Why Females Should Lift Weights 🏋️

It’s almost the end of the year. Come January 1^st 2020, gyms across America will be flooded with “new year resolutioners” – both male and female new members alike.

One thing I’ve always noticed in the beginning of each year: Newbie male members curling in the squat rack (not that there’s anything wrong with that, we all gotta start somewhere) and newbie female members doing cardio on the treadmill or elliptical (again, nothing wrong with that). 

Here’s the point I’m trying to make: Many females are afraid to lift weights. That’s not an opinion. I’ve heard countless times from many females throughout my coaching career say “I don’t want to lift weights cuz I don’t wanna look like Hulk Hogan.”

Ladies, listen. You don’t have enough testosterone in your body to get jacked up. But I will say that lifting weights offer many benefits.

Here are some benefits:

a)      Lifting will strengthen your bones. Did you know that women are more likely to get osteoporosis than men?

b)     Lifting will increase muscle mass without the big trapz and bigly yuuge jaws. Muscle is essential to human movement, so maintaining muscle mass as you age can help prevent injury, improve range of motion and aid in daily functions.

c)      Lifting helps with weight loss. Like cardio, strength training burns calories. But it also increases excess post-oxygen consumption (EPOC), which occurs when the body continues to burn excess calories for hours after exercise.

d)     Lifting improves functional strength. Women need strength to get through the day. Whether it’s a long day at the office, carrying toddlers around, cutting the grass, or all of the above, you need functional strength to accomplish everything that needs to get done in a day. Resistance training improves strength in key areas like the core, legs, lower back and upper body.

e)     Lifting improves heart health. According to the Mayo Clinic, heart disease is the leading cause of death for women. Exercising regularly can reduce the risk of heart disease in women.

You can be strong and maintain your femininity and gain all the benefits associated with lifting. So don’t be afraid to hang out with the meathead broz and slam some weights.