Fear of Bulking Up

by WiredBerries Editors — March 7, 2008

Although women are becoming more common in the weight room, there are still misconceptions about women and weight lifting. It's not uncommon to hear "you don't want to get too big" and "you'll get bulky if you lift too much" floating around women's' circles. The truth is that lifting weights:

• Increases your metabolic rate - More lean muscle, means your body needs more energy to maintain that new muscle; thus, you will burn more fat and store less energy as wobbly fat tissue.
• Improves your bones -- Weight training can improve bone density by as much as 13 percent in only 6 months.
• Improves confidence -- Women who lift weights are more confident because they feel empowered and the look lean and strong.
• Reduces stress -- Studies show that weight lifting can ease depression and fight anxiety.
• Makes you stronger and much less likely to suffer an injury.
• Improves your posture
• Helps fight heart disease -- Weight training improves your blood pressure, brings down sugar levels, and lowers your cholesterol profile.