You often see fit women on the cover of fitness magazines, holding dumbbells with headlines like "LOSE WEIGHT FAST" showing off their toned abs. But what’s the deal with the dumbbells? Isn’t the myth that women are supposed to stick to cardio to achieve their dream figures?
There are countless benefits to lifting weights that can help anyone achieve their best shape. The most recognized benefits are gaining strength through progressive overload and building muscle through hypertrophy training. These benefits are great and there are additional advantages that might be especially appealing to women.
Weight Loss and Muscle Gain
One major benefit is that lifting weights promotes weight loss. Adding muscle through weight lifting increases your metabolic rate, meaning your body burns more calories throughout the day to support your new muscle even when you’re not working out or simply at rest.
Shaping Your Body
Lifting weights also helps shape the body. If you only do cardio, you might lose weight, but you’ll maintain the same body shape, just smaller. Adding muscle in the right places can give you a more defined, curvy and fit appearance.
Lifting Heavy
The key is simple ladies— lift heavy. Using 3-pound dumbbells won’t give you the results you’re looking for. To achieve a strong and toned physique, you need to challenge yourself with heavier weights. Don’t worry about getting too bulky; women generally have a harder time gaining large amounts of muscle due to lower testosterone levels compared to men. As well as they tend to not eat enough to support a “bulky” frame.
Remember, before starting any new workout regime, give your friendly neighbourhood fitness professional or doctor a shout.
Emmanuel Ofori - eMotivates
Your friendly neighbourhood fitness professional
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