6 GREAT REASONS WHY WOMEN SHOULD LIFT WEIGHTS

Most women only stick to the traditional cardio and stretching exercises at the gym. Many would argue why women should lift at all.

Of course, I know you don’t want to bulk up and become the new She-Hulk. I know all you want is a lean and a toned physique. But let me tell you that cardio alone isn’t going to get you there.

You might have also heard a lot of mythical BS like – lifting will make you muscular and manly, it’s bad for the joints and if you stop lifting then the muscles will turn into fat!

Don’t let this kind of stereotyping hold you back from exploring a new and a very important facet of fitness which you’ve probably overlooked so far.

Also, you might literally have to live in the weights room to become really muscular as women only possess a fraction of the testosterone that men have.

I will give you 6 very solid reasons why women should lift weights.

 

 

1. TORCH MORE FAT

 

You might think that lifting weights only benefits people who want to add more size.

Although many people do prefer bodybuilding workouts just for size, quite incredibly when combined with a good cardio strategy, it can also lead you to exponential fat-loss.

Even though cardio usually does burn more calories than a resistance training session, it is the EPOC effect (excess post-exercise oxygen consumption) that forces your body to consume more oxygen for several hours after your workout.

To consume more oxygen, your body burns more calories which in turn increases your metabolism.

Over time, as your lean muscle mass increases, your body will be burning more calories even at rest.

It is estimated that women from age 30 to 70 years lose close to 25% muscle mass. Therefore, our metabolism rate starts decreasing as we age more and we tend to put on more fat.

But if we can build and sustain more muscle mass, our caloric expenditure will also increase thereby resulting in a higher metabolism rate.

 

 

2. ADD THOSE CURVES

 

Most women think that spending endless hours on the treadmill and eating very little is the best way to stay lean and get in shape.

The truth is almost the absolute opposite of this belief.

If you eat less and do a lot of cardio, you will surely lose fat. But you will also lose muscle and eventually you’ll start losing the curves of your body.

The key to great curves and an hourglass figure is to build muscle. If you lose both muscle and fat, you will surely look skinnier but your body will be flabbier and not firm.

So in order to get those nicely toned legs, arms and a lean waist you should definitely use lifting to your advantage.

 

 

3. BETTER SLEEP QUALITY AND MORE ENERGY

 

Resistance training can assist you to fall asleep faster, sleep deeper and will also make you wake up less often at night.

Along with better sleep quality, strength training also induces the release of ‘feel-good’ hormones in the human body.

While a cardio session may leave you completely exhausted, a lifting session will make you feel more energized and positive, leading to a higher sense of vitality throughout the day.

 

 

4. IMPROVES HEART HEALTH

 

Lifting weights can greatly reduce the risks of suffering from a heart ailment.

A study has shown that people who lift weights are less likely to have a large waist, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. All these factors are very much related to heart diseases.

Bodybuilding workouts keep your cardiovascular system healthy as it induces more blood flow to the muscles.

This is a great reason why women should lift as heart diseases are on the rise, thanks to our food and lifestyle habits.

 

 

5. STRONGER BONES

 

As we age, we start losing muscle and bone mass.

It is estimated that 80% of the people suffering from osteoporosis are women.

Osteoporosis is a condition where the bones become weak and fragile. This usually happens due to calcium deficiency and lack of load-bearing movements.

Low bone mass is a major risk factor for fractures, especially among women.

Women should lift weights as it has shown to increase the bone density and thus, you have higher chances of maintaining good bone health later in life.

 

 

6. STRESS RELIEF AND MENTAL HEALTH

 

Research shows that lifting weights can help you beat the blues. It can help a great deal in reducing stress, anxiety and even depression.

As I mentioned earlier, strength training induces the release of ‘feel-good’ hormones. Which is why we feel positive and energized after a lifting session.

This feeling combined with the results that you’ll see from your workouts may even boost your confidence and self-esteem.

A study shows that 8 out of every 10 girls and young women are often not happy with their body-image. This can lead to a lower self-esteem.

Even though you may not see visible results immediately, but you will definitely begin to feel a lot better about yourself once you start lifting.

 

 

You’ve just read 6 very good reasons why women should lift.

Apart from these, there are many other cool things that you will see happening in your life.

Fitting into those favorite jeans, playing with kids and not feeling tired, lifting heavy stuff like furniture effortlessly, and dealing with a highly stressful professional life are just a few.

So, ladies, don’t shy away from the weights. Incorporate lifting into your routine and open the doors to awesomeness!

 

Thanks for reading. Please share your experiences if you are a woman who lifts or practically anyone who lifts. Do share this with your friends and family if you found it useful.