10 Reasons Women Should Lift Weights ...

Including weights in your exercise program will help strengthen the muscles. Recent studies have shown that even moderate weight training can increase a women’s overall strength by 50%. Wouldn't you love to show your boyfriend/husband that you are not just a fragile girl. And imagine all the extra shopping bags you can carry!

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A woman who weight trains twice a week for two months will lose four pounds of fat, and gain two pounds of muscle. This means you’ll appear much slimmer, and weigh less too! And who doesn't like a supertoned body like all the hot celebrities out there.

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Unlike men, women will not appear "bigger" because of more muscle. That is ofcourse if you lift appropriate weights and don't overdo it like female body builders who have their own reasons for doing so. When done right, your body will get toned and you will look slimmer much like a sportswoman from the Olympics!

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Weight training increases the vitality of the bones, and prevents osteoporosis, a horrible and sometimes crippling illness. Bone density improves around 20% in six months of weight training, but improves fastest when teamed with a high calcium diet.

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Not only will your bones be strong, your muscles and connective tissues will improve too, meaning you are much less likely to pull or strain muscles, or to suffer from arthritis which even though quite a common foot problem can be avoided. A 12 year study conducted recently showed that strengthening the muscles in the lower back reduced back pain by 80%!

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Weight training is proven tolower bad cholesterol, and blood pressure. These are both key signs of unhealthiness, which can really affect your heart, so keeping them as low as possible is important. If you weight train and do a form of cardiovascular exercise, the benefits are maximised.

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Even women in their 80’s and 90’s can benefit from learning to weight train, as long as it is done in a safe environment. The benefits can be enjoyed at any age and your resultant healthy heart will thank you!

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Weight training appears to improve the body’s ability to process sugar, which reduces the chances of diabetes. Ofcourse there arecures for diabetes. But prevention is better than cure right? Training can improve glucose usage by 23% in the first two months! As diabetes is a growing problem, this is a huge benefit.

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Ten weeks of weight training has been proven to increase confidence and fight depression, due to feeling capable and the feel good hormones being released. What a perfect way to keep your mind and body healthy!

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Training will make everyday activities much easier, so whether you can cycle that bit further or run that bit faster, you’ll see the difference in your everyday life, too. It can even help with hobbies such as golf! And let me not even begin to state the great effects it will have on your sex life!

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Staying fit can be hard work, and with so many suggestions, you feel like it's much easier to just stick to the treadmill. The benefits of weight training are unbeatable though, so get down to a gym and see what your personal trainer recommends. I did, and now I love it! Plus, you never know who you’ll meet... Have you started lifting weights, and felt the benefits? Please share your stories!

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