In this post, health & fitness expert Laticia “Action” Jackson will talk about why women should lift weights as a part of their fitness routine. Have you ever thought about starting a weight lifting or resistance training fitness program, but you were afraid that building muscle would cause you to appear less feminine, or “manly”? If this is you, you are not alone! 

For years, women have been led to believe that if they lift weights then they will become muscular and manly looking. Have you bought into this myth? If you have, allow me to put this misconception to rest, and explain why you will not appear manly if and when you add weight lifting to your fitness program.

You WON’T Look Like a MAN

Women naturally have lower levels of a masculine hormone called testosterone. Testosterone is the hormone that gives men their manly features such as facial hair, deep voices and dense muscle tissues. Most women possess small amounts of this hormone in their bodies, therefore they do not produce large manly muscles from lifting weights. Therefore if or when you see women with large muscles, typically they are athletes or female bodybuilders who intentionally use heavy weight to progressively build their muscles. Their muscular growth is built to perform at optimal levels for their particular sport or built to perform on the bodybuilding stage. Therefore the chances of a women getting bulky muscles from lifting light to moderate amounts of weight is slim to none. Now that we have put that myth to rest allow me to tell you about the many benefits of lifting weights.

The Benefits are Many!

According to the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), weight training should be an integral part of a healthy adult’s fitness training program. Weight training can assist you in burning more body fat, building stronger bones, increasing your metabolism, and even burning calories while at rest!

With so many benefits to your health, I’d encourage you to slowly incorporate resistance training into your fitness program at least three days per week, using light weights (8-10lbs) with a repetition range of 12-15. If you feel uncomfortable with lifting weights, hire a qualified personal trainer to assist you. In my new women’s fitness training book “ Yes Women Lift- A Woman’s Guide to Lifting Weights and Feeling Great” (available on Amazon) I provide you with step-by-step information on how to identify your body type and how it responds to exercise, how to set realistic fitness training goals, how to lift weights properly and so much more! I promise you, lifting weights will make you feel fit, empowered and unstoppable! That’s how I’ve felt for the last 15 years and I desire you to feel the same way too! Written by: Latricia “Action “Jackson, Fitness Olympian, Health and Fitness Expert, Speaker, Author. Visit www.laticiactionjackson.com for information on wellness and fitness services!