Let’s talk myth this week.
Specifically, one myth that seems to be popular. It’s the myth that weight training makes women bulky and masculine.
Lifting builds muscle and burns fat. Countless studies have shown that women who do resistance training are stronger, leaner and healthier than women who do not. What that resistance training does to your physique is completely up to you and your DNA. As a woman you can build muscle, get stronger and improve your physique. Females won’t get big muscles like men because males have 10 times more testosterone (one of the main hormones responsible for increasing muscle size) as females. So, unless a female decides to take supplements or other unnatural means to get more testosterone, there is only so much muscle to be gained. You will always look feminine unless you use steroids.
A common image that may come to mind is that of professional female bodybuilders. Most of these women use anabolic steroids (synthetic testosterone) along with other drugs in order to achieve that high degree of muscularity. In addition, most also have good genetics coupled with an unbelievable work ethic that enables them to gain muscle rather quickly when they dedicate hours to lifting very heavy weights in the gym.
These women do not look like that by accident. So unless you do all the things they do, trust me when I tell you, lifting will not make you bulky and masculine at all.
Tracy Springs is a fitness instructor at LA Fitness. Feel free to contact her at [email protected] with any questions or to set up a fitness appointment at the LA Fitness Waukegan facility.
