Women and The Myth of "Big Muscles"
Over my years of training and coaching, if there is one common myth that a trainer inevitably needs to deal with for most women, it is the idea that resistance training, (weights) builds big muscles. I've had a number of female clients look at my arms and remind me that they don't want to get "big" like me. This is understandable. I don't want them to get 'big' either, I want them to get lean!
Resistance training is necessary however, and must be part of your workout plan. Why? Because muscle is the most effective fat burner in our bodies. You can run on the treadmill for hours and burn some calories, but wouldn't it be better if you built up the muscles in your body so that your body burned fat even when you weren't working out? Muscles require a great deal of energy to sustain themselves, whereas fat is merely storage. It takes your body almost no energy to leave the fat cells alone. And there is no chance for women to get "big" unless they're using HGH or some other growth component, and even then, it rarely happens. Muscle growth is tied to the levels of testosterone and other hormones in our body, and the physiology between men and women is radically different, enough so that a woman who "lifts weight" will never have to worry about getting "huge arms."
Strength training has benefits in every area of your life, from picking up objects around the house to providing a stable base for long days at the office. In our sedentary culture, many people spend hours at their desk. When we incorporate resistance training into our workouts, we are able to burn fat and increase our energy levels even while we're working, and how great is that!
I am not dismissing cardiovascular exercise, it is important to work the heart as you would any muscle. (Technically, the heart is not a 'true' muscle, but it acts as one) However, I see far too many women who do nothing but aerobic work in the gym, while disdaining the weights. Those of my clients who incorporate weights and resistance training into their workouts (a must if I'm their trainer) have seen terrific results, and feel stronger and more fit for their daily activities.
If you've never picked up a weight before, I recommend a trainer to teach you how to do so properly. This doesn't mean you need to spend thousands of dollars on a coach, but a few lessons of good instruction will go a long way to making your time at the gym both effective and safe.
For those of you who workout in a co-ed gym, don't be afraid of the 'grunt-hogs' in the free weight area. You belong there too. When it comes to fitness, a complete routine is the best routine, and when it comes to training, resistance is anything but futile.
-Steve
Over my years of training and coaching, if there is one common myth that a trainer inevitably needs to deal with for most women, it is the idea that resistance training, (weights) builds big muscles. I've had a number of female clients look at my arms and remind me that they don't want to get "big" like me. This is understandable. I don't want them to get 'big' either, I want them to get lean!
Resistance training is necessary however, and must be part of your workout plan. Why? Because muscle is the most effective fat burner in our bodies. You can run on the treadmill for hours and burn some calories, but wouldn't it be better if you built up the muscles in your body so that your body burned fat even when you weren't working out? Muscles require a great deal of energy to sustain themselves, whereas fat is merely storage. It takes your body almost no energy to leave the fat cells alone. And there is no chance for women to get "big" unless they're using HGH or some other growth component, and even then, it rarely happens. Muscle growth is tied to the levels of testosterone and other hormones in our body, and the physiology between men and women is radically different, enough so that a woman who "lifts weight" will never have to worry about getting "huge arms."
Strength training has benefits in every area of your life, from picking up objects around the house to providing a stable base for long days at the office. In our sedentary culture, many people spend hours at their desk. When we incorporate resistance training into our workouts, we are able to burn fat and increase our energy levels even while we're working, and how great is that!
I am not dismissing cardiovascular exercise, it is important to work the heart as you would any muscle. (Technically, the heart is not a 'true' muscle, but it acts as one) However, I see far too many women who do nothing but aerobic work in the gym, while disdaining the weights. Those of my clients who incorporate weights and resistance training into their workouts (a must if I'm their trainer) have seen terrific results, and feel stronger and more fit for their daily activities.
If you've never picked up a weight before, I recommend a trainer to teach you how to do so properly. This doesn't mean you need to spend thousands of dollars on a coach, but a few lessons of good instruction will go a long way to making your time at the gym both effective and safe.
For those of you who workout in a co-ed gym, don't be afraid of the 'grunt-hogs' in the free weight area. You belong there too. When it comes to fitness, a complete routine is the best routine, and when it comes to training, resistance is anything but futile.
-Steve
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