in my appearance.

kinda o/t, but i find it kind of amusing to see those little skinny boys at the gym who are struggling with weights that seem easy to me.

[aznch4mp]

Mmm.. last time I lifted I could do maybe 70 lbs including the bar which is 45 I think. It was just in fitness class a couple years ago and I haven't been keeping up with it as much I should =\ Haha so I'm sure it's gone down hill from then.

I don't think there's anything wrong with going to the gym to lose fat/get skinny.. but I think it's also a raelly good idea to make use of all the equipment there and do some weight training! I agree with you about the 5 year old twig image.. I definitely don't want to look like that.

@ dafleur: Ah that's really great that you go 5 times a week! I'm just now starting to try and get back into my routine again and I'm finding it hard to find the time. So I always end up just using my resistance band/home video workouts etc. I think I'm going to struggle to even get in 3 days!

It's so great to see that there are some other asian girls lifting!

[kiralz0mg]

im one of those unhealthy looking skinny girls LOL i've been meaning to go to the gym to tone my body but i've been putting it off for months now.. i live in dorms and the gym is beside me.. LOL (very sad i know :c )

[retarded_sponge]

Mmm.. last time I lifted I could do maybe 70 lbs including the bar which is 45 I think. It was just in fitness class a couple years ago and I haven't been keeping up with it as much I should =\ Haha so I'm sure it's gone down hill from then.

I don't think there's anything wrong with going to the gym to lose fat/get skinny.. but I think it's also a raelly good idea to make use of all the equipment there and do some weight training! I agree with you about the 5 year old twig image.. I definitely don't want to look like that.

@ dafleur: Ah that's really great that you go 5 times a week! I'm just now starting to try and get back into my routine again and I'm finding it hard to find the time. So I always end up just using my resistance band/home video workouts etc. I think I'm going to struggle to even get in 3 days!

It's so great to see that there are some other asian girls lifting!

Augh, me too. I don't think I can even lift the bar anymore, I really need to start going back to the gym D:

[Searesrayne]

It's not just asian girls... I'd say most female teenagers thinking they will bulk up because they weightlifts LOL.

but seriously I love doing weights it's fun, and I find it boring just doing low weights and high reps.. I 'd rather do heavier(or at least improve my strength) and do let's say 20 reps for a set (depends what I'm working on) My arms are weak... I can only do about 40 lbs tops with not that many reps LOL but I'm slowing improving that.

[kjeon19]

+ mad kudos to this thread lol nobody wants a anorexic girl =P no offense if any taken.

[Malice_Kaiser]

I can't speak since I'm not Asian, but I'm sure you're not the only one. I personally like skinny+toned way better than just stick skinny, so I gotta say good for you for achieving that look despite the fact that it's not the trend in Asian. ^^

[dafleur]

@ dafleur: Ah that's really great that you go 5 times a week! I'm just now starting to try and get back into my routine again and I'm finding it hard to find the time. So I always end up just using my resistance band/home video workouts etc. I think I'm going to struggle to even get in 3 days!

It's so great to see that there are some other asian girls lifting!

believe me, it was HARD to get started up again. i would dread going to the gym because i just didn't want to spend the time there. everyone says this, but it's totally true... once you make working out a part of your daily routine, you actually ENJOY going. gawd, now if i miss a day i feel so guilty and have irrational thoughts like i'm going to lose all my muscle mass b/c i missed that one day!

the resistance band is a good idea. i should get one for home too.

[konceptz]

Great thread!

It's funny that people think you can get "too big" in a very short amount of time.

Those professional body builders, women and men, spend years to decades building their physique. You're not going to get crazy looking muscles after 6 weeks of hard training.


I'm all for the OP!


p.s. Lets extend some courtesy to the ladies by NOT STARING AT THEM on the bench. You don't stare at my shorts?!

[yuki526]

I'm happy with my P90X. I don't have to go to the gym to achieve the toned look. I will do everything to not go to the gym.

And FYI, there's nothing wrong if someone wants to be slim without looking toned. To each his own.

[BB`]

Props to you for weight lifting. I'm already full figured and was genetically blessed with muscles, I just need to keep myself toned or else I look flabby. I guess I'm one of those teenage girls who goes to burn fat rather than to build muscle.

[JuStLykEwhOa]

I am one of those small.. girls but I do lift 10 pound dumbbells at the gym!

[<3goesDOKIDOKI]

i go to the gym to be toned and slim :]
my schedule is 3-4 times a wk and i use the weight machines
i use weight machines for arms, legs, and abs
and the weight range varies from 25lbs to 55lbs for different machines
although im going to be increasing my weights soon

[~dhluvr4ever~]

inspirational (:

I feel like lifting weights now.
my arms are the weakest part of my body,
and its ironic because they're flabby and skinny
at the same time (:
made no sense, but oh well.

I feel like lifting weights, because it helps burn fat
and build musclee WooT!

i need a gym membership -,-
i need to lose weight, and build muscle.
im 13, and i feel like my young years
of great metabolism are coming to an end - so i must take advantage
before it's too late !

[Hi August]

Lol, nah you're not the only one =P

I can bench press at most 90lbs and at other exercises I can do 70lbs or 85lbs, depends on which. I haven't work out a in while, though, since school started and all. But I can definitely lift weights and I'm an Asian girl.

But I realized that most girls have more strength in their legs compared to their arms. =P

[foreverandaday]

You're not the only one. I can squat 187lbs ^ ^v

[Mr. Chan]

You're not the only one. I can squat 187lbs ^ ^v

Congratulations, I think you squat more than me, and I'm a guy.