Trying to help my g/f

[oso0960]

I got my g/f into weight training but have a problem. She won't work her chest (or any pushing movement such as bench press/push ups..). She claims that she will lose her boobs since she did them before and "lost them". I told her "you lost *fat* by working out, and that's what the boobs are made of, so yes you may lose boobage by lowering overall bf%. Plus, if you only do pulling movements (such as pullups or rows) you'll create a muscle imbalance." She will just not believe me. I've tried telling her spot reducing is bullshit, the only "6" part you see about 300lb women doing crunches all day is their 6 rolls of fat. So there would be no way to spot reduce the chest fat. I even told her it may increase her boob size by adding a bit of muscle underneath them. Still nothing. What can I tell her for her to believe me? I want to show her this thread so she can get a woman's opinion on this. I'm hoping she'll at least believe a woman that knows what she's doing.

 

[Melaina]

What is your girlfriend doing? Is she at an "ideal for her" weight and wants to tone or does she want to lose weight? If she wants to lose weight... it doesn't matter if she does cardio, weights or both... if she's the type that gains weight in her chest... she's gonna lose some of it. A high rep/low weight will only benefit her though... muscle keeps them perky!

 

[oso0960]

No. She's skinny fat. She's 5'1 and 105lbs. Her lifestyle basically involves nothing physical. The only physical activity she did was a while ago when she did pushups and some random exercises for a while. She did start losing a bit of fat and gaining a bit of muscle but stopped. I gave her a workout plan. The only thing to work with is two 25lb dumbbells until she finds a gym. Her workout is like this:

-Squats with one 25lb dumbbell
5x5

-Elevated pushups off a couch
5x2 (working on getting her to 5x5, but she refuses to do them now)

-Kneeling one arm rows with 25lb dumbbell
5x5


I started her off at 2 days a week, the next week 3 days a week and is toleration 4 days a week now. She is no longer getting sore. (not that I'm using that to mark progress). She is also finding the weights to be much easier.

The goal is to get her to 6 days a week and have her tolerate normal pushups and pullups (has a pullup bar but can't do one), and be able to squat the 2 25lb weights. Hoping to get all with fairly respectable number of reps of course making sure she doesn't overtrain.. not that she has to worry about that for a while.

Since I can't really up the weight every workout, I decided to add volume by adding more workout days and reps when possible. Once she can tolerate the volume I'm hoping she'll be able to use more weight and build back up.

 

[Melaina]

Hmmm sounds like she's resisting working out a bit. Does she have the motivation or are you keeping her going by pushing her? Weights just may not be her thing... they may be when he starts to see a change in her body but maybe her "thing" would be a class.... are there local yoga/pilates/spin/kickboxing classes in your area? She's be surprised what an hour of pilates can do for her figure. She can always do the weights on the side but right now you need to get her interested in fitness and if she's in a class with a group of women her age with great body definition... that might be your ticket. Work her up to a gym membership

 

[oso0960]

Hmmm sounds like she's resisting working out a bit. Does she have the motivation or are you keeping her going by pushing her? Weights just may not be her thing... they may be when he starts to see a change in her body but maybe her "thing" would be a class.... are there local yoga/pilates/spin/kickboxing classes in your area? She's be surprised what an hour of pilates can do for her figure. She can always do the weights on the side but right now you need to get her interested in fitness and if she's in a class with a group of women her age with great body definition... that might be your ticket. Work her up to a gym membership

hmm maybe you're right. I know when I am not there to motivate/push her, she slacks off with it. I just hope she eventually understands how the body works and that getting stronger and having a bit more muscle mass is usually better for basically everything about life.

 

[Melaina]

She might have this idea that working out will give her a certain body type that maybe she doesn't find attractive. Tell her you'll buy her 3 months of whatever she chooses... if she goes 2-3 times a week and likes it... buy her another class in something else. If anything it will get her off the couch (or wherever she is... LOL)

 

[Tami Bellon]

She is absolutely wrong about push-ups causing her to lose her breasts. There really is no such thing as spot reduction. You are 100% correct.

Girlfriend, if you read this.....your bf is right, you are incorrect. Can't make it any more clear than that.

 

[Melaina]

Lol

 

[Thandie]

I got my g/f into weight training but have a problem. She won't work her chest (or any pushing movement such as bench press/push ups..). She claims that she will lose her boobs since she did them before and "lost them". I told her "you lost *fat* by working out, and that's what the boobs are made of, so yes you may lose boobage by lowering overall bf%. Plus, if you only do pulling movements (such as pullups or rows) you'll create a muscle imbalance." She will just not believe me. I've tried telling her spot reducing is bullshit, the only "6" part you see about 300lb women doing crunches all day is their 6 rolls of fat. So there would be no way to spot reduce the chest fat. I even told her it may increase her boob size by adding a bit of muscle underneath them. Still nothing. What can I tell her for her to believe me? I want to show her this thread so she can get a woman's opinion on this. I'm hoping she'll at least believe a woman that knows what she's doing.

You have made it very clear..

 

[future]

Its not the end of the world. Dont push. Just let it go. Give her time to decide on her own.