Is the Muscle Mommy Era Quietly Coming to an End?

Why the gym feels different in 2025 — and what the data hints at

Something feels different when you walk into the gym these days. The racks are still full, the weights are still missing in pairs like someone stole them for a home project, and the vibes are still “let me fix my life in 45 minutes,” but the crowd has shifted. There just aren’t as many women loading up barbells, chalking their hands, or filming hip-thrust PRs.

It’s not that women suddenly stopped lifting heavy. Far from it. But the big “Muscle Mommy” wave that took over TikTok from 2021 to 2024 doesn’t seem to be the main character anymore.

Search Trends Are the First Hint Something’s Changing

Google Trends shows that interest in terms like “Muscle Mommy,” which exploded from 2021–2023, has been sliding down consistently. At the same time, searches for “lean muscle program,” “Pilates reformer,” and “body recomposition routine” are climbing.

TikTok shows the same story.#musclemommy isn’t growing like it used to, but #pilatesbody and #mobilitytraining are everywhere.

One thing about wellness trends:Search behavior usually moves before bodies in the gym do.

ClassPass Data Backs Up the Shift in Real Life

ClassPass’ 2024–2025 report shows:

• Strength-only class bookings among women dropped double digits

• Reformer Pilates bookings grew 92%

• Mobility and recovery classes are up across both men and women

Women didn’t stop training. They just started training differently.

The Muscle Mommy wave didn’t end — it simply stopped being the default.

Heavy Lifting Burnout and the Injury Reality Check

A few years of everyone trying to hit PRs for the camera eventually caught up.

Harvard Health and ACE Fitness both noted increases in lifting-related injuries as more beginners jumped directly into heavy barbell work without coaching or proper progressions.

Over half of frequent female lifters surveyed in 2024 reported recurring joint pain or nagging issues that made them rethink pushing heavy weight weekly.

You can only max out deadlifts for so long before your shoulders, wrists, and lower back file a formal complaint.

So naturally, more people shifted to workouts that:

• Feel good

• Don’t wreck joints

• Don’t require pre-workout that tastes like battery acid

• Fit into a busy adult schedule

Enter Pilates, mobility, hypertrophy-but-not-crazy-heavy training, and hybrid routines.

GLP-1 Medications Quietly Changed the Fitness Equation

Here’s the part almost no mainstream fitness article talks about — but absolutely should:

GLP-1 medications have changed how people think about exercise.

Ozempic. Wegovy. Zepbound. These drugs went from niche to mainstream because insurance plans expanded coverage and generics pushed prices down.

According to KFF Health data:

• GLP-1 prescriptions have surged

• Coverage has widened

• Average out-of-pocket costs are falling

How does that affect the gym?

People using GLP-1s often say:

• Weight loss feels more achievable

• Exercise becomes “maintenance,” not a desperate battle

• Lower-impact workouts feel more aligned with energy levels

• They don’t feel the same pressure to do intense strength programs

Many are choosing Pilates, walking, mobility, and moderate strength work simply because it fits their new goals.

Not out of laziness — out of stability.

When tens of millions of Americans suddenly approach fitness differently… gyms feel different. And 2025 gym culture absolutely reflects this shift.

Planet Fitness Saw the Wave Coming — Then the Wave Shifted

Planet Fitness is an interesting case study.

For years, PF catered to the casual gym-goer: Simple machines. No heavy lifting. No intimidation. Purple walls everywhere.

But during the peak Muscle Mommy/Gym Bro years, PF invested heavily in:

• More squat racks

• More free-weight areas

• Heavier dumbbells

• More open-floor space for functional work

They saw the heavy-lifting boom and tried to catch up. But trends move faster than corporate gyms can.

Now, they’re stocked with equipment tailored for a trend that’s already cooling off.

Not failing. Just outpaced.

It’s a perfect example of how gyms react slowly, but culture changes fast. The test, especially around the holiday season is if the iconic gym can gain some seasonal-related traction.

Mobility and Hybrid Training Are Becoming the New “Strong”

Women didn’t stop being strong. They just redefined what strong looks like.

A lot of women now split their training between:

• Pilates + Hypertrophy

• Mobility + Stability

• Low-impact conditioning + moderate weights

• Functional training

• Walking + body recomposition work

Strength isn’t the headline anymore. Balance is.

Even men are following the shift — NFL players and trainers openly promote Pilates, mobility, and flexibility. TikTok is full of male influencers doing reformer sessions like it’s nothing new.

The aesthetic of wellness is changing again. And women, as usual, are leading the shift.

So… Is the Muscle Mommy Era Over?

Not at all. It’s just no longer the center of women’s fitness.

Think of it like this:

The Muscle Mommy era did exactly what it needed to do:

• Normalized women lifting heavy

• Pushed brands to rethink their marketing

• Forced gyms to upgrade equipment

• Influenced apparel trends

• Shifted beauty standards toward strong, capable bodies

Now the pendulum is moving toward a version of strength that’s less punishing and more sustainable.

Women aren’t abandoning strength.They’re widening the definition of it.

And when everything from GLP-1s to class bookings to gym equipment strategies is shifting at the same time, the big picture becomes hard to ignore:

The Muscle Mommy era didn’t die — it evolved.

Medical Disclaimer

The information provided in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. It should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any medical or mental health condition. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare professional or licensed mental health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, diagnosis, or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read here.