Want a lean, fit body? Are you tired of doing cardio every day? Is so, start lifting weights! Strength training will make you stronger and fitter. While it's commonly assumed that weight training makes women bulky, this is just a myth. Lifting weights is one of the best things you can do for your health. Not only you'll look amazing, but feel empowered and have more energy.

 

The Surprising Benefits of Weight Training

Women of all ages can benefit from strength training. This form of exercise burns fat, increases lean muscle, and makes your bones strong. It also reduces your risk of heart disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. Whether you want to slim down or build lean muscle, strength training is the way to go.

Cardio exercises burn calories and keep your heart healthy. However, they also cause muscle loss and increase cortisol levels. Cortisol is the stress hormone. When the body produces too much of it, your metabolism slows down. In other words, the more cardio you do, the harder will be to lose weight.

Strength training does exactly the opposite - it speeds up your metabolism, causing your body to burn more calories at rest. Most strength exercises also increase balance and coordination, regulate blood sugar, and improve fat metabolism. Over time, they can change your body’s composition and give you an athletic appearance.

 

Getting Started

Women can train the same way as men do without having to worry about getting bulky. Their testosterone levels are too low to allow excessive muscle growth. For optimal results, split your workout routine throughout the week. Train one or two muscle groups per session and do no more than 30 minutes of cardio post workout.

Focus on compound exercises, such as the deadlift, the squat, and lunges. These moves offer a full body workout and make you stronger overall. Don’t be afraid to challenge your body and increase the load gradually.