Most women feel petrified of lifting weights because they believe doing so would turn them into hulking beasts.
Of course, the idea is as far from the truth as it can be. Believing the notion is comparable to being afraid of driving the family car because you might turn into a world champion F1 pilot.
Can lifting weights build muscle? It sure can. But will it turn your body into a muscular mess? Absolutely not.
What you can expect is to build muscle, add shape to your body, and drastically improve how your body looks and functions. To that end, we’ve put together this post to outline five solid reasons why women need muscle.
Let’s dive in.
1. You Will Become More Functional
Men and women are different in many ways. We have unique interests, possess diverse talents, and see the world differently. But perhaps the most noticeable difference between men and women is that men are physically bigger and stronger. That difference makes men functional, more athletic, and better able to tackle everyday tasks.
Luckily for women, adding some muscle to your frame can be what you need to improve your physical abilities and become more independent. Developing your muscles will make tasks like carrying groceries, opening jars, and handling your children much easier.
Aside from being more functional, having some muscle on your frame will positively impact your physical strength. When most women start weight training, one of the most profound differences they notice is how stronger, more capable, and more empowered they feel.
It’s not just about the extra inch on the bicep or the buttocks. It’s about what the muscle enables you to do and how good it makes you feel about yourself.
2. You Will Look Better
Have you ever wanted to get in shape? You probably have. What’s the first question that came to mind when you decided to do something about your body? Like most women, you probably wanted to learn how to get toned.
Almost every woman interested in fitness wants to get toned and has a general idea of what she wants her body to look like. The problem is, despite having an idea of what you want, achieving your goal might be easier said than done.
Most women go about getting toned in the traditional manner: by combining cardio with a diet. Sure, the tactic can improve how you look because it leads to some fat loss. But, what you truly need is to add some muscle to your frame because that is what develops the ‘toned’ look you desire.
The above is true because our muscles aren’t capable of ‘getting toned.’ They can grow or shrink, which determines how our physique looks. By growing your deltoids, biceps, and triceps a bit, your arms appear more toned. The same goes for your back, midsection, buttocks, and thighs. Developing each area makes it seem more toned, but that is simply the result of muscle hypertrophy that adds shape to your body.
3. You Will Improve Numerous Health Measures
Many people don’t realize that adding muscle to your frame offers direct health benefits. Most notably, building and training your muscles improves measures of insulin sensitivity––your body’s ability to use the hormone. As such, your pancreas doesn’t have to produce as much of the hormone to control blood sugar levels, reducing the risk of metabolic issues down the road.
Another notable health benefit of muscle is the slightly elevated metabolic rate, which prevents you from accumulating as much fat in response to overeating. As a result, you save yourself from various health issues, including cardiovascular disease.
The third benefit of having more muscle is that training also strengthens your bones, reducing the risk of fractures.
4. You’ll Be Able to Eat More Without Gaining Fat
Earlier in this post, we mentioned how men and women are different in many aspects. Another significant difference between the sexes is that men can eat more food without gaining as much weight. The effect is possible because men are larger and need more energy to sustain themselves and carry out different activities.
A man and a woman might jog side by side for ten miles and exert the same amount of effort. But, in most cases, the man will burn more calories than the woman, despite doing the same work.
Luckily for you, there is a way to increase your resting metabolic rate, boost your caloric burn during numerous activities, and enjoy more food without gaining fat. As you’ve probably guessed, that tactic is building muscle mass.
Muscle tissue is metabolically-costly, which means that your body expends calories every day just to keep it around. Every pound of muscle you gain will serve as a metabolic machine that helps you burn extra calories while resting, lifting weights, jogging, or taking a walk with a friend. As a result, you will be able to eat more food without worrying about gaining unwanted weight.
5. You Will Be More Athletic and At a Lower Risk of Injury
A notable benefit of having more muscle is that your athletic capacity improves. You’re not necessarily more athletic, but you have the capacity to excel more quickly. As such, practicing different athletic activities becomes easier, and you can make better progress.
In some cases, lifting weights can benefit your athletic abilities directly. For example, performing pressing movements like the bench and overhead press can improve your throwing ability, which is beneficial for sports like basketball.
The benefit might not seem all that important for everyone, but those interested in improving their sports performance should consider building some muscle mass.
Aside from better athleticism, having more muscle puts you at a lower risk of injuries. Muscle tissue serves to stabilize your joints, reducing the risk of acute strain that results in an injury. Aside from that, more muscle makes you stronger and better able to resist external forces that might put you in a compromised position.
Conclusion
Many women are afraid to build muscle because they feel that doing so would make them look manly. But the truth is, having some muscle on your frame adds shape to your body and improves how you look. Aside from that, having more muscle on your frame offers numerous practical benefits related to your functionality, metabolic health, athleticism, and overall health.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference women feel when they start weight training?
When most women start weight training, one of the most profound differences they notice is how stronger, more capable, and more empowered they feel.
Can combining cardio with a diet help women get toned?
Sure, the tactic can improve how you look because it leads to some fat loss. But, what you truly need is to add some muscle to your frame because that is what develops the ‘toned’ look you desire.
Can lifting weights benefit your athletic abilities?
In some cases, lifting weights can benefit your athletic abilities directly. For example, performing pressing movements like the bench and overhead press can improve your throwing ability, which is beneficial for sports like basketball.
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