If your goal is to achieve a toned, healthy physique, strength training by utilizing some form of resistance is a much better approach than focusing only on cardio. Running on the treadmill a few days a week may help you lose body fat, but without adding on muscle, it won’t give you that tight, toned look.
There are a lot of myths and misconceptions out there about strength training. They encourage many women to disregard or dismiss any training involving weights or resistance. Let’s dispel three common myths and put them to rest.

Myth #1: Weightlifting causes