Strength training for women

The numbers of women participating in strength training is much lower than it should be for a number of reasons. Many women believe that cardio is the best way to loose weight and don’t venture into the weights room as they are afraid of looking too ‘bulky’. The problem they find is that although they may lose some weight, they aren’t building any muscle.

Although cardio is important for overall health and wellbeing it is only half of the equation. For optimal fitness, longevity, and to achieve a healthy body, weight training is essential and many women are missing out on this!

A few reasons how strength training can help you:

You burn more fat

With an intense weight training program your metabolism will stay elevated and you will continue to burn more calories (and fat) for up to 48 hours after you exercise. During regular cardio you will stop burning fat shortly after the workout.

You will gain strength

You will you see a change in your body and also feel stronger and healthier. You don’t have to be an athlete to feel these benefits as improved muscle mass and strength will help you in all forms of physical activity. And no you won’t bulk up, women don’t have enough testosterone to gain a lot of muscle mass like men do.

You’ll build stronger bones

It will strengthen your muscles and will also increase bone density, in turn maintaining strong and healthy bones. This is important as women are more at risk of developing osteoporosis earlier than men.

It will boost your mood

Lifting weights benefits your mental wellbeing. It has been proven that weight training will encourage the release of more endorphin hormones than cardio.