I’m going to get right to the point: everyone needs to cut the shit about bulky being bad.

“Don’t lift weights or you’ll get bulky” is one I’ve heard endless times.

Another one that irks me is this meme that has been floating around since the women’s strength training and getting strong movement started:

What. The. Hell.

Not only is this disrespectful to women who train for hypertrophy and compete for a living, but it’s an inaccurate statement all around.

Why?

Because when women lift weights, different physiological changes happen to each individual.  Not EVERYONE will be the petite, lean woman on the right. Not EVERYONE will be the packed-with-muscle woman on the left. Maybe some people will be in between this body type, maybe some will look like Wonder Woman.

Again, everyone is a unique fucking particle.

As an example, if we take two women who strength train for the same amount of time, say 4 months for 4x a week on the exact same program, one woman may put on more muscle than the other. And they both will have drastically different physiques.

This happens based on nutrition, genetics, the way they store fat, the rate at which they build muscle, and their overall bone structure.

Bulky = good.

Admittedly, I want to push for a more positive connotation here. And I can’t think of one reason why *more muscle* is bad for anyone.

Would I consider the above photo of myself “bulky?” Sure. And it’s beautiful for my specific body type and lifestyle.

Would I consider this photo bulky? Yes, and it’s also beautiful for her specific body type and lifestyle.

This begs the question, why do we have to give some women, namely ones with more muscle mass than most, shit for their feats of strength? Or for their fierce commitment to competing and lifting?

Personally, I’d want a woman like this by my side to help me fight crime and take over the freaking world. ;-O

With that said, it’s time for a paradigm shift, ya’ll.

Bulky = strength, uniqueness, empowerment, confidence, dedication, athleticism, resilience, and being able to grab life by the balls and work hard for something that means something to you.

It should be celebrated, not criticized.