Maybe you were planning to go to the gym. You may have even tried lifting weights but each time you felt insecure and terrified of the myths circulating about “women and weight training”. You've probably heard various stories about how weight training poses a danger to your joints, that this type of training is dangerous, that women gain weight and lose their femininity by lifting weights, that your muscles will turn into fat if you stop training. / p>
It's time to reassure you, we bring you 8 reasons why you should train with weights.
1. Effective fat loss
One of the biggest benefits of resistance training is that your body burns calories not only during training, but also for hours after. This phenomenon is called oxygen debt.
“Oxygen debt” occurs because your body is deficient in oxygen after a strenuous workout. It consumes more oxygen for hours and even days after training to help your body recover and to restore hormonal balance, repair cells, anabolism and to replenish energy sources. As a result of this phenomenon, your metabolism speeds up and calorie consumption increases.
2. More muscle, more calories
Resistance training will strengthen you, but also help you build smooth muscles that require more calories than fat to maintain. This means that muscles need calories to survive, and even at rest a body with more muscle burns more calories than a body with less muscle.
3. Cardiovascular health
Exercise training strengthens all muscles, including the heart. Numerous studies have shown that this type of training reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and helps prevent risk factors that lead to heart disease, such as a wide waist, high triglycerides, high blood pressure, high glucose, etc.
4. Sleep quality
Exercise training significantly affects the quality of sleep, allowing you to fall asleep faster, sleep deeper and wake up less often during the night. Chronic lack of sleep leads to the accumulation of fat deposits, inability to maintain concentration, bad mood and impaired immune system. Quality sleep is very important for the proper function of the whole organism and for maintaining the quality of life.
5. Curves
As you build muscle, your body will become more and more like an hourglass, and your curves will become more pronounced. If you do only cardio training, over time you will lose not only fat but also muscle, and therefore your feminine curves. On the other hand, weight training helps to create, shape and maintain curves.
6. Energy
Although it may seem contradictory at first glance, exercise training causes a significant increase in energy levels. Instead of reaching for sugary energy drinks, bars and coffee, do a workout. You will feel happier, more alert and fresher.
7. Stress
Exercise is a great way to eliminate stress. Research shows that regular exercisers have a better ability to cope with stress, unlike people who do not exercise at all. Resistance training has also been shown to improve memory and cognitive function in the elderly.
During training, your body secretes endorphins, which relieve pain and act as a natural antidepressant. Levels of serotonin (the so-called happiness hormone), dopamine and norepinephrine also increase. So, if you are stressed or depressed, training is the ideal solution to your problems.
8. Bone health
As you age, the risk of losing muscle and bone mass increases.By entering menopause, the risk increases further because the body stops secreting estrogen. Weight training (or any type of resistance) puts extra stress on your bones, making them stronger and thicker, reducing your risk of osteoporosis.A study conducted at McMaster University in Canada showed that postmenopausal women, who practiced weight training for a period of one year, have increased bone density by as much as 9 percent. So, the sooner you start this type of training, the higher the chances that you will have stronger and healthier bones later in life.
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Be open-minded, train with resistance and you will very quickly see the difference and be convinced that the myths about women and this type of training are completely untrue and unfounded. Train, be strong, healthy, happy and confident.
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