Why Is Weight Training Important For Women?

For far too long now women have shied away from engaging in weight training programs through fear of becoming bulky and unfeminine. This is purely a misconception largely created by the media. Fortunately, the benefits of weight training far exceed the scope of just helping a women look better. Weight training helps improve physical, mental and emotional wellbeing almost immediately and well into the future and should be a part of everyone’s weekly routine, regardless if you’re male or female. The following are some of the rewards that you will benefit from if you quiet your fears and get involved.

Stronger Muscles

Weight training helps to increase muscle strength allowing you to perform daily activities with more ease. Building and strengthening your muscles will help to support the ligaments and tendons that stabilise your joints and improve balance and coordination, minimizing your risk of injury and helping you maintain your independence as you age. As we get older our muscle mass diminishes and body fat increases. Weight training can help counteract or slow this process. Regardless of your age, evolvement in a weight training program can help to preserve and even enhance your muscle mass. This will keep you fit and strong allowing you to live and active and happy lifestyle with minimal restriction.

Improve Bone Density

Not only does weight training strengthen your muscles but it also improves bone density creating stronger bones. As women age and undergo natural hormonal changes their risk of developing osteopenia or osteoporosis increases.  These conditions mean bone density is lower, increasing the risk of bone fractures. Weight training slows the deterioration of your bones and will strengthen the bones reducing the danger of developing these conditions. Weight training can and should be started as young as adolescence to reduce the bone loss that comes with age and inactivity. Whilst it’s recommended to start early it’s never too late to start as a stronger skeletal system can be obtained at any age.

A Firmer, More Defined You

Traditionally, women spend hours upon hours running or walking on the treadmill and still never end up and closer to that desired trim, taught and terrific body that they have been dreaming of. Whilst cardio is an important part of helping you achieve a defined and sculpted body and should not be ignored, it is not without weight training that such a physique can be achieved. Weight training aids in the development of lean muscle mass and gives your muscles shape and firmness. “But what if I get bulky” you say. The fact of the matter is that women do not naturally produce high enough levels of testosterone (a muscle building hormone) to develop muscle at the same rate or to the same extent as our male counterparts. Women also produce higher levels of estrogen which inhibits our muscle building capabilities even further. So that image rolling around in your head of that women with hulk like muscles is not a body type that can be naturally acquired by a female, weight training or not.

Boosted Metabolism

Weight Training can boost metabolism and aid in weight loss in more ways than one. Lean muscle mass burns calories at a higher rate than that of fat mass. This means that even at rest a person will burn more calories than that of their less conditioned peers. All forms of exercise elevate our metabolism. However during regular cardio exercise our increased fat burning capabilities cease shortly after. With weight training metabolism can stay boosted for up to 48 hours. This is why weight training plays a crucial role in any healthy, long term weight loss plan.

A Healthy Mind & Body

If all of that wasn’t enough to convince you that weight training is your friend then maybe this will get you across the line. Obviously weight training can help curb the obesity epidemic due to the boost in our metabolic rate. It can also help to improve glucose utilisation helping reduce risk of diabetes. Lifting weights increases our HDL (good cholesterol) and decreases LDL (bad cholesterol) and assists in lowering blood pressure. This mean it’s a must for good heart health. Weight training to develop a stronger core will reduce load on the muscles of the lower back helping to alleviate lower back pain. It has also been commonly reported that women who weight train feel more confident and capable as a result of their program. This improves self-esteem and self-worth. It’s well documented that cardio gives you a hit of happy endorphins that help improve mood, these same endorphins are present during weight training.

As you can now see, weight training can be an effective tool in helping you achieve a balanced, healthy lifestyle now and as you age. That body you have so longed for is now becoming a realistic goal. Getting started on a weight training program is easy and can be done at home, outdoors or in a gym environment. If you’re a beginner to weight training I would highly recommend you seek the advice of a qualified personal trainer or health care professional. This will ensure your technique is sound, allowing you to train safely and efficiently so you can achieve the best results.

xx Tara

What is your favourite weights exercise? Let me know in the comments section below. Join our PAC and book in a time to see the gym and chat about your health and fitness goals.

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