Gwyneth Buys In to 'Bulking Up' Myth

Gwyneth Paltrow recently appeared on “Oprah” and talked about the workout routine that helped her lose weight after her second pregnancy. Sounds juicy, right? Well, her trainer, Tracy Anderson (whom Gwyneth calls “the exercise genius of all time”) also offered some advice while demonstrating some of the workout moves. If you follow celebrity news at all, you might have already heard of Tracy Anderson, who also trains Madonna. I have to say, I’m more than shocked to hear the advice that this “trainer” gives to viewers.

Gwyneth started by saying, “I workout six days a week…I work freakin’ hard. It’s no accident.” To this, I say bravo! For once, a celebrity who actually admits working out to stay in shape instead of passing it off as if they don’t go out of their way to maintain their physique! Six days of exercise, like Gwyneth commits to, fits within the recommendations for most adults, and it looks like she's doing both cardio (dance routines designed by Anderson) and "strengthening" exercises (more on that soon). Unfortunately, the rest of the information in this video doesn’t continue on such a positive thread.

Gwyneth’s trainer says that she uses three pound weights and, “No woman should lift more than three pounds” when strength training because using light weights results in less bulk.

I’m not sure what university or training program Anderson may have gone through to become a celebrity fitness trainer, but it sounds to me like she’s doing a real disservice to women by perpetuating the same old unfounded myths, like:

• Women who lift weights will become bulky. This is NOT true, yet many women believe it—probably because of hearing it from trainers and thin women like Gwyneth who swear by it. Women do not have the testosterone levels to build big muscles like men. And even so, muscles are good for you! They boost your metabolism, keep you strong, fit and independent as you age, and all that weight lifting strengthens your bones, too. And did you know that muscles can become stronger even without getting bigger? Later in the show, Gwyneth talked about holding her 30-pound son in one arm “all day.” She sure doesn’t look bulky for lifting 10 times the weight recommendation of her trainer, right?
  
  
• Certain exercises will give you “long and lean” muscles. This is a myth surrounding all sorts of exercise programs from Pilates to ballet to lifting light weights. In fact, it is physiologically impossible to change the length of a muscle in response to exercise.
  
  
• And that the only reason to exercise is to be skinny. It seems to me that this trainer isn’t trying to help women become healthier, stronger and fitter, but that she sees exercise as a means to an end (being skinny). In reality, it’s much more than that. And if you ask me, we too often focus on the aesthetic effects of exercising (which can be really unmotivating) instead of the most important benefits: being healthier, being stronger (and capable of lifting more than three pounds), feeling accomplished, and being able to handle day-to-day activities, and preventing disability and disease, to name a few.

I don't know about you, but it sounds like this trainer is saying what she thinks women want to hear, perhaps so that they'll buy her workout DVDs. No thanks!

You can see the full video from “Oprah” here. Oh, and if you’re not easily offended by strong language, here’s a hilarious (and factual!) response to this same video from another fitness blogger.


  You will earn 3 SparkPoints

NEXT ENTRY >   Before You Bite: Is Pasture Raised Beef Nutritionally Worth the Price?

Comments (Scroll to end to leave a comment)

  See More Comments

Please Log In To Leave A Comment:    Log in now