You can still be a glam girl and lift weights.
It’s a common misconception that if you lift weights, you will bulk up. If you lift
heavy weights, in due time you could. But if you do a routine of low weight with high repetition, you will find that you will look leaner than you ever could with just a cardio routine and a clean diet.
Strength training can offer numerous perks for your body and mind. To give you a better idea, here are the various benefits of weightlifting for women.
1. YOU’LL GAIN STRENGTH
Most of us start exercising to lose weight. But, along our fitness journey we develop other valuable attributes, like physical strength. For a lot of women, they avoid weight training exercises, thinking that it will bulk up their slender physique. However, unlike males, females don’t have enough testosterone, which allows men to gain size as a result of weightlifting. Instead, women will create some muscles and become stronger. So, don’t be surprised when you start lifting heavy grocery bags or moving your furniture with ease after weeks of strength training.
2. MAY PREVENT OSTEOPOROSIS
Preventing osteoporosis is one of the most valuable benefits of weightlifting for women. Remember, as we grow older, our bones become fragile and may break easily. This problem is especially true for postmenopausal women due to the low production of estrogen. Nonetheless, strength training is an excellent way to lower your risk of developing osteoporosis. Like our muscles, our bones also become stronger through weight-bearing exercises, like weightlifting. The best part is that the earlier you start training, you’ll have a greater chance of acquiring healthy bones as you age.
3. BOOSTS YOUR METABOLISM
Through strength training you will build your muscles. This result is not a bad effect for numerous reasons. One, in particular, is that your muscles need more calories. As such, muscles can give you a faster metabolism, allowing you to burn a lot of calories even when you’re not exercising. So, if you’re aim is to lose unwanted fats or pounds, weight training is an essential workout you need to add in your fitness program.
4. PROMOTES A HEALTHY HEART
Aside from those benefits of weightlifting for women, doing these types of exercises can also help prevent heart problems. As you know, strength training can trim your waistline and stabilize your blood pressure. Moreover, lifting weights can also help decrease your bad cholesterol and increase your good cholesterol levels. All these effects lead to a strong and healthy cardiovascular system, especially when you include other heart-pumping activities in your workout routine.
5. IMPROVES YOUR MOOD
A lot of women rely on yoga, dance classes, and other cardio exercises to ease their stress and anxieties. But, did you know that strength training can also help uplift your mood? This effect is not only because lifting heavy dumbbells or barbells requires focus, which can distract you from your day-to-day’s worries. When strength training, your body releases endorphins. This chemical initially acts as a painkiller, but it can also help improve your mood, reduce stress, and beat depression. An added bonus is that you’re going to sleep better after lifting weights, which also improves your mental health.
6. REVEALS YOUR CURVES
It is a common belief that our genes determine our overall appearance, but that is not entirely true. Having muscles can add definition to your physique and reveal your curves, especially when you lose some excess body fat. The best way to achieve this is by combining weight lifting and cardio exercises in your workout program. Consuming a healthy diet with metabolism-boosting foods will also help reveal your sexy body. It’s worked for celebrities like Khloe Kardashian and Hilary Duff and both of these women look strong and sexy.
Overall, strength training will develop your muscles, giving you a strong and alluring physique. Don’t be afraid to carry heavy barbells or use a lat pulldown machine. You got this girl.
