Weight lifting is not just for men. It never was. It never will be.
I am a gym rat. I enjoy the smell of real iron dumbbells. When I lift weights, it feels like something 
"concrete" and satisfying. It's not a "concept" or an idea. It offers immediate satisfaction and a feeling of accomplishment. It feels good. I feel good.
I would like to talk to women who have thought about lifting weights,but when it came right down to it, they looked at the dumbbells and the barbells and thought "Eek, not little ole me!" or "I have no idea what to do with them"....or..."I could never compete with the men"...or..."I will look stupid" ...or..."I might hurt myself"...or..."Women don't lift weights".
YES ...THEY DO! And they do it very well.
I'd like to make a couple lot of points:
- First - you have to get there. "There" being a gym, a fitness center, your home ...anywhere you can get your hands on some free weights.
- You probably don't have enough time right? Well, yeah yeah yeah, blah blah blah. You can always find time for something you really want.
- You don't want to look like a guy, right? Fat chance! Trust me, unless you have some amazing hereditary genes, you will not wake up looking like Arnold. Not even if you try. You don't build muscle by accident. It takes hard work.
- You may want to just "spot reduce" or "tone your arms" or "flatten your belly". Sorry, but THERE IS NO SUCH THING. It's a total package. All or nothing. And while we are on the subject, what exactly is toning...or...sculpting? And why does it only apply to women? Phooey ... building muscle is building muscle. Period.
- And while we are talking about building muscle....have you ever heard someone say, "Well, muscle weighs more than fat"? Which weighs more, a pound of feathers or a pound of bricks?
- Women need muscle. We need strength and resistance training the older we get. It is one of the most important factors in building and keeping strong bones, good posture and balance. It counter acts the slump bumpy physique women tend to morph into as they age. It can even change the dreaded flat butt syndrome!
- The more muscle you carry on your body, the more calories you burn. Even when you are sleeping! It's true. Your body becomes a calorie hoover. When you work hard in the gym, you tear down tiny muscle fibers. When you rest, they rebuild. Bigger and better than ever. (proper diet helps, but that's another story) Cardio is great. We need cardio for sure. But the moment you stop the activity, the calorie burning also stops. Calories burn like a furnace with weight lifting.
DO NOT fear the weights! I know. It's very difficult to walk into a weight room. Men can be intimidating. I'll tell you a little secret, most of the men are just as intimidated as you are. Really. They just have more macho testosterone causing them to grunt and groan and flail around like windmills. It doesn't mean they know what they are doing. They can't help it. Go easy on them.
This is a subject I am passionate about. I could go on and on. But I think I will do a part two instead. I'm sure you've had enough by now!
To be continued........
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