Why Women Should Strength Train

Why Woman Should Strength Train

Despite study after study supporting the benefits of strength training, many women still opt for cardio over weights. Maybe they’re worried about “bulking up.” Women have seen a far too many beefy men grunting it out in the weight room and fear that if they pick up a dumbbell they’ll suddenly start to resemble a linebacker too.

This can happen, although it’s extremely rare. For most women this just isn’t possible. Ladies have too much estrogen in their hormonal makeup. So what is the secret to looking tone? Strength training!

Here are nine reasons why women should strength train at least two or three times a week.

1. Your metabolism will soar.

As women age they naturally lose muscle mass. This causes your metabolism to slow, which means you could start building a spare tire by the time you reach your 30s. When you do weight-bearing exercises, you start revving up your metabolism—and it keeps burning for many hours after your workout.

2. You’ll you burn fat.

Muscle tissue is more "active" than fat tissue, with each pound burning about 30 calories a day just to sustain itself. So even if you’re sitting on the couch or are stuck at your desk for eight hours a day, the extra muscle mass you develop will burn more calories, helping you finally get rid of that spare tire—and keep it off for good.

3. Your body will get tighter.

While cardio is important and will help melt fat, weights sculpt your body, creating curves and definition right where you want it. They also help fight the effects of gravity, making you much less likely to have arm jiggle in your upper arms.

4. You’ll fit into your skinny jeans.

One pound of fat takes up much more space than one pound of muscle .So even though muscle weighs more, which would you rather have all over your body? Something that’s bulky, like body fat, or something that’s lean, and takes up less space, like muscle?

5. You’ll reduce your risk of heart disease and diabetes.

Curbing age-related muscles loss isn’t just good for your looks; it can protect your heart and help ward off type 2 diabetes, too. Muscle helps remove glucose and triglycerides from the bloodstream, which reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes, as well as hardening of the arteries.

6. Your blood pressure could drop.

Strength training lowers blood pressure for ten to twelve hours after each session, which gives your heart a break. How strength training does this is not completely understood, but it probably has subtle effects on everything from hormones to nervous system regulation.

7. You can do it anytime, anywhere.

You don’t need a lot of space or a lot of special equipment to get a great strength workout. Simply using your own bodyweight through the use of pushups, planks, chair dips, squats, and pull-ups is enough to tone and strengthen your entire body. Bonus: You can do it indoors, which means you don’t have to weather the cold, freezing temps of winter or the scorching heat of summer.

8. You’ll blast loads of calories.

Plyometric strength moves (think squat jumps and burpees and kettlebell workouts) skyrocket your heart rate, which boosts the calorie burn of regular strength training routines. These types of workouts give you cardio, strength, and sculpting all in one, which is a great timesaver.

9. It’s good for your bones.

Lifting weights can help counteract age-related bone loss. Strengthening your muscles also improves balance and keeps you as strong as possible which lowers your chances of a fall-related fracture. 

Now that the myths have been put to rest and the befits of strength training for woman brought into light, ladies pick up that dumbbell and hit the weight room. Your new strong tone body will thank you for it!