Mythbusting: Women & Weights - Episode 3

If you’re a woman, do you skimp on the weights – or avoid them all together – because you are afraid weight-lifting would turn you into a female body-builder? This myth is likely created from body-building magazines. But in reality, those women get their size from an intense and strenuous training program, and “some” gain it through the use of anabolic steroids and other drugs that promote muscle gain.

Genetically, women have less muscle and only a fraction of testosterone and other growth hormones as men – so you couldn’t even get that big naturally if you tried! Thinking you could look “manly” from weight-lifting would be like your fiancé saying he can shoot hoops like Michael Jordan just because he practices plays basketball in the driveway. Now, you know that’s ridiculous!

Another myth that frequently worries women is that strength training will lead to weight-gain. Initially when hitting the weights, women may see a minimal and temporary weight-gain (by about 1 to 5 lbs.) in the first month or so of a strength training program.

Why?

Because muscle fibers develop tiny micro-tears in response to the resistance and stress placed on them. This may cause water retention, but it also allows the muscle to grow, become stronger, and eat up more calories. Unfortunately, this process may happen faster than initial fat loss. But if you’re challenging your muscles consistently over a period of months, you’ll begin to drop the pounds and get that firm, sculpted look you can’t get just through diet and cardio. So don’t be scared – get on that bench and start pumping!