I'm too short to lift!

[insidious]

There is a plethora of height threads here @ SOS, as I'm sure you all know.

A particular quote from another thread caught my eye:

A very muscular man that is 5'5" would look like a troll...

To this, you can add something a girl buddy told me about 3 or 4 mos ago:

"I think you are compensating for your height" in regard to my weight lifting/strength training.

I'm 5'5", and I finally reached the 160 mark :crackup: According to WBA, this is way too low, I should be at least 220 lbs, lol.

Point is, I'm very pleased with my physique, but I'm not satisfied. I'm at a point right now where I my body obviously belongs to someone who lifts, but I am not portruding weirdly out of all my shirts.

So I ask: why is it that a short guy's weight-lifting motives are questioned, whereas if I was one foot taller, no one would care? If I continue to gain, I fear people will think I'm living out some weird Napolean complex thing. OK, I don't fear it, but it does bother me that they may think it. I know, because I've heard them question other short guys with bulk, behind their back (as women love to do). When you're short, the muscles tend to me more visible.

Anyways, I will continue to lift, I will continue to strive upwards, and if I look like a troll, sorry, at least I don't have green hair

 

[Create Reality]

I think life is too short.

 

[blinkwatt]

Meh,don't worry about it. People will always judge what they don't understand.

 

[Falcon]

Try not to think of what other people are going to say. This is your life, you can strive for whatever you want to strive for. Don't let anyone make you think otherwise. :box:

 

[stronglifts]

There is a plethora of height threads here @ SOS, as I'm sure you all know.

A particular quote from another thread caught my eye:



To this, you can add something a girl buddy told me about 3 or 4 mos ago:

"I think you are compensating for your height" in regard to my weight lifting/strength training.

I'm 5'5", and I finally reached the 160 mark :crackup: According to WBA, this is way too low, I should be at least 220 lbs, lol.

Point is, I'm very pleased with my physique, but I'm not satisfied. I'm at a point right now where I my body obviously belongs to someone who lifts, but I am not portruding weirdly out of all my shirts.

So I ask: why is it that a short guy's weight-lifting motives are questioned, whereas if I was one foot taller, no one would care? If I continue to gain, I fear people will think I'm living out some weird Napolean complex thing. OK, I don't fear it, but it does bother me that they may think it. I know, because I've heard them question other short guys with bulk, behind their back (as women love to do). When you're short, the muscles tend to me more visible.

Anyways, I will continue to lift, I will continue to strive upwards, and if I look like a troll, sorry, at least I don't have green hair

http://www.youtube.com/v/LZujiuwWkso

 

[bigshot]

Dude im 5'6"! dont worry about it, jus keep lifting! you'll know when big is too big so you can slow then training down then.

 

[PeeGee]

I'm 5'6 and 165, but I need to lose weight, not gain weight. Ideally I want to be back at 150 lbs (I managed to trim down to 156 once but I couldn't keep up the lifestyle). My advice for you is to lift like normal, and when you start to look like a troll (or whatever you want to not look like) you can cut back on the lifting.

 

[RestoretheROAR84]

I know a kid who is 5'3" 130 lbs and is absolutely ripped... he can bench twice his bodyweight. Point being who cares how tall you are if you're strong you're strong.

 

[PeeGee]

If you read about Bruce Lee he was a short guy as well but he's insanely strong. Don't worry about it.

 

[The Forms]

no matter what it is you do, people will find a way to talk **** or belittle you.

 

[mintxx]

if you're short, gaining significant weight in the upper body makes you look even shorter. a ripped but not unnecessarily puffed up/ 'bulked' physique will help, as will good posture, but paradoxically if you get much broader relative to your height, it will start to look a bit odd. it's kind of like those mental chicks that, because they're tall, start to believe they have to lose weight, they're too big, not petite enought etc, it makes them look taller, they get more of a complex, and then they die of malnutrition. half the girls around aren't petite, half the guys aren't big. nobody cares until the people concerned make it an issue for themselves.

my suggestion: wear boots (the side zip dress type, not combat boots...) and vertical stripes, and go for a bit of muscle. but don't go overboard, i see so many guys who clearly don't need to be 'bulked up' for any reason except their own body dysmorphic disorder. it's basically turning your body into an advertisement for insecurity.

then again, this won't happen unless you get huge, you're probably fine right now. and things are a bit different in my country, people that get their only exercise from a gym are usually a bit out there, wage slaves with no social life and a slightly odd stare. it's a bad idea to get 'bulked up' here because people then assume you can seriously fight and you have athletic endurance etc. usually a false assumption, but by then you've had your head smashed in by some hard man type.

