It’s officially May, which means that summer is upon us, and with it comes backyard grill outs, major league baseball, and all the swimsuits! Since we don’t have any tropical plans for the summer (buying a house > taking a vacation), I haven’t been too crazy about getting “bikini body” ready, but Spencer and I have made a point of working out more this year regardless.
Before Spencer and I moved to Cincinnati, I had very rarely used free weights and had never used weight machines. I just didn’t think average-looking women lifted weights; as in, I didn’t want to look like a bodybuilder, so I steered clear! But Spencer likes to lift, and I didn’t want him to have to hit the weights alone — plus I was a little intrigued.
Now I’m not lifting a lot of weight (to be honest, I’m just now graduating to the “big” 30 lb. weights), but I’ve already noticed a difference in my life. Here are only a few of the reasons why women should lift weights!
You’ll burn more fat.
More muscle = faster metabolism = more fat loss. It’s seriously that simple. Even just upping your muscle percentage by a bit increases the amount of calories that you burn when you’re at rest, aka not lifting or exercising. That’s right, you burn more calories post-gym with greater muscle mass!
You won’t “bulk up.”
That’s right, I used to think that lifting would put me at risk of sporting a bit more muscle than I wanted. Hah! If only I’d known how unlikely that was. It takes crazy dedication, a regimented schedule, and very strict diet to get the kind of muscles you see on the bodybuilding stage. My three short lift sessions a week aren’t going to do it, and any kind of normal lifting you do won’t cause you to bulk up either.
You’ll have better posture.
This one might seem more important to your mother than you, but it’s true that lifting weights makes you much more aware of your body. I find myself naturally pulling my shoulders back throughout the workday and keeping them down when I run. Besides being a good habit to keep for putting less stress on your back and neck, having good posture makes you look more confident and poised.
It makes a difference in your everyday life.
Walking up three flights of stairs with your hands full of groceries? You won’t even break a sweat. Helping your husband move furniture around the living room? Easy. Carrying all the books home from the library? You’ll never be so pleased in your entire life.
You go, girl!
The confidence that comes with lifting weights is incredible! You’re stronger, you’re more toned, and you feel like you can take on the world. So why not go out there and do just that?
What’s keeping you from hitting the weight machines? If you already lift, what are some other benefits that you’ve experienced?
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