Weight training is very beneficial for both genders, yet there are still some women who resist weight training because they don’t want to “bulk up”.
The truth is that in order to “bulk up” a woman would have to work out extremely long and hard. The reason for this is that women have much less of the hormone testosterone. Testosterone is the hormone responsible for building huge muscles.
Yet the argument still arises “what about the women bodybuilders?” Many women don’t want to get that big either. The women that you see on ESPN or whatever that are competing in the bodybuilding competitions and have large muscles have devoted most of their life to their sport. They work out for hours every day, they diet obsessively before a competition and they are committed to achieving their “ideal”. The average woman working out at the gym, 3 to 4 times per week will not likely be able to achieve muscles of that size or density.
But the average woman, working out at the gym 3-4 times per week will get all of the best benefits of weight training. They will become leaner and more toned. They will appear to be smaller even if their weight stays the same or even increases because muscle is denser and it weighs more than fat. They will become stronger. Their bones will become stronger. They will burn more calories just sitting still because muscles are more active tissue than fat. The benefits go on and on. Weight training is very beneficial and well worth incorporating into your exercise plan regardless of age or history.
In designing a weight training program for women, there will be few if any differences than if you were designing a program for men. With the exception of the reproductive system, a woman’s physiology is almost identical to that of a man. Of course the amount of weight will be different due to differences in strength, but the exercises will be the same.
There are some really great books available with workouts already planned. You can make an appointment with a personal trainer and get some information to get you started. You can even ask a friendly face at the gym for some tips. Be careful of that one though, because many serious exercisers resent having their workout interrupted. But the point is, get started. Begin today. Your body will Thank You!
