Monday Muscle - 6 Benefits of Weight Training for Women

Fitness is an important part of my life. I make it in the gym at least 4 days a week in the afternoons when it is the busiest. I do not mind the crowd of people who have the same goals I have to get and stay in shape. Whether you are working out at home or at the gym like I do, it is a must. Sometimes it is a workout in itself just trying to find an open machine or bench before some meat head hops on it. One afternoon of pumping iron it seemed like every piece of equipment I wanted to use was occupied...by a woman. Don't get me wrong I didn't mind one bit but it gave me the idea of writing this article.

For the longest time many women would not step foot in a weight room because many thought adding weights to their work out plans would give them an "unfeminine" look. Luckily, those days are long gone as many women of all ages have start to realize the many benefits of adding weight training to their work out routines. there are some women out there who still have negative feelings toward weight and strength training, read my top 6 reasons you should change your mind.

Top 6 Reasons Women Should Lift Weights

1.Burns More Fat/Calories

Weight training helps to shift those extra pounds

All women want to burn fat and get rid of those extra calories and weight training is perfect for both. According to IdeaFit.com,"the average woman who strength trains two to three times a week for eight weeks gains 1.75 pounds of lean weight or muscle and loses 3.5 pounds of fat." Sure cardio is great but at some point if that's all you do it becomes less effective as your body tends to become accustomed. And don't worry, since you have a lot less hormones that cause bulking up like us men, you do not have to lay off the weight training. If you want to burn more fat and calories add the weights.

2.Tones Muscles

A lean and sexy female physique is what women want and most achieve that physique by moving some serious iron in the weight room. While both weight training and cardio will help you burn fat, weight training will help defy and shape the muscles. Look at all the fitness models out there. I would bet the house that all work out with weights. You can tell when one only does cardio and one who does both. Guess who looks better? So for the look you want, grab those weights and tighten up.

3.Helps Fight Obesity

When you add muscle from weight training, you increase your metabolism even at rest. So even when you are not working out, your body is like a fat burning factory steady burning fat but at a higher rate than if you didn't lift weights. Let's say you gained three pounds of muscle and burn 40 extra calories per pound from your training program. That is 120 calories per day and 3600 per month. All those extra calories burn equals pounds melted away. Those pounds can average around 10 pounds in one year.

4.Prevent and Fights Osteoporosis

Weight training is great at any age

While muscle toning is an external benefit connected with weight training, improved bone density is an internal benefit. Studies have shown that weight training can increase spinal bone mineral density by 13 percent in six months. So strength training is a powerful tool against osteoporosis that all women should understand. After all, we only have one set of bones so with weight training women can most certainly strengthen them.

5.Makes You Physically Stronger

With all the day-to-day activities women take part in, they can make it a lot easier on themselves with gaining strength through lifting weights. Even something as simple as carrying box from the car to the house is a hassle but not with the extra strength you get from weight training. You never know when you may need that extra strength you gained by lifting weights. So lifting the children and those groceries won't be as difficult with all that new muscle you have. As much as I spend at the grocery store, it does wonders for me!

6.Weight Make You Mentally Stronger

With the increased muscle tone and the decrease in body fat from all the strength training, you women will love the way you look. It's a fact in both men and women that if you look good you feel good. Also, depression like symptoms exist higher in women than men and with weight training those characteristics will lessen greatly and in most cases disappear.

Bottom Line

Even though people say that men are from Mars and women are from Venus (or something like that), we can all train the same. In other words, weight training plan is just as important for women as men. It is time to stop listening to the media, misinformed people, and others who don't even know what a dumbbell is. Education is the key so get informed and get to lifting those weights.


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