Check out this article about the fear of bulking up of written by CFH Coach and Athlete, Alexa
I can’t tell you how many women have told me that they are afraid to try CrossFit because they are afraid of getting bulky. And before I address the actual question at hand here, I feel like it’s necessary for me to point out that this fear results from a lifetime of receiving messages from the media, and sometimes from other people, that women’s bodies should look a certain way. Fitness and nutrition are marketed to women much differently than men. For women, the emphasis is always “less.” Fewer calories, fewer inches, fewer pounds. For women to be “fit” we have to eat less and weigh less. This approach is harmful for a variety of reasons. Less is not always more. Less is not always healthy. There is an excellent article on CrossFit.com that I would highly recommend if you are interested in reading more about how women are socially discouraged from building strength and muscle. One reason why I love the sport of CrossFit is because it doesn’t emphasize attaining any certain physique. The goal of CrossFit is to improve your fitness. That is it. The goal lies in what we accomplish through the work, not in how we look.
“Traditionally, women have used less of their upper body than men, and as a result those muscles are underdeveloped. Women and girls are perceived as weaker than men, so they are not asked to use and develop their muscles. It’s a cyclical pattern, reinforcing a status quo that isn’t supported by physiology.” -Hilary Auchner, CrossFit Journal
So by now maybe you’re thinking, all this is interesting stuff, but I still don’t want to look like some of those CrossFit girls I see on TV. I am here to tell you that is not going to happen. The competitive CrossFitters you see on TV and the internet kill themselves for those physiques through training that hurts to even think about and eating an abundant diet. Their bodies don’t happen on accident. They have grinded for every ounce of muscle they have, and no-one participating in CrossFit at a recreational level will ever, and I repeat, ever, look or perform the way they do. One other thing I’d like to point out is that when you see CrossFit athletes on ESPN or the internet, they are usually actually competing, wearing little to no clothing, blood pumping and muscles bulging. Outside of competition and in street clothes they look stunningly fit, but far less superhuman.
My final advice to any any female nervous about getting bulky trying CrossFit: Leave your fears at the door. Let’s get stronger together.
Lifting doesn’t make you bulky, it makes you awesome!