Why you should give lifting a try

A month ago I visited my home country, Israel. In order to keep my workout routine as much as possible, I got a temporary gym membership. One day, on my way there, a woman stopped me and asked if I knew where the studio classes where? When I replied: “no”, she continued to investigate “but what class are you taking?”, I replied “None, I go to the weights section”. Her eyes were left wide open.

Here is the thing, her reaction and questions left me disturbed. I feel too many women out there still think lifting is for men only and have the wrong idea about it. Thanks to countless misconceptions and myths surrounding that topic. Like, lifting will make you bulk up, or in order to loose fat you’ve got to do only cardio.

I used to think the same, for more than the majority of my life. Only, a year and a half ago I changed my mind about it. I regret listening to peoples believes, not researching the facts and starting lifting a long time ago. This was one of the reasons that drove me to pursue my own fitness certificate. The desire to have real knowledge and not being BS by anybody.

Lifting has changed my life physically and mentally. In the past I was never very toned. I didn’t have a booty. My legs looked like thin sticks with no definition. I was skinny, but “skinny fat”. Not to say I was weak. Mentally I was insecure lacking energy, not happy in my own skin.

Today I feel empowered and stronger physically as well as mentally. On the outside I’m toned like I have never been (even more than in my 20s). Okay, not everything is better, boobs that are long gone (thank you my kiddos for that), but everything else. My posture is better, core is tighter, I got a slightly curvier look. I am healthier as my body composition changed, I carry more lean mass and less fat. But the more important change was mentally. I feel good and confident, I feel I can accomplish anything and nothing can stand in my way. I have more energy throughout the day, less mood swings and my mind is in a good place.

Working out has become the best part of my day, were I invest in myself, I take care of myself and get my mind and body in the right mood.

So after rolling down my personal experience. Here are some facts and advantages about strength training, I wish I knew before. Hopefully they will convince you.

First - Strength training won’t make you bulky. In fact it is very hard for a woman to build muscle. As women don’t have the same amount of hormones responsible for muscle growth as men. So unless you train like crazy, lift super heavy, eat accordingly, and probably take hormones, you will never look like a body builder / bulky. On the contrary chances are you will get that feminine toned shape you desire.

Second – Studies have shown that strength training assists in fat loss and building lean body mass. Building more muscles will result in the body burning more calories during the day due to having a greater metabolic rate. Cardio burns more calories during the workout, but it is less likely to help you preserve and increase your lean body mass while dieting. You will lose weight but some of it will be due to loss of muscle and not fat. On the other hand if you do strength training, you build muscle. In order for the body to build muscle tissue you first destroy it through training. Then, post training, during the recovery process it builds itself up. That process needs energy, meaning you burn calories even post workout while you rest. So you are more likely to loose fat than muscle while strength training and change your body composition.

Other advantages of strength training are: increase of bone density, improved heart rate, improved balance, coordination and posture.  Strength training helps prevent the natural loss of lean muscle mass that comes with aging (around 3-5 % yearly loss of lean muscle mass starts at the age of 30) . Building muscle strength is crucial in making it easier to do the things you need to do on a day-to-day basis. It elevates your endorphins level that lift the energy level and improves the mood.

Hopefully this can get you a bit out of your fixed mind set and open up to what can be a game changer for you. As it was for me. Go pump some metal, thank me later 😉.