 

[LoneSilver]

I've been around the block a few times and I can tell you there are going to be people don't matter male or female who will judge you regardless if your short and lifting or tall or lifting.

I am 6-2-6-3 220 and 48 years old and got back into lifting after years away but mine for some reason is oh he's just going through a midlife crisis because I am lifting... what a crock of bull.

A midlife crisis is furthest from the truth and I do it clearly for the health benefits and the way I feel and look and I am in better shape now then when I was in my 20's and 30's.

If your around people who don't give a crap about their own health and don't lift or take the time for fitness in their own life or are just to dam judgmental I bet 75% of it is envy or just jealousy and 25% of it is total ignorances and people I just laugh at or ignore.

LoneSilver

 

[LoneSilver]

As far as Latinomans quote thats just his opinion and if it were me I would challenge him on that to set the record straight.

He's a pretty good guy and just may need a little debating on this issue.

Sometimes we write things without really thinking. I know I have been quilty of writing out loud a few times and it's good to have others bring things to light I may have overlooked otherwords sometimes we write stuff we don't really mean but it comes across as that when others read it.

Hope I made sense.

LoneSilver

There is a plethora of height threads here @ SOS, as I'm sure you all know.

A particular quote from another thread caught my eye:



To this, you can add something a girl buddy told me about 3 or 4 mos ago:

"I think you are compensating for your height" in regard to my weight lifting/strength training.

I'm 5'5", and I finally reached the 160 mark :crackup: According to WBA, this is way too low, I should be at least 220 lbs, lol.

Point is, I'm very pleased with my physique, but I'm not satisfied. I'm at a point right now where I my body obviously belongs to someone who lifts, but I am not portruding weirdly out of all my shirts.

So I ask: why is it that a short guy's weight-lifting motives are questioned, whereas if I was one foot taller, no one would care? If I continue to gain, I fear people will think I'm living out some weird Napolean complex thing. OK, I don't fear it, but it does bother me that they may think it. I know, because I've heard them question other short guys with bulk, behind their back (as women love to do). When you're short, the muscles tend to me more visible.

Anyways, I will continue to lift, I will continue to strive upwards, and if I look like a troll, sorry, at least I don't have green hair

 

[insidious]

As far as Latinomans quote thats just his opinion and if it were me I would challenge him on that to set the record straight.

He's a pretty good guy and just may need a little debating on this issue.

Sometimes we write things without really thinking. I know I have been quilty of writing out loud a few times and it's good to have others bring things to light I may have overlooked otherwords sometimes we write stuff we don't really mean but it comes across as that when others read it.

Hope I made sense.

LoneSilver

Believe me, having posted more than a handful of times under the influence of mind-altering substances, I can totally vouch for writing things I later regretted.

I agree with you about Latinoman. I've ready many of his posts and he seems like a logical yet open-minded guy. By quoting his comment I did not really mean to indict the guy singly or put the spotlight on him. Actually, if anything, I'm less offended by the comment just cause it is him and not some other fool who believes his own BS is gospel, lol.

My motives for printing that comment were to demonstrate that this mindset exists out there, either openly or secretively, but it is out there. And it is sometimes frustrating dealing with that as a short man. I have greatest sense of humor about my own height and I openly talk or laugh about it, and for that reason many of my acquaintances and friends feel comfortable letting their guard down and I hear stuff a lot of people think. The troll comment abounds, that is not the first time I've heard that one :crackup:

I would like to stress is that I have easily reached the point where I lift weights for about 95% my own benefit, and maybe 5% vanity/external reasons. I have absolutely no control over what others think, so I am not all that troubled - I thought it would be an interesting observation to post in this forum, is all. It's kinda like the steroid accusation - some people will joke about me taking steroids, but behind the joke I wonder if there is the not-so-funny suspicion. Nothing I can do about that...and it's one of those things that looks more true the more you deny.

