Things I wish women knew about gaining muscle mass: Dispelling fears and promoting the benefits.

 

As a personal trainer I spend a lot of time promoting the health benefits of resistance training and busting myths surrounding it.
Many women fear the weight room, not only because they may feel unsure about what to do, but also have underlying discomfort created by the ever-confusing marketing of fitness fads, supplements, and ads in social media.

Below I’ll try my best to bust some fitness myths surrounding muscle mass and raise awareness to the multiple benefits of adding lean mass to your frame that have nothing to do with looks.


Myth #1 : Lifting weights will make you bulky, look like a bodybuilder, etc.
Women who remain 100% natural (no steroids) simply do not produce the amount of testosterone needed to gain massive amounts of muscle.
Bodybuilding is a sport. Building a significant amount of muscle is an extremely long, dedicated process which requires diet cycling, many years of dedication, and elite genetics.  Avoiding the incredible benefits of lifting weights for fear of becoming a bodybuilder is like not driving your car for fear of becoming a Nascar driver.

(Lots of lifting, still feminine) 

Myth #2 : Women shouldn’t lift heavy weight, but light weights to “tone” and build “long lean muscles

The word toning has been largely misused in fitness marketing. When asked, most women believe toning is different than building muscle. Simply put, toning IS building muscle mass and being lean enough to see definition. Other catch phrases sold to women is the concept of building “long, lean muscle”. All muscle is lean, and muscle length is anatomically determined by the points where it attaches to the bone and the tendons.  No form of training alters the visual length of your muscles. You build upon the muscle you genetically have. For the majority of women, those small lady dumbbells don’t produce much in terms of muscle because the resistance is too low to create change. You lift your children, work in the garden, or lift boxes at work heavier than those. You’re stronger than you give yourself credit for.

A well made resistance training program and adding muscle mass has incredible benefits to our health.
Benefits include:

·        Reducing age related muscle loss (scarcopenia), which is associated with adverse health outcomes such as hospitalization, physical disability, falls, and fractures.  Maintain your mobility and independence as you age!

·         Improved muscle strength and protecting your joints from injury.

·        An improved metabolism

·        Greater stamina

·        Better control over blood sugar

·        Improved posture

·        Increased bone density and strength and reduced risk of osteoporosis

·        Improved sense of wellbeing and self-esteem
and much more!

Would you like to train with a Pro Athlete/Certified Trainer in a private studio? I offer 1 on 1 training sessions as well as online remote coaching.
Contact me:
Tamara Ekema
Call/Text: 226-820-3720
Email: tamara@rekema.com
Instagram: @tams_lionsden