Ok, so let’s blow this myth straight out of the water. There’s absolutely no reason why women shouldn’t lift weights. It doesn’t have to make you bulky or manly and, in fact, it is an absolutely excellent way to keep in shape, tone up and stay fit.
Weight lifting is the buzz word of the moment – to such an extent that celebrity trainers all over the UK are shouting from the rooftops about how, when it comes to fitness for women, it’s most definitely the way forward.
We absolutely love weight training at Physfit and, under the guidance of our professional trainers, there’s absolutely no-one who shouldn’t benefit from doing it.
So, having established that it’s a great thing for both men and women to lift weights, here is our guide to weight training, with more reasons why you should do it and the great things it can do for your body.
Why women shouldn’t be scared to lift
As women, we don’t have the testosterone levels to bulk up – and it’s this which makes male bodybuilders look the way they do (sometimes with a little extra help).
Believe it or not, for women it’s actually incredibly hard to build muscle to the Arnie type image that you might be worried about. Female bodybuilders, you see in competition have to train a ridiculous amount, often for many years, on a mega strict and not very appealing diet to look that way.
Instead, you’ll sculpt your body. This isn’t going to be done through lifting baby dumbbells – keep them for the aerobics class. Look at heavier weights (lifted in the correct way) and it’s this which will sculpt your body and give you the kind of rock solid tone and definition you’ve been dreaming of.
There’s no need to worry about doing damage to your body either. When you lift weights in the right environment, under the guidance of a professional, you can be sure that you’ll put exactly the right kind of pressure on your body to help you get the look you need.
The advantages of weight training
So, now you know why, as a woman, you shouldn’t be scared to lift, but what are the advantages of weight training overall for both sexes?
- It will make you feel stronger in body, mind and soul.
- Being stronger boosts your confidence.
- Resistance training strengthens bones – reducing the chance of osteoporosis.
- It supports cardiovascular training, such as running and swimming, as the added strength makes you able to do more.
- You’ll find you’re more able to function well in your daily routine – by lifting shopping, children etc.
- Reduce the risk of serious and chronic illness.
- You’ll make your body more efficient. By putting pressure on your muscles and body in general through exercise, it ups the ante to cope and function better. Us humans are great at adapting to physical and environmental change.
You’ll also increase your metabolism and calorie burn by lifting weights (in case you were thinking it was only cardio workouts that are good for this). Increasing your muscle mass by lifting weights will, in turn, up your resting metabolic rate, as the body works hard and burns calories to repair tired muscles in the period of time after your training.
And, of course, the higher your metabolism and calorie burn, the more weight loss you’ll get from it if that’s what you’re looking to achieve.
Join Physfit today to start
If you would like to find out more about weight training the way the professionals do it, then get in touch with our friendly team who will be more than happy to help offer advice and support.
Or you can join Physfit today to start on the road to weightlifting success.