What messes up things for all of us who lift for sincere reasons of self-improvement are the immature children who lift for the audience and no one else.

 

[LoneSilver]

I understand insidious your point was well made.

LoneSilver

Believe me, having posted more than a handful of times under the influence of mind-altering substances, I can totally vouch for writing things I later regretted.

I agree with you about Latinoman. I've ready many of his posts and he seems like a logical yet open-minded guy. By quoting his comment I did not really mean to indict the guy singly or put the spotlight on him. Actually, if anything, I'm less offended by the comment just cause it is him and not some other fool who believes his own BS is gospel, lol.

My motives for printing that comment were to demonstrate that this mindset exists out there, either openly or secretively, but it is out there. And it is sometimes frustrating dealing with that as a short man. I have greatest sense of humor about my own height and I openly talk or laugh about it, and for that reason many of my acquaintances and friends feel comfortable letting their guard down and I hear stuff a lot of people think. The troll comment abounds, that is not the first time I've heard that one :crackup:

I would like to stress is that I have easily reached the point where I lift weights for about 95% my own benefit, and maybe 5% vanity/external reasons. I have absolutely no control over what others think, so I am not all that troubled - I thought it would be an interesting observation to post in this forum, is all. It's kinda like the steroid accusation - some people will joke about me taking steroids, but behind the joke I wonder if there is the not-so-funny suspicion. Nothing I can do about that...and it's one of those things that looks more true the more you deny.

What messes up things for all of us who lift for sincere reasons of self-improvement are the immature children who lift for the audience and no one else.

 

[stronglifts]

There is a plethora of height threads here @ SOS, as I'm sure you all know.

A particular quote from another thread caught my eye:



To this, you can add something a girl buddy told me about 3 or 4 mos ago:

"I think you are compensating for your height" in regard to my weight lifting/strength training.

I'm 5'5", and I finally reached the 160 mark :crackup: According to WBA, this is way too low, I should be at least 220 lbs, lol.

Point is, I'm very pleased with my physique, but I'm not satisfied. I'm at a point right now where I my body obviously belongs to someone who lifts, but I am not portruding weirdly out of all my shirts.

So I ask: why is it that a short guy's weight-lifting motives are questioned, whereas if I was one foot taller, no one would care? If I continue to gain, I fear people will think I'm living out some weird Napolean complex thing. OK, I don't fear it, but it does bother me that they may think it. I know, because I've heard them question other short guys with bulk, behind their back (as women love to do). When you're short, the muscles tend to me more visible.

Anyways, I will continue to lift, I will continue to strive upwards, and if I look like a troll, sorry, at least I don't have green hair

Interesting thread.

At 5'8" I consider myself "short". I weigh 160lbs (on purpose) but can deadlift/squat twice my bodyweight. Been training for 10 years.

I never wanted to do the get bulk thing. Several reasons for it. However I have a very good friend who trains also. He's as tall (or short) as me, but weighs 190lbs. He doesn't look like a troll. He looks quite good, but I wouldn't want it.

My opinion:
1) what a girl says about your training doesn't matter. Most won't like it anyway.
2) If you want to weigh more, do it.
3) Short guys motives are questioned, so are big guys motives. It's the penality of success. When you achieve something in life, they will be haters, always. Most people are jealous of what you have achieved & not them.

When someone starts questioning/explaining why you train, reverse the frame. Ask them why they don't train, tell them they should weigh more, tell them they should live healthier,...

Your frame > their frame.

 

[stronglifts]

my suggestion: wear boots (the side zip dress type, not combat boots...) and vertical stripes, and go for a bit of muscle. but don't go overboard, i see so many guys who clearly don't need to be 'bulked up' for any reason except their own body dysmorphic disorder. it's basically turning your body into an advertisement for insecurity.

wearing boots & vertical stripes is not accepting who you are. If that's not an advertisement for insecurity...

 

[stronglifts]

If your around people who don't give a crap about their own health and don't lift or take the time for fitness in their own life or are just to dam judgmental I bet 75% of it is envy or just jealousy and 25% of it is total ignorances and people I just laugh at or ignore.

LoneSilver

exactly

 

[int3l]

i'm 5'5 ...