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Weighing In On The Issues of Women & Weight Training - The Fastest Way To That Lean, Fit, Sexy Physique!

By Peter Vasilis

For many women, weight training is a controversial subject. In my profession I hear objections from women all the time at the suggestion of beginning a weight training program in order to build lean muscle tissue and burn excess body fat.

Many women will object and state, “I don’t want to look like a man.” Still others will state that they only want to “tone” the body, so they feel that performing hours on end of aerobic exercise will do the trick.

First of all, through weight training alone it is not possible for women to build the same amount of muscle at the same rate as a man. The fact is that women lack the hormone testosterone to build big, bulky muscles. Many women are repulsed by the appearance of some “women” bodybuilders that they may see on TV or in magazines and feel that by simply training with weights they too may turn into this type of “she hulk.”

Well to be honest, unless you are planning on taking some performance enhancing drugs (steroids: definitely not recommended) or are lifting excessively heavy weight for low repetitions it’s not going to happen. In reality many of the professional women bodybuilders are on drugs containing the male hormone testosterone and possibly growth hormone as well.

Both of these hormones speed the recovery rate of muscle tissue and help to facilitate the muscle building process. They also contribute to the enhancement of male characteristics in these females.

For the average women a weight training program consisting of moderate resistance and higher repetitions (12-20) will help to build lean, toned and shapely muscles. Each person has a genetic potential that allows them to build muscle to a certain degree. Without the help of performance enhancing drugs you definitely will not turn into a genetic freak simply training with weights.

Now to address the other common issue that many women use as an excuse not to begin a weight training program. I will agree that moderate aerobic exercise is a great way to lose body fat.

However excessive cardiovascular training can be detrimental to your progress, especially if you do not include weight training into your workout regimen.

Most women hope that by doing excessive aerobic exercise they will shape and tone their body. The problem with this scenario is that aerobic exercise does not build muscle. Will you burn fat? Yes, most likely you will. But you will also not change your body shape without adding muscle to your physique.

For example if you were 30 pounds overweight and managed to lose the weight through aerobic exercise alone, you definitely would look slimmer in clothes.

However underneath you would basically still have the same body shape. All the problem areas would still be there only you would be 30 pounds lighter. Not bad if weight loss is your only goal, but through weight training you can achieve much greater results and literally transform your body!

By incorporating weight training into the regimen, the same person would build lean muscle tissue thus creating a much tighter, firmer more toned and overall shapely and fitter looking physique. Not to mention the other benefits of weight training including improved strength, increased bone density, increased lean body mass, decreased resting blood pressure and a lower risk for type 2 diabetes.

I hope that I have helped to clear up some misconceptions for any woman that wants to lose weight but is skeptical about beginning a weight training program.

If you are still hesitant and have further issues or concerns, feel free to contact me, I would be more than happy to help. In the mean time don’t let your reservations stand in the way of creating that body you desire!

About the Author:

Peter Vasilis is a total body transformation specialist available for private and group fitness training, fitness/weight loss coaching and consultations. For further fitness and/or weight loss related questions or more information on his “Beach Body Boot Camp” fitness and nutritional program visit BeachBodyFitnessCamp.com.

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