There are plenty of reasons why people avoid exercise. From busy routines to bad habits, it can be easy to miss our workouts. There isn’t really a good reason to avoid exercise but some excuses are worse than others.
The idea that women should avoid resistance training has been around for as long as the exercises themselves. Uninformed friends and partners often warn women to stay off the weights or risk looking masculine and even unhealthy.
The truth is though, a commitment to a pump class and lifting weights is good for everyone – young and old, male and female. If you want some answers for your nosy friends, or just a bit of reassurance that you’re on the right track, here are 7 reasons that women should make resistance training part of their routine.
- It Helps You to Lose Weight
Do you want to lose weight while you’re sitting on the couch? If your answer is yes, then it’s time to hit the gym. Increasing your muscle is also shown to increase your resting metabolism. This means that you’re always burning more calories, helping that number on the scales slide down even when sitting.
- You Won’t Be Overwhelmed by Bulk
There are a lot of differences between men and women. For example, men generally can’t do more than one thing at once while women are experts at multitasking.
For an even more scientific comparison, women have up to 30 times less of the hormones that lead to muscle growth. For most women, this will mean toned muscles and increased strength but not too much bulk.
- Beat Back Pain With Stronger Muscles
If you want to stop back pain in its tracks then look no further than resistance training. Studies have shown that strengthening the lower back muscles can ease or completely eliminate back pain altogether.
- Age is Just a Number
Strength and resistance training can be beneficial for people of all ages and it’s never too late to start. Women in their 80s have even built up their strength through resistance training.
- There are Benefits for Your Bones
You might not think it, but the positive effects of weight training extend all the way to your bones too. Weight training can increase your bone mineral density, something you can’t naturally increase once you’ve finished developing. Greater bone density means stronger bones, helping to combat osteoporosis.
- Increase Your Athletic Ability
If you’re an athlete – whether your swing a club, kick a ball or shoot some hoops – strength training can help you. Not only are we talking about more power in your shots, hitting the weights can also reduce your risk of injury.
- Stronger Body, Stronger Mind
Just as important as our physical health is our mental wellness. Various studies have shown that strength training reduces the symptoms of depression. One Harvard study even concluded that 10 weeks of resistance training was more effective than standard counselling.
Those are just 7 great reasons to pick up the weights as a woman. Next time you’re preparing for some cardio, consider a pumps class too, or talk to your personal trainer about resistance training.
