Why women should lift weights
When women join the gym or ask for a programme, the most common phrase we hear is "I don't want to look big and muscly like a man".
However they always follow this up with, "but I want better shoulders, a nice toned back and good arms, with a perky bum".
- When we use the phrase "tone" we are essentially saying building muscle. However... women don't have anywhere near the amount of testosterone in their bodies as men do. Therefore their muscle building abilities are hindered. Just as a females oestrogen levels are higher than a males. - We also have to remember that building muscle takes a lot of time. 4 sessions in the gym for 3 months will not "bulk" you up, nor overnight will you suddenly develop a huge set of shoulders or arms.
What you will be doing is making your muscles metabolically more active, therefore increasing the rate at which your body burns fat. Also strengthening your muscles, joints, tendons and ligaments. Your overall body shape will also improve.
- So all in all, lifting weights will not bulk you up, and certainly not over night. Unless you are injecting testosterone into your system and you have stuck to an incredibly strict diet for more than 5 years with 5-6 training sessions a week, you won't end up looking "like a man". So lift weights, book in for a programme design or a Personal Training session if your not confident - you'll look better and feel better within no time!
