Beware the Bulk??

If you work as a trainer, you've probably heard it. If you know a lot of women who workout, you've problem heard it. If you're a woman yourself, you may have even asked it. "If I lift weights (especially HEAVY) will I become bulky?... I don't want to be bulky, I just want to be toned". Hearing this makes me cringe, mad even!

[caption id="attachment_291" align="aligncenter" width="263" caption="You Serious??"][/caption]

As much as it bothers me, I understand where it comes from. The media is dominated by magazines, pictures, and stories of men who start lifting heavy, living off protein and getting JACKED. What women fail to realize is that they aren't built to get bulky. Average adult men have 10x the testosterone as average female women, that is significant. The fact that women have much lower T levels makes it extremely difficult for them to get big and "Bulky". In fact, when a new client tells me she doesn't want to get bulky I usually challenge her and say, "I bet you couldn't if you tried". The truth is, it would take a very high level of commitment to training and nutrition to really get big, or just take steroids.

[caption id="attachment_292" align="aligncenter" width="223" caption="20 min on the stairmaster?"][/caption]

So now that we've gotten the Bulky thing out of the way, let's get to some of the reasons why you SHOULD lift heavy! If lean and mean is what you're going for, then you have no excuse. The more lean body mass you carry, the higher your metabolism will be; The higher your metabolism, the more fat you burn. Since muscle mass is more dense than body fat, it's safe to say that building muscle, and subsequently burning more fat, will actually make you SMALLER. Yes, lifting heavy weights will make you smaller. Maybe not weigh less, but your physical measurements and proportions will definitely improve!

There are a number of great articles written online about women lifting heavy weights. Instead of listening to me, I figured some women out there might want to hear it from other women themselves. Check these out.

Why Weight Training is the Beauty Prescription Women Need the Most by Clare Rooney.

Lift Heavy. Get Strong(er) and Look Better by Nia Shanks.

Beautiful Badasses by Nia Shanks. (Also Part 2 and Part 3)

Renegade Fitness by Jen Grasso.

These are just a couple or articles and sites that you may want to take a peek at. These will help you on your way to developing a strong and sexy body!

It's About Getting Better!