Debunking Weight Lifting Myths: Why Women SHOULD Lift Weights

Most women go to the gym to keep fit and healthy, but while the cardio area is packed, it’s typical to see only one or two women in the weight room. According to data, only 21% of women participate in weight training.

Despite its lack of popularity, weight lifting has proven to be highly beneficial for women’s health, but fear of getting bulky and other weight lifting myths have made women resist strength training. To get out of this negative mindset, here are a few reasons why you should start weight training today.

Benefits Of Weight Lifting

Weight training for three to six months has been shown to improve bone density, muscle tone, strength, and athletic performance in women by up to 50%. Moreover, resistance training fights the aging process as it maintains lean muscle tissue. It can also improve your health as it lowers the risk of diabetes and is beneficial for women suffering from depression.

Weight lifting can help you maintain a healthy weight and improve performance in your daily activities. The following are just some of the reasons why women should start weight lifting, and why you should take these myths with a grain of salt.

Weight Lifting Will Make You Look Bulky

This is perhaps the primary reason why so many women shy away from weight lifting. But according to experts, it’s impossible for females to have muscles as seen on Arnold Schwarzenegger as women have testosterone levels that are 15 to 20 times lower than men.

Moreover, one can only bulk up if a person increases his or her calorie intake while weight training, so consuming recommended portions of healthy food is key to get that lean and toned look that you want.

You’ll Look Unfeminine Once You Start Lifting Weights

Some women think that weight training will cause them to become stiff, muscle-bound, and unfeminine. However, strength training actually increases flexibility and can give you a strong yet still utterly feminine physique—think Jessica Biel and Michelle Obama. Sadly, another reason why more women don’t lift weights is that there’s a double standard when it comes to women’s fitness, that females should be toned but never muscle-y.

It’s no wonder that women choose to spend more time on the treadmill than the weight room in gyms all over the country. But if you overcome this way of thinking, you’ll realize that having toned muscles doesn’t detract from your femininity and that it gives you a strong and healthy look.

Weight Lifting Does Not Burn As Many Calories As Cardio

Some women feel that weight lifting does nothing to melt the pounds off and that cardio is the only way to shed the fat. However, the more muscle you have, the more effective your body gets at burning calories, so you’re able to burn calories even when you’re at rest.

Lifting weights can be the way to get that lean and toned body that you want. For better health, start weight training and see what a difference it can make in your life.

*All credits for this article go to Jane Sandwood.