It’s unreal how often I hear that women will “bulk up” if they pick up a heavy weight now and then!
This couldn’t be further from the truth! 
Picking up heavy weights does many things for a woman:
- Lifting makes you sexy, sleek and strong! That’s right. You slim down when you pick up more (properly, of course). Trust me, most guys think a woman that can pick up something heavy is hot. No doubt about it. Of course there are times to let men be the strong and open that jar of pickles, but not in the weight room!
- TONING is code for “lifting heavy”. There’s no other way to “tone” your body besides lifting a heavy weight. Sure, you might feel the burn, but real results come through consistently lifting heavy.
- Weightlifting makes you mentally tough. Us women can be quite fragile sometimes and let folks walk over us instead of stand our ground. After finishing a heavy set of squats, you just might think twice about filling in for that co-worker who always wants you to fill in for them… again.
- Flat tummies come from weights. Yes, you could starve yourself through anorexia… or you can use your abs for what they are made for – stability. How do you use them for stability? Lifting weights, of course! Squats, deadlifts and overhead presses all use your tummy for its true purpose. This keeps that tummy flat and strong.
- Avoiding osteoporosis, anyone? Young and old alike – lifting weights increases your bone mineral density, which prevents osteoporosis. I’ll take that over a broken hip any day. Broken bones = diminished quality of life. Let’s live and not wait to die!
- Keeping your innards where they belong. If you are a man, you might want to skip this part. Us women do have to worry about our bladders and uteruses coming out of bodies. Fortunately, if you lift weights often (squats, deadlifts, presses, etc. – full body exercises), you strengthen all of those lovely muscles that keep things where they belong. Don’t know about you, but I sure like my bladder right where it is. I plan to keep it that way.
What do you think? Any of you women lift? Don’t know where to start? Shoot me an email at gerilynburnett@bellsouth.net or a comment below!