Caroline has been lifting weights for over 2 years now. Even through pregnancy.
One of the major misconceptions in the fitness community is that women should not lift weights. Nothing is further from the truth. The typical excuse is that lifting weights will make you bulky. This is far from the truth. Women simply do not possess the level of anabolic hormones (testosterone) that men do. These hormones are what allow men to gain bulk.
Weight training reduces bone density and muscle loss. Because women have less muscle mass than men, weight training is necessary to fight off the natural atrophy of muscles as we get older, and are less active. It’s this atrophy, and the resultant loss in strength, that cause us to require assistance with the basic activities of daily living as we age.
Weight training decreases cholesterol and blood pressure. Studies have also shown that weight training has similar effects on high blood pressure and cholesterol as does aerobic exercise (running, spinning, etc). In older adults, weight training has been shown to improve fitness and mood independent of cardiovascular exercise alone.
Weight training improves mental health. Weight training also has a direct impact on anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. Studies show a direct correlation to lower anxiety and better overall mental health.
Weight training will help you build the body you want. Whether your goal is to get lean or look more athletic, weight training is the answer. By doing progressive weight training, your body will undergo more of a change than if you did cardio alone. In fact, doing steady state cardio alone will eventually slow your progress towards reaching your goals as your body begins to adapt.
Weight training boosts self-confidence. Along with improving mental health, weight training has the added benefit of increasing self-confidence. When I started to weight train, I notices not only an increase in physical strength, but I also became more confident in my personal life, as well as in my professional life.
Weight training improves your ability to do everyday tasks. One of the fears I have is not being able to take care of myself as I age. But equally as important is the ability to do daily tasks that require some degree of physical strength. Nothing pains me more than to see women who need assistance placing luggage overhead on an airplane; can’t move furniture on their own; are unable to lift up their children without struggling; or are unable to open a jar of spaghetti. Whether it’s lifting up a bag of mulch, carrying groceries, or walking up a flight of stairs, weight lifting will have a positive impact.
These are but a few of the benefits of weight lifting. It’s not difficult to start, and we are here to help. Schedule your one-on-one goal setting session with us so we can help you develop a plan to get you in the best shape of your life.