Would it be too farfetched to say most of you could relate to the picture we are about to paint of an average female gym in Pakistan? Strength Training vs Cardio is a no brainer yeah? Well, not really, read on!
When you step foot into a chirping, oestrogen peaking female gym and lo and behold, you have the most ferocious sight of women sporadically sprinting on the treadmill and cycling like their life depends on it, all hail the cardio machines, that are claimed and in high demand. The weights and weight machines for that matter, obscure and neatly tucked away, secluded in the corner, almost untouched and avoided at all costs as if WORSE THAN CARBS! Sure, no one can deny cardiovascular activity being absolutely vital/healthy but as with anything, most conducive when done in moderation.
Why are we talking about this you ask?
Oh well because the average Pakistani women are in consensus that women shouldn’t lift weights because they will bulk up or worse, look manly. We would be lying if we said we weren’t conditioned into thinking the same. And we want to help you dispel the myth!
Is Cardio Over Rated?
Strength Training May Be the Best Way to Go
A countless sea of western and even local fitness gurus herald strength training as the best way to go. While most of us have unknowingly discarded strength training, and self-sabotagingly assumed whatever fitness goal one might have is only achieved through cardio, well, much to our dismay it might only be a part of it.
“Whether you’re a beginner or an elite athlete, strength training has so many benefits and is suitable for everyone of all fitness levels.”
Strength training burns calories for up to 72 hours
Helps build bone density
helps with anti-aging
Improves flexibility & posture
Boosts self confidence and mood
The medical and aesthetic benefits of strength training (aka lifting weights) are astonishing. Did you know strength training burns calories for up to 72 hours? Helps build your bone density? Helps with anti-aging? Hello ladies! As if that’s not enough to stop you in your tracks! Also it has proven to improve flexibility/posture, contribute to mental wellness and boost your self-confidence and mood. We promise you the list doesn’t end here!
The 3 Basic Mantras
Experts and Coaches suggest the following mantras for your fitness concerns: You want to lose weight? Incorporate a healthy calorie deficit as per your BMI (Body Mass Index) and strength training and a bit of cardio in any form you prefer. You want to build strength without shredding or bulking? Maintain a healthy amount of calories according to your BMI and strength train. You want to gain weight? Well combine a calories surplus with strength training. This is just the basics.
If you employ a trainer to help you on your strength training journey, you will NOT:
Begin to look like a man
Appear bulky
Have aching joints
In fact, for all the reasons mentioned above, lifting weights is great if not essential for older women too!
Hope this sets you up to not deplete your energy on an elliptical for 40 minutes! This just might dispel some of the myths shrouding strength training and the notion that women shouldn’t lift weights. No it will not make you bulky, look like a man, become broad, is legit safe for women who are older and neither will it ache your joints if you use the right approach and do it under an expert’s guidance. Try it with a trainer to begin your journey of strength and educating yourself on weight lifting.
We simply don’t want the power of strength training to be gate kept any longer as it’s the answer to all your fitness worries and a much stronger you.
While you’re on your journey of health and strength, don’t forget to hydrate, click below to find out the best foods for hydration plus bonus recipes!
