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Scared to Lift?
I used to lift a couple days a week, but I found that I started to get too big. I'm scared to get too big. Will I get too big when I lift, no matter what, just because it's my body type? Or am I lifting too heavy? Amanda from Salem, OR
This is a common question. Many women say that they have shied away from weight lifting because they feel they get "too big." And for very select few women, that may be the case. However, I find that more often than not, a woman will put on some muscle (i.e. lean mass) with an average, consistent weight training plan. Usually, however, they don't markedly alter their diet and regularly do cardio workouts within their 'fat-burning' zone, in conjunction with the weight training. Therefore, fat mass isn't significantly decreased, and even a slight increase in muscle mass under the fat layer can make one feel a bit "bigger."
Don't give up on weight training . . . it's absolutely vital for muscle tone, bone density, posture, and overall strength and well-being. Plus, toning and shaping your muscles with weights is what makes our clothes fit well, and gives us the overall picture of health and vitality. Remember too, that the goal isn't to build massive size . . . so ease up on the weight and increase your reps for simple tone, increase the weight a bit and lower your reps to start to sculpt. I recommend putting the same effort into eating healthier as you do into a weight training plan -- eat less fat (no trans fats, and very little saturated), consume moderate carbs (cut out most sugar, eat primarily complex carbohydrates), and get enough protein. That, and take a high quality multi-vitamin. Those simple guidelines will get you on the right track to a toned-up physique!
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