Hey Ladies! Don’t be scared of lifting Weights

Lifting weights is not only a guys thing, even you can do it.

The only reason that you dreading it is the myth that you’ll get bulky, Right?!

Mark my words, you will NOT.

If you are working on lean muscles with right diet and right balance of strength training and cardio, you will actually get leaner and toned and not bulky for sure.

5–6 years back, I was also of the same opinion but it was purely because of the lack of knowledge about it.

I was petrified by the mere thought of looking like a bouncer at the discotheque or like those hulky bodybuilders.

Lil did i know that muscles are actually gonna tone me up from head to toe, else i would hv started doing weights back then only.

Nevertheless, i am at it now and that too after being a mother of two c-section babies that i have extracted out of me by going under the knife twice. (indeed an ultra excruciating experience for anyone) but i am undoubtedly more confident and strong than what i was in my 20s.

Our ilk, can never look bulky because of weight training unless we are doing it all wrong way, high on testosterone hormone or taking steroids.

The word “bulky” is pretty subjective.

The actual definition of what “bulky” looks like to each one of us can be very different. What one woman finds bulky, another might find still too slim, or just right, or perhaps downright beautiful.

And getting those huge muscles that you are afraid of, that doesn’t happen overnight; women who carry a lot of muscles have likely worked very hard for it.

The feeling of bulkiness while lifting weights comes in the picture for those who are lifting weights without losing the layers of fat covering those muscles.

Because when you are into weight training you might consume more calories too.

Now muscles are working on your fat and strength both together but if you are eating more than you should then here, you are creating more fat stores for your body and gaining fat and muscles together that will make you look bulkier than before.

And of course muscles weigh more than fat and if you’ll keep gaining muscle mass without losing any fat. You will definitely end up looking a bit bulky and heavier too.

Hence, Right proportion of cardio training and strength training is a must while consuming only the required amount of calories with a balanced diet.

There are so many benefits of muscle training other than just growing muscles on you.

Seven Benefits of having some muscles on you:

1. Building muscles in a natural way will not only boost your metabolism but will also make you leaner and stronger inside out.

2. Muscles makes our cardio workouts easier than before As in when your body is stronger and more capable than before, it makes your cardio workouts like running swimming, cycling etc much more easier to perform.

3. Like you burn calories with cardio workouts same ways you burn calories with weight training and body weight training as well infact with the latter you give an extra kick to metabolism and weight loss and Muscles helps you burn more calories even after your workout is over.

4. If you weight train and do cardio equally, you’ll be in a better shape.

5. Weight training is one of the best ways to improve your mood. It reduces stress, anxiety, and depression, and it creates a sense of happiness as well.

6. That flat tummy that we always crave for. Yes, weight training can totally make you meet your dream abs.

7. Healthy body is a young and fit body that you can be proud of. Nothing boosts self-confidence like a body you’re psyched to show off — the only way to do that is through a balanced healthy diet, cardio and some weight-training.

1. Keep doing cardio three times a week, but add two or three strength-training workouts. Aim to work all the major muscles over the week; complete one to two sets of 8 to 12 repetitions of each exercise.

2. Follow the “overload principle” keep increasing the amount of weight that you are lifting by degrees. But increae only when you are comfortable and feel that your body is strong enough for it.

3. Keep trying new training plans for your body. Once a month, change one thing about your cardio and weight-training regimens because If you’ll keep following one fitness routine eventually your results will start slowing down.

Please note, If you’re happy with the amount of muscle mass you have, you can still train heavy and train for strength gain and muscle maintenance, as opposed to muscle gain.

Originally published at thatfitmum.com on September 9, 2017.