Why Weight Training For Women Is And Will Forever Be The Best Way To Control Your Weight
The spate of women actively adopting healthier lifestyles be it food choices, going to the gym on a regular basis or picking up an old or new sport is a sure indicator of the changing times where women are consciously trying to take better care of their bodies and ultimately their health.
With this new venture into the unknown for some, the most frequently asked questions most often tends to centre around the myth of women bulking up to incredible hulk proportions when the mention of weight training is brought up. To this effect, Most women who visit the gym or workout at home on a regular basis spend their time primarily doing cardio exercises. Here are some reasons experts give which insist that weight training for women is an essential supplement to cardio in order to achieve a holistic fitness regime.
- It’s the only true way of controlling body fat - There is a common misconception that weight training for women or anyone for that matter, can cause one to necessarily bulk up. In fact, weight training expert Wayne Westcott, PhD, director of fitness research at Quincy College and Prevention advisory board member and his colleagues have carried out many studies on this belief. The results have showed that on average, 8 weeks of weight training for women can help them lose 3.5 pounds of fat and gain just 1.75 pounds of lean muscle. This is because women have one third of the bulking up muscles as compared to men as well as lacking the key hormone involved in muscle gain - testosterone! The amount of oestrogen in the hormonal makeup of women makes an already difficult task, gruesomely difficult to achieve.
- Your metabolism will soar - As women age, they naturally lose muscle mass. This causes your metabolism to slow, which means you could start building a spare tire by the time you reach your 30s. “When you do weight-bearing exercises, you start revving up your metabolism—and it keeps burning for many hours after your workout,” says Wayne.
- You’re burning fat while at rest! - Muscle tissue is more “active” than fat tissue, with each pound burning about 30 calories a day just to sustain itself. So even if you’re sitting on the couch or are stuck at your desk for eight hours a day, the extra muscle mass you develop will burn more calories, helping you finally get rid of that spare tire—and keep it off for good.
- Protection from heart disease - It has been known that the steady inclusion of weight training in your workout will help decrease LDL, the “bad” cholesterol as well as lower your blood pressure decreasing the overall risk you face of being susceptible to various cardiovascular diseases.
- Your body gets tighter and more toned - While cardio is important and will help melt fat, weights sculpt your body, creating curves and definition right where you want it. They also help fight the effects of gravity, making you much less likely to have arm jiggle in your upper arms.
- Improves posture - Weight training helps us discover muscles we didn’t know off, improves our levels of body awareness and gives us a better posture which makes one look and feel good almost instantly.
- Each workout torches calories - Plyometric strength moves (think squat jumps and burpees) and kettlebell workouts skyrocket your heart rate, which boosts the calorie burn of regular strength training routines. These types of workouts give you cardio, strength, and sculpting all in one, which is a great timesaver.
- Protects your bones - Strength training is one of the 12 best ways to break-proof your bones. “Lifting weights can help counteract age-related bone loss,” says Ethel Siris, MD, director of the Toni Stabile Center for Osteoporosis at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City. “Strengthening your muscles also improves balance and keeps you as strong as possible which lowers your chances of a fall-related fracture.
