I was hoping for some advice…I am a female who builds muscle fast, attributed to my high testosterone. My arms especially get big quick. Being a vain creature, I don’t want “man arms”. Many of the WOD’s involve weight lifting. Is there an appropriate sub I can utilize? I worry about bulking up :/
Just one man’s opinion, but I don’t think there’s anything wrong with muscular arms on women. They still don’t look like “man arms.”
Your question reminded me of a great scene in the movie “Aliens.” A mixed (male and female) team of spacefaring marines is on its way to the alien planet, and inside the ship, some of them are working out. One of the male marines is impressed by the chinups that a bandanna-wearing Latina squad leader has just done, but he kids her about it: “Hey Vasquez! Have you ever been mistaken for a man?!” She pauses between sets to sneer at him and reply, “No. Have you?”
(I edited the movie quote because I didn’t remember it quite right at the original posting)
I dunno, I don’t know any of the women I know who crossfit have “man arms”.
Most of the wods involve moving weight . . . not typical body building. Subbing the weight out means you don’t get strong.
Here’s some stuff from CF Auckland that has a vid of some of the women who crossfit better than most of the men here. (Lots of old CF HQ stuff). Don’t know what it says, because I only look at the pictures . . . (at work . . sigh). I don’t know what to tell you other than show you what the women who can kill me left handed look like.
I guess changing my perspective is the best prescription. I appreciate the advice and helpful links. It’s not what I wanted to hear, but needed to hear . I want to be as healthy as I can possibly be, but it’s easy to let vanity and social pressures get in the way. I really loved the Dani Dufrene article, thanks for posting dale.johnstone
Thanks so much for taking the time to help me out guys; it says a lot about the people of crossfit and this program.
Thanks so much for taking the time to help me out guys; it says a lot about the people of crossfit and this program.
Given that all of the respondents are male, I think it says that we think athletic women are hot.
I think you’re looking at it the right way now.
Your body will put on muscle or not. It’s better to be as fit and healthy as you can be and be happy with how your body looks as a result of achieving that, than be unfit and/or unhealthy and comply with someone else’ standard for how you should look.
Completely understand your original perspective…had the same concerns
many years back
It is about what we can do, not what we look like : )
Before a Workout, I never think about my arms or hamstrings…just what time I should get if I hit it hard enough.
Although being able to do CrossFit well, tends to make us look better than pre CrossFit.
Different for all, very good for most.
Its all fun and games until your gf can power clean more than you can. Then you realize your in it for the long haul, crossfit that is. Never seen a woman that did crossfit have man arms. Take this lovely website http://www.crossfit.com/ for the 14 or so days listed on this Jan 15-28 2010, right now there are pictures of 4 women all doing strength based movements all of which are strong but do not have the so called “man arms”
It’s a really interesting post indeed. Before I come here I have visited to lot’s of forum posting. But I can’t see such kind of post in before.
I think women shouldn’t be think for their arms too much. It is suggestion too all sphere of woman in our world.
. I want to be as healthy as I can possibly be, but it’s easy to let vanity and social pressures get in the way. I really loved the Dani Dufrene article, thanks for posting dale.johnstone 
