Many women shy away from weight lifting because they believe it could potentially cause them to build up excess muscle. As anyone who already does weightlifting is aware, building muscle is a very slow process. Women simply do not usually have the genetic capacity to build up a large amount of muscle unless they make a concerted effort to do so. If you're interested in developing your exercise regimen beyond cardiovascular exercise, weight lifting could provide a myriad of unique health and beauty benefits.
You Lose Weight Faster When You Lift Weights
Studies have shown that women lose weight faster when they lift weights as opposed to when they do the same amount of cardiovascular exercise. There are two basic mechanisms behind this. Women who lift weights have more muscle mass, and the more muscle mass a woman has the more calories they will need to maintain it. Additionally, lifting weights boosts your metabolism for a significant period of time following your weightlifting regimen. This causes your body to burn calories even well after you have completed your exercises. To maximize your weight loss, you should focus on whole body exercises rather than exercises that isolate certain muscle groups.
You Can Look Thinner and More Toned
Building muscle tissue tightens up your body and creates a thinner, sleeker and more toned appearance even when you aren't actively losing weight. Many women will find that they will go down in dress size even if they are maintaining their weight or even going up in weight. Muscle weighs more than fat and certain exercises are built around shaping the body. With the appropriate weight lifting regimen, you may be able to trim your waist while sculpting your arms and legs. The improvements to your appearance occur slowly enough with weightlifting that you can control the areas you want to reduce and to build.
You Will Be Stronger and Healthier
While aerobic exercise is a good start, it doesn't cover all aspects of your health. Including a weight training regimen in your fitness plan will enable you to become healthier overall. You will be stronger and more confident. A proper weightlifting regimen can also help women with joint and back problems in ways that aerobic exercise simply cannot, though this should always be undertaken with the guidance of a rehabilitation center or personal trainer.
There are many fantastic reasons why women should incorporate weight lifting into their workouts. A good workout should be varied and include all aspects of physical health. Weight lifting is not as difficult to get into as it may first appear, and it cannot cause a woman to unintentionally develop a large amount of muscle mass. Instead, weightlifting can help a woman lose weight quickly, keep the weight off and develop the body they desire.
