Why should girls lift weights?

"The bone is only as strong as the load put on it"
Wolff's law

One of the women’s biggest women's concern with the strength training that I’m constantly coming across is the fear of getting too masculine. Many women believe that simply by doing biceps curls their biceps will grow into Arnold’s size and they will lose their femininity. This is completely false. The truth is that women need to lift weights as much as men do if not more. One of the main reasons is not only the weight management and body shaping but the prevention of osteoporosis. As everyone knows osteoporosis is a disease of bones when the bone mineral density is decreasing and the bones are deteriorating. This leads to bones fragility and fractures. Among other risk factors such as the lack of vitamin D, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, lack of physical activity and age, one of the biggest ones is the female gender. As we approach menopause the level of estrogens that our body produces and that help to protect our bones from resorption is declining and the density of our bones is decreasing about 5% yearly. The weightlifting has been proven to have huge impact on the density of one’s bones. It is very simple. The more muscles we have the more densed our bones must become to supports all the extra weight. So by weightlifting we don’t only train our muscles but we build our bones too. My mom is the best proof of this. She has always been physically active person. Since her young age she has been doing some simple exercises routines at home like sit-ups and stuff. For many years she has been working together with my dad in our garden and after they had sold the garden she has been going to some aerobic classes. But she was never big fan of weight lifting for that common believes that it was not for women. Then my mom was diagnosed with osteopenia which is a pre-osteoporosis state. Only this was when I was able to convince her that she needs to workout with the weights too. She’d started some basic training with lighter dumbbells and in about half a year her medical condition improved to the state when she is not osteopenic any more. Nowadays she loves working out and she is proud of her toned body. And no, she does not have the Arnold’s arms. :) I always tell this to all of my girlfriends. I encourage them to weight training no matter what body shape they are. For the reason that to be healthy and strong is the most important thing that we should care for.

Have a fit day! :)