By PowerMax Fitness / 28 May 2020
Okay so I know what you’re thinking won’t I become too bulky if I lift weights. Won’t the end result be a little too muscular and masculine?
Well, the simple answer is no.
This article wishes to break this very stereotype and help women get stronger and healthier.
The misconception that weight and strength training is just a man’s workout has hovered around for decades now. Yoga, Zumba, and Spin classes are marketed to women as the ideal female workout options and they do have their benefits I’ll concede, but they don’t make you the strong and powerful individual you deserve to be. Shying away from weight training and sticking to cardio won’t get you anywhere near that dream body. A combination of these, however, will definitely get you there.
You might be surprised to know that even celebrities like Scarlett Johansson, Kate Upton, Jennifer Lopez, and Blake Lively to name a few, undergo rigorous weight and strength training regimes and nobody ever looks at them and goes ‘hmm…. too bulky.’
We, women, need to stop equating being thin with being fit. Weight loss is not necessarily always healthy and will not always guarantee a longer and better life. Strength and weight training not only is an excellent way to shed those extra pounds, but it also makes you stronger, healthier, and leaner. Lifting weights gives you a strongly sculpted body that not only looks good but also feels good, Anyway if that doesn’t persuade you maybe this will.
Wonderful ways in which women benefit from weight training.
Weight training and strength training isn’t just about building muscles. It comes loaded with several benefits such as:
1. Wonder Body and Strength
What lifting weights does to your body is unparalleled by any other form of exercise as it increases your metabolism and ensures that it stays up for hours after your workout which means that you burn more calories thereby lose more weight. It helps you gain lean muscle mass which is way less bulky than fat as it takes up way less space furnishing you with a fully toned body. It also improves your endurance and combats the effects of aging.
2. Wonder Bones and Balance
Weight training won’t just help with muscle mass acquisition it also keeps your bones strong. It is a way of improving bone strength, reducing bone loss, and preventing fractures due to osteoporosis. It also helps correct posture and improves balance. These things go a long way when you’re older and more prone to falls and broken bones. Some studies even show that weightlifting is helpful in building bones and their density as well and since women lose up to 20% of their bone density after menopause, weight lifting should be on top of anti-aging measures.
3. Wonder Immunity and Health
Strength training does more to your body than making you lean and toned. It is an excellent way to combat inflammation and regulate insulin levels. It keeps you healthy by fighting against various diseases like Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, Heart disease, and Osteoporosis. Studies have also shown that weight lifting is an effective way to reduce the suffering caused by chronic arthritis by strengthening the muscle group, improving flexibility, and reducing inflammation of the joints. It boosts immunity and safeguards your health. But don’t overtrain as that has the opposite effect.
4. Most Importantly, Wonder Confidence
Some studies have suggested that weight training may ease symptoms of depression, anxiety, and boost self-esteem. Lifting weights is an excellent way to feel good about yourself. The heavier the weights the more accomplished you feel. It also helps women feel safer and protected as they can easily defend themselves by their own sheer strength and power much like Wonder Woman.
