Maybe it was all those hours of Jane Fonda tapes, but somewhere along the line, ladies got it stuck in their heads that hours and hours of cardio is what will make us lose fat and, ultimately, weight.
Not only is this extremely false, but convincing people of the benefits of strength training remains every trainer’s challenge. Most of us seem to believe that weight training is going to put weight on, not take it off. Women especially are so petrified of looking like a she-male that we easily buy into the myth that if we pick up anything heavier than a 5 lb dumbbell we'll grow chest hair. Gross! All those hours on the elliptical, and no wonder your mind is doing circles.
The grand irony here is that building muscle will actually take weight off better than hours of cardio. Skeptical? Of course you are! Listen. It’s a simple formula, really: muscle burns calories. The more muscle you develop, the more calories (and fat) you will burn, even while you're sitting on the couch watching Glee.
Interval training – small, intense bouts of cardio mixed with weight training – is the best and most efficient way to get in shape! That also means challenging yourself with those weights. Don’t be afraid to pick up the heavier weight! You will build muscle, but that doesn’t mean size. It means strength and definition, and, wait for it… a rockin’ metabolism too!
See? The truth doesn’t always have to hurt!
Showing posts with label strength training. Show all posts
Showing posts with label strength training. Show all posts
Friday, December 10, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
Mythbuster Monday - Second Edition
The Myth: Weight training is for men. Cardio is for women.
Depression. Insomnia. Cellulite. Muscle Loss. Back Pain. Arthritis. High Blood Pressure. High Cholesterol. Osteoporosis. Heart Disease.
If all 10 of these common female problems sound about as fun as an enema, you should weight train. The benefits of strength training, at any age, are way more than just a tight ass. Increased strength, reduced body fat, improved athletic performance, and decreased health risks like the ones listed above. Looking good is just a bonus. You'll also have more energy and sleep better, too.
The belief that weight training will make a woman look like Lou Ferrigno is straight bullshit. Men have 10 to 30 times more testosterone than women. It just isn't possible. It also isn't possible for you to get the body you really want with cardio alone. For each pound of muscle that you gain, you'll burn up to 50 calories more every day. Keep it up for 10 weeks or more and you can fire your therapist. Here's more: strengthening lower back muscles can eliminate lower back pain, and adding muscle helps support your bones, which means less breaks, better bone density, and stronger joints. That sounds sweeter than a Godiva bar!
As if you need more convincing, there's no time like the present to start training. Whether you're in your 20's, 30's, or your 80's, strength can be maintained and increased at any age. Check back tomorrow for a free ass-kicking circuit to get you started!
Which muscles on your body would you most like to buff up?
Depression. Insomnia. Cellulite. Muscle Loss. Back Pain. Arthritis. High Blood Pressure. High Cholesterol. Osteoporosis. Heart Disease.
If all 10 of these common female problems sound about as fun as an enema, you should weight train. The benefits of strength training, at any age, are way more than just a tight ass. Increased strength, reduced body fat, improved athletic performance, and decreased health risks like the ones listed above. Looking good is just a bonus. You'll also have more energy and sleep better, too.
The belief that weight training will make a woman look like Lou Ferrigno is straight bullshit. Men have 10 to 30 times more testosterone than women. It just isn't possible. It also isn't possible for you to get the body you really want with cardio alone. For each pound of muscle that you gain, you'll burn up to 50 calories more every day. Keep it up for 10 weeks or more and you can fire your therapist. Here's more: strengthening lower back muscles can eliminate lower back pain, and adding muscle helps support your bones, which means less breaks, better bone density, and stronger joints. That sounds sweeter than a Godiva bar!
As if you need more convincing, there's no time like the present to start training. Whether you're in your 20's, 30's, or your 80's, strength can be maintained and increased at any age. Check back tomorrow for a free ass-kicking circuit to get you started!
Which muscles on your body would you most like to buff up?
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