For too long, we have perpetuated the myth that women should lift light weights and do a lot of cardio to stay toned without getting too bulky. In recent years, we’ve seen the beginnings of a paradigm shift toward the truth: women should be lifting heavy weights too.
Contrary to once popular belief, lifting heavy weights will not necessarily make a woman unattractive and masculine. It will, however, make her strong, healthy, and amazing. Here are some of the reasons women should lift heavy.
Confidence Boost
There’s no feeling in the world like successfully completing a lift and watching your numbers climb. For many women, the experience is empowering and helps rebuild their confidence lost through years of being told to eat tiny portions and sweat more. With heavy lifting, you see trackable progress and results, rather than a routine that uses small weights every time. You become more confident in your strength and the capabilities of your body. You may discover that you’re stronger– both mentally and physically– than you ever would have thought possible.
With heavy lifting, you become less focused on losing weight and making yourself smaller and more attuned to the idea of becoming bigger and stronger. The impacts on your body composition, i.e., fat loss, are just a bonus.
Weight Management
If weight loss is a priority, lifting heavy can help a woman achieve the results she desires quickly, healthily, and sustainably. Lifting heavy weights can increase your resting metabolism, as it takes more energy to sustain muscle than fat. This means that not only are you burning calories as you workout, but you’re also burning more calories than you usually would while doing nothing.
As a result, you may find that your relationship with food and dieting improves. Instead of always tracking calories, you can rest assured that a minor indulgence now and then isn’t going to thwart your weight loss efforts. While nutrition is still incredibly important, you might be able to cut yourself some slack for the first time in years.
Bone Health
Weight-bearing exercises improve bone health, and since women are prone to osteoporosis as they age, this effect is essential for long-term health. As people age, they begin to lose bone density. This increases the likelihood of a bad break from a fall or minor injury as the bones essentially become softer and more fragile. Women, in particular, are prone to osteoporosis as a result of the way their body uses and loses calcium.
Adding resistance training, especially in the form of heavy lifting, can reduce the loss of bone density and even improve bone density with time. The increased strength, balance, and muscle mass also helps prevent injury as a person ages.
More Sleep and Energy
Lifting heavy weights can make it easier to fall asleep at night. If that doesn’t make you want to pick up a barbell from gym equipment Australia experts at Atomic Mass, nothing will. A regular lifting program will increase your daily energy expenditure, both in the gym and afterward because of your increased metabolism.
Before the exhaustion hits, you may feel a spike in energy as a result of releasing endorphins and getting your blood pumping. In a nutshell, lifting heavy gives you the boost you need to get through the day and the relaxation you need to sleep through the night. This has a positive cyclical effect, as adequate levels of sleep are essential for repairing and building muscle.
Stress Relief
The combination of endorphins flowing through your body, better sleep, increased confidence, and effective weight management have an incredible impact on your stress levels. You may find that you look and feel better than ever before. Find a heavy lifting program that works for you, consult with a coach, and get ready to fall in love with the feel of a barbell in your hands.
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