Working Out

Is there a gender-based difference when it comes to working out?  Guys like to pump iron and admire themselves in the mirror as they do it.  Gals like to do classes and like to workout in groups.  Okay, maybe that is a stereotypical assessment of the differences.  Certainly I have seen women working out alone and pumping iron to rival a man.  Certainly I have seen men in classes.  I've seen both genders watching themselves in the mirror and both running away from the mirror.  So I guess it's hard to say for sure.  I know I like to workout alone and I avoid the mirrors as much as possible.  I'm not big into classes.  I don't like to sweat, but certainly I do sweat.  I've seen plenty of sweat with both genders.  And while I think many individuals work out so they can look better, I do think many of us work out to stay healthy.  I know I'm only going to look so good, probably never that good.  My drive is definitely being healthier.  What drives you to exercise?  It'd be interesting to hear if there are any gender differences with this.  Please feel free to chime in!


http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/features/his-hers-fitness

His and Hers Fitness

When it comes to working out, men and women are from different planets

By Carol Sorgen
WebMD Weight Loss Clinic-Feature

His idea of getting in shape is pumping iron -- the more, the better. She'd rather pull out the yoga mat.

Whose idea of fitness is better?

The experts say there's no one-size-fits-all answer, but each sex could learn something from the other.

Vive La Difference

Motivation, the experts say, is one major fitness difference between the sexes.

Often, "men work out because they like to be bigger," says Vincent Perez, PT, director of sports therapy at Columbia University Medical Center Eastside in New York. "Pecs, biceps, quads ? men are after bulk."

"Guys have an agenda," adds Pamela Peeke, MD, author of Body-for-LIFE for Women: A Woman's Plan for Physical and Mental Transformation."They have a specific goal, and there's always a number involved." She calls this the "Home Depot" approach to working out: "They have a blueprint and they just want to get it done."

For many men, "working out is a sport, and they do it because it's fun, it's competitive, and it's something that they've always done," says Lori Incledon, author of Strength Training for Women. "For women, fitness is a superficial issue. They do it because it will help them look better."

Men like to look like they've been working out, says Peeke, "the sweatier the better. When was the last time you heard a woman say she wanted to sweat?"

Often, she says, "women think everyone else is looking at them so they're afraid to put on workout clothes or get out there in public with their cellulite jiggling. Do men care what they look like when they're working out? Of course not!"

One thing men and women have in common, according to Incledon: They tend to overlook the health benefits of exercise.

"Very rarely does anyone think about fitness like they should, which is just to stay healthy," says Incledon.

Mars vs. Venus Workouts

Once they get past their initial reluctance, women tend to have a balanced approach to fitness, says Perez. Their workouts are more likely to include a mix of cardio, strength training, and mind-body practices such as yoga or tai chi.

They're also more likely to seek advice, he says, whether from a personal trainer or by enrolling in group classes.

"As a man, I hate to say this, but women take instruction better," says Perez. "Men are afraid of making a fool of themselves."

"Most men prefer athletic-based activities that don't require dance or overt coordination," agrees Grace De Simone, a spokesperson for Gold's Gym International. "They prefer activities that they can call on from their past, like sports. Women enjoy dance-based activities with toning and flexibility."

Women may be more apt to take part in group activities because they're interested in the social aspects of working out and because they feel more comfortable in a gym when they're with other people, says Cedric Bryant, PhD, chief exercise physiologist for the American Council on Exercise.