Weight lifting is actually quite important for women, although not many may be fond of it.
Let’s get one thing straight: weightlifting DOES NOT make women bulkier, nor does it turn their bodies into bodybuilders That’s just a myth. In fact, the American College of Sports Medicine actually recommends it (check this out if you won’t take my word for it)
So why should you even consider taking up weight training?
1.You’ll burn more fat.
Uhh….thought aerobics did that.
Here’s where you’re wrong. Aerobic exercise actually burns both fat and muscle whereas weightlifting burns almost only fat. Basically, when you do any type of cardio exercise, your body will use lean muscle for energy. It’s actually a vicious cycle: the less lean muscle you have, the more fat your body will store and thus reaching your ideal weight will become a nightmare.
2. You’ll boost your metabolism
Long story short: the more muscles you have, the better your metabolism will function.
One of the major benefits of weight lifting is that it continues to give your metabolism a boost long after you’ve finished your workout. This happens because your body is challenged to such an extent that it needs around a day and a half to recover (period in which your metabolism will work overtime)
3. You’ll strengthen your bones
You read that right. You won’t just be working out your muscles.
Strength training increases bone mass. It basically stimulates bone formation and it lowers the risk of osteoporosis. So along with taking calcium, basking in the sun for vitamin D and taking care of any hormonal issues that might trigger osteoporosis, weight training is of the essence. Aerobics doesn’t help at all with that (though it’s great for the cardiovascular system)
The best such exercises are step ups, lunges and squats.
4.You’ll deal with stress better
When finishing a challenging weight session, your body will release endorphins that will trigger a state similar to “runner’s high”. Besides, by constantly challenging yourself and pushing through your mental limits, your confidence will skyrocket and you will become stronger not just physically, but also mentally. Moreover, fit women react better in stressful situation because the fitter their body is, the lower their stress hormones are and their blood pressure regulates itself much faster.
5. You’ll reshape your body
Yes, cardio will definitely help you lose those pounds but it won’t go far shaping it.
By adding weight training to your workouts sessions, in time, you will notice how your body will become leaner and how your body will look more balanced. What’s more, by working out your core area your posture will dramatically improve and your spine will strengthen (all those office hours really take their toll on you.)
In the end, it’s up to you what routines you’re willing to try. Speak to a trainer to make sure you’re doing everything right and you’re mixing things up so you achieve your desired results.
If you’re worried about weight lifting related injuries, know that you can minimize those risks by wearing appropriate gym gear suck as weightlifting gloves with wrist support or knee wraps that will take away some of the pressure on your knee caps.
