If you’re a woman and you like to work out, you’ve probably heard this admonition, right? “Don’t lift heavy weights unless you want to bulk up.” However, nothing could be further from the truth. A personal trainer DC-based fitness expert tells us exactly what DOES happen when women lift weights — and why it’s absolutely not possible for women to bulk up when they do lift heavy weights.

Why is it impossible for women to build up muscles like men in spite of lifting heavy weights?

One reason is that the levels of testosterone hormone in men and women are not the same. The only difference is that women have only 15 to 20 times less the amount of testosterone hormone than men. But this difference is enough to keep women from building the kind of bulky muscles that men can. That is why it is absolutely fine if women lift heavy weights assuming that their health and physical strength supports this.

What DOES happen when women lift heavy weights?

Women do have a small amount of testosterone in their bodies, so when they lift weights, they tone, rather than develop bulky muscle. Because they don’t have a lot of testosterone, they’ll gain the muscle without the mass.

* The more the repetitions the more the muscle bulk, but most women limit themselves to few reps.

When guys get into weightlifting, they will often do lots of reps at high weights. Women in general do considerably less, which builds strength but not “volume.”

* Heavy weights develop strength, not size.

Women get strength and not bulk muscle by lifting weights. Women get muscle strength and neurological improvement because while lifting weights the nervous system is stressed as much as the muscles, but there is no increase in the size.

* There are several benefits which women derive from lifting heavy weights.

Now that all your doubts regarding weightlifting and bulk in women have been clarified, you have every reason to take up lifting heavy weights, provided your health and physical conditions allow it.

You are losing out on the benefits of heavy weight lifting if you are avoiding it because lifting weights has several positive effects on women. Not only does it help in strengthening your muscles but it also ensures that connective tissues and bones become stronger. It also provides several benefits in the long run, especially prevents diseases that come with age.

Josef Brandenburg is an award winning DC based personal fitness trainer. His clients count on him to help them get the bodies they want in the time that they actually have and without being hungry or eating nasty food. Click here to find out more about his 7-Day Free Trial.

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