Big & Bulky | Women Lifting Weights

I'm going to make a bold statement and say one of the biggest misconceptions in women's fitness is that we should NOT be lifting heavy weights.  It is not uncommon to walk into any gym and see females lifting tiny dumbbells and doing lots of cardio.

Why?  Well that's the simple part - Media has put it into their heads that lifting heavy weights is reserved for the boys and if they do as they do, they will look that way.

That's where we go wrong!  Just because we don't want to look like men, doesn't mean we should clearly do the opposite.

Although lifting heavy weights, combined with a hearty diet is the key to make males pack on size and muscle mass, it is NOT the same for females.  The main reason?  Hormones.  The hormonal profiles of men and women are very different.

In fact, a female produces only a fraction of the testosterone that a male does.  Testosterone is the main determinant of the ability to grow in size and strength, so it only makes sense that women will never achieve the same size and results as men.  Unless of course exogenous use of testosterone and anabolic compounds are used (known otherwise as steriods), you will NOT get BIG and BULKY.

This type of misinformation is all over the media and is in fact keeping ladies from their physique goals.  It is keeping women on the elliptical and lifting the little dumbbells on the end, with no results to show from it.

Check out these pictures that grab at a women's attention:

I mean, who doesn't want to walk away your weight with 4 lb weights, look and train like Jillian Michaels, or even better yet... "Get Flat Abs in 3 minutes".  Guess what? I bet Jillian lifts weights heavier than 8 pounds!

Strength training should be a must in any female's fitness routine who wishes to alter her body composition for the better.  Let me guess your goal is to maintain a lean, toned figure, then you are going to have to pick up a weight. 

My goal today is to tell you that marketing with play a huge role in your decisions.  Let me tell you though, most of the models and celebrities gracing the covers of magazines are doing A LOT more than the occasional 3 minute abs to tone their tummies.  I would go so far to say that they are most likely busting their tails a minimum of 4-5 days a week in the gym to achieve that awesome physique; It's the work of a progressive strength training routine.

My advice is to put down the magazine and find a personal trainer who is willing to help you work toward your goals.  Put in the hard work and find what works for you!