“Lifting weights makes women bulky” - Truth or Myth?
MYTH!
To begin with, certified fitness instructor and health expert Mira Hoss argues that women do not have the same testosterone levels as men, which makes it impossible for them to build “manly” muscles - unless they are using some type of anabolic drugs (or "steroids").
If anything, she adds, lifting weights can help women in a number of ways and offers them several physiological and metabolic benefits, such as:
#1. Increasing Muscle Mass
Lifting weights helps you build lean muscles that improve overall strength, support bone health, and support athletic performance.
#2. Improving Body Figure & Tone
Having larger, stronger muscles helps give your body a leaner, more toned look that makes you look and feel better and more confident.
#3. Boosting Metabolism
Gaining lean muscle increases your metabolic rate, helping you burn more calories, reduce body fat, and speed up weight loss.
#4. Enhancing Mood
Weightlifting is one of the best natural stress-reducing and mood-enhancing activities you can do.
#5. Reducing Joint Pain
Strengthening the muscles around your joints helps protect those joints and decrease the risk of injury and chronic joint and bone diseases like back pain, neck pain, osteoporosis, and arthritis.
#6. Improving Posture
Strengthening muscles around your spine, shoulders, and hips can help fix bad posture caused by inactivity, prolonged sitting, texting, and overall poor posture habits.
#7. Fighting Disease
Lifting weights helps you develop a healthier cardiovascular system, decrease body fat, and improve insulin sensitivity, all of which reduce your risk of heart disease and diabetes.
#8. Improving Sleep
Weightlifting causes post-workout muscle fatigue and triggers muscle recovery mechanisms that promote better sleep quality and healthier sleep patterns.
So ladies, next time you hit the gym and your trainer asks you to grab those dumbbells, just smile and accept the challenge!
