Should women lift weights or will they wind up looking big and bulky, a look which most females don't want? Alongside HIIT, this is one of the most popular questions in fitness clubs today.
This isn't a new phenomenon, and the myths surrounding it were dis-proven many years ago. However, every ten years the fitness industry throws up a new trend which brings the same old methods back into the mainstream. After kettlebells and circuit training in recent years, this year appears to be the return of high intensity cardio alongside pumping iron on a regular basis. []
That's right, women around the world are suddenly finding the confidence the ask about using resistance training on a regular basis. While trainers around the world are undoubtedly rejoicing in this, the fact is most ladies are still buying into a few of the old myths which used to surround this subject, most notably:
* If girls lift weights they will get big and bulky.
* Girls should only lift light weights.
* Women need to do low resistance and high repetitions to tone up.
* Girls who have strong legs should avoid weights because they'll make them even bigger.
The four myths shown above have dogged the fitness industry for decades, despite being dis-proven many times! Despite the huge scientific advantages we have over the generations before us, if you walked into a health club today you'd probably still be able to find a lot of ladies who believe these myths to be true.
Are you ready for the facts? Resistance training is absolutely vital for any lady looking to tone up and achieve a lean physique. To put is quite simply, you should be doing it.
Three of the issues in the myths above can be solved with one short statement. The female body does not release anywhere near enough testosterone as the male body. Therefore, if a lady wanted to get big she'd have to work considerably hard at it, it's not something which can happen overnight or by accident. Female bodybuilders have to supplement their diet with testosterone boosters and other products to pack on considerable size.
Moving from one weight to another isn't going to cause your body to develop massive muscles, so don't buy into that myth.
Training with barbells and dumbbells is a fantastic way to burn off more fat, as well as toning the muscles so they look leaner and stronger. You won't be getting bulky unless you're trying to bulk up, i.e. eating a bulking diet. Furthermore, if there is an area of your body which you consider to be too big at the moment, such as legs, then that is an area which would severely benefit from the use of resistance training.
Should women lift weights? Yes, without a doubt. You'll notice fantastic improvements in both lean muscle tone and fat loss. If you combine it with regular HIIT workouts, which is another area many ladies are a little unsure, then you have a solid formula for consistent results in the gym.
This isn't a new phenomenon, and the myths surrounding it were dis-proven many years ago. However, every ten years the fitness industry throws up a new trend which brings the same old methods back into the mainstream. After kettlebells and circuit training in recent years, this year appears to be the return of high intensity cardio alongside pumping iron on a regular basis. []
That's right, women around the world are suddenly finding the confidence the ask about using resistance training on a regular basis. While trainers around the world are undoubtedly rejoicing in this, the fact is most ladies are still buying into a few of the old myths which used to surround this subject, most notably:
* If girls lift weights they will get big and bulky.
* Girls should only lift light weights.
* Women need to do low resistance and high repetitions to tone up.
* Girls who have strong legs should avoid weights because they'll make them even bigger.
The four myths shown above have dogged the fitness industry for decades, despite being dis-proven many times! Despite the huge scientific advantages we have over the generations before us, if you walked into a health club today you'd probably still be able to find a lot of ladies who believe these myths to be true.
Are you ready for the facts? Resistance training is absolutely vital for any lady looking to tone up and achieve a lean physique. To put is quite simply, you should be doing it.
Three of the issues in the myths above can be solved with one short statement. The female body does not release anywhere near enough testosterone as the male body. Therefore, if a lady wanted to get big she'd have to work considerably hard at it, it's not something which can happen overnight or by accident. Female bodybuilders have to supplement their diet with testosterone boosters and other products to pack on considerable size.
Moving from one weight to another isn't going to cause your body to develop massive muscles, so don't buy into that myth.
Training with barbells and dumbbells is a fantastic way to burn off more fat, as well as toning the muscles so they look leaner and stronger. You won't be getting bulky unless you're trying to bulk up, i.e. eating a bulking diet. Furthermore, if there is an area of your body which you consider to be too big at the moment, such as legs, then that is an area which would severely benefit from the use of resistance training.
Should women lift weights? Yes, without a doubt. You'll notice fantastic improvements in both lean muscle tone and fat loss. If you combine it with regular HIIT workouts, which is another area many ladies are a little unsure, then you have a solid formula for consistent results in the gym.
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Need more help? Russ Howe PTI discusses the myth should women lift weights or avoid them? You can also find out the benefits of implementing hiit workouts alongside your current routine to increase fat loss results massively.
