Should women lift weights on a regular basis? This question, alongside HIIT, is easily one of the most asked questions in gyms around the world today. Get ready for an in depth look into the answer.
Every couple of years a new exercise trend hits the market. Usually it's something which has been around for years, but has suddenly been brought back into the mainstream after being repackaged or endorsed by a celebrity trainer. The last few years have seen the reemergence of kettlebell training, boxercise and boot camps. This year, the trend is set by high intensity interval training and resistance workouts. []
The fact that more and more ladies are suddenly plucking up the confidence to wander over to the free weights section of their local gym is a truly great thing. However, many are still scared by the myths which surround females and resistance training, including:
* Resistance training is meant for men, and will make women bulky.
* Ladies should never lift anything heavy.
* Girls should be doing very high reps to tone up, because lower reps will make them bigger.
* Avoid training your lower body if you do cardiovascular exercise, because it will give you bigger legs...
Despite the fact that the myths above have been dis-proven so many times, they still exist in most gyms and health clubs. While regular exercise enthusiasts know them to be false, the mainstream still overwhelmingly buys into the myth that women should avoid resistance training for the reasons shown above.
To put it bluntly, yes, ladies should be incorporating resistance training into their routine. You cannot achieve a lean physique without making your body work against some sort of resistance.
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.
So worrying about lifting a slightly heavier weight and seeing massive gains is nonsense.
The ironic thing is that most ladies who are terrified of resistance training list fat loss as their main fitness goal. Fat loss is one of the biggest benefits to a regular resistance training program. Your body experiences a phenomenon known as excess post-exercise oxygen consumption, E.P.O.C. for short, in which you continue to power through calories at an increased level well after you finish training. It's also one of the best ways to tone up a body part you consider to be bulky at the moment, i.e. legs.
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.
Every couple of years a new exercise trend hits the market. Usually it's something which has been around for years, but has suddenly been brought back into the mainstream after being repackaged or endorsed by a celebrity trainer. The last few years have seen the reemergence of kettlebell training, boxercise and boot camps. This year, the trend is set by high intensity interval training and resistance workouts. []
The fact that more and more ladies are suddenly plucking up the confidence to wander over to the free weights section of their local gym is a truly great thing. However, many are still scared by the myths which surround females and resistance training, including:
* Resistance training is meant for men, and will make women bulky.
* Ladies should never lift anything heavy.
* Girls should be doing very high reps to tone up, because lower reps will make them bigger.
* Avoid training your lower body if you do cardiovascular exercise, because it will give you bigger legs...
Despite the fact that the myths above have been dis-proven so many times, they still exist in most gyms and health clubs. While regular exercise enthusiasts know them to be false, the mainstream still overwhelmingly buys into the myth that women should avoid resistance training for the reasons shown above.
To put it bluntly, yes, ladies should be incorporating resistance training into their routine. You cannot achieve a lean physique without making your body work against some sort of resistance.
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.
So worrying about lifting a slightly heavier weight and seeing massive gains is nonsense.
The ironic thing is that most ladies who are terrified of resistance training list fat loss as their main fitness goal. Fat loss is one of the biggest benefits to a regular resistance training program. Your body experiences a phenomenon known as excess post-exercise oxygen consumption, E.P.O.C. for short, in which you continue to power through calories at an increased level well after you finish training. It's also one of the best ways to tone up a body part you consider to be bulky at the moment, i.e. legs.
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 just cardio? You can also discover the benefits of using hiit workouts alongside your current routine to increase fat burning immediately.