Women and Weights

"I want muscle, but I don't want to bulk up, so I don't lift weights." WHAT???? Do you honestly think her physique came from cardio alone???

If that's the case someone has clearly misguided you. Lifting weights WILL NOT bulk you up if you are doing it the right way. Most women have the misconception that weight lifting is for men and bodybuilders. It is far from true. That myth needs a stop put to it & I'm here to help you understand that lifting weights, the proper way will not bulk you up.

I started working out 4 1/2 years ago. I began by becoming a cardio junkie & becoming accustomed to the rush of adrenaline I got from a nice 45-60 minute, workout that had me breathing hard and my heart rate high enough where I could feel the blood flowing through my body. Were weights a part of my routine? Nope. Was I wondering why I wasn't seeing muscle develop in my body? Yep. Better believe it. I wasn't satisfied. I was burning myself out daily believing that all I needed to incorporate into my workout routine was proper nutrition & cardio. Boy was I wrong, but so very elated that I took time to research what I was doing wrong in order to get what I wanted. 

Turbo Jam was great for me. When I found it, I began to not only keep cardio as a part of my routine, but also get strength training in as well. Chalene Johnson, the celebrity trainer who got me to enjoy my workouts, finally helped me realize what I was missing from my workouts for so very long. By tuning in and listening to her advice, I was finally on the track I wanted to be on instead of constantly burning myself out & wondering why I wasn't getting the results I wanted. 

For years I have heard from so many women "if you lift weights, you'll bulk up & look like a man." Goodness if I could kick the old me in the ass for not realizing the truth when I should have! No joke. However, I won't say I'd take it back. It was a learning process for me. Not only did I discover for myself that I wouldn't bulk up lifting weights, but I was finally able to slow way down & build the lean muscle mass I wanted.

In 2009 Beachbody released a program called ChaLEAN Extreme, the creator of course being Chalene Johnson, whom I looked to as a hero and still do. I of course was all over this program, considering Chalene had taught me that is it necessary to strength train if I was going to develop the arms, legs, glutes & back I wanted to get. I started using the program the day it arrived at my door on March 27, 2009. I had close to 40 pounds to lose & was not going to let anything stand in my way. Not only did I start a new exercise routine but I also began a new chapter in my life learning about nutrition and what kind of foods I needed to be eating to get me through the weight routines. No longer was a drive thru going to cut it. This was simple steps to cut out ALL the crap I had occasionally been eating & really focus on what was going to build my muscles.

I did it. After the first round of ChaLEAN Extreme (or as some call CLX) including 3 months of the Lean For Life phase where I put together workouts that would alternate with each other to get me into the best shape of my life, I lost 38 pounds and gained lean muscle mass. I was NOT bulky. In fact, by listening to Chalene, I learned and realized that FAT is bulky, not muscle. If you are building it the right way, you will develop LEAN muscle definition in your body and you will NOT look like a man. 

I have continued to lift weights. I will never stop lifting weights. If you are lifting heavy, slow & doing the right amount of reps, you will not bulk up. What a lot of women fail to realize is its MUSCLE that burns fat & you CANNOT properly gain muscle by doing cardio alone. You HAVE TO incorporate weights into your routine. From ChaLEAN Extreme to P90X, I have learned many different ways to build my muscle. I have more definition in my body than ever before. The clean, lean foods I consume help me make it through the tough workouts I do on a daily basis. My routine consists of weights, cardio, stretch, yoga, ab routines and rest. By incorporating all the components of fitness together, you will develop the body you have always wanted to develop. You will still get your adrenaline rush by lifting weights and you will also escalate your strength to help maintain a strong core which is what everyone needs to help prevent back injuries. Our core is what holds us together. Without the strength of it, you are weak & susceptible to injury. Learn to add weights into your workout regimen. You will be glad you did and finally realize that its ok to slow down with the cardio, stop working against your body by too much of it and enjoy the process of creating a strong and beautiful physique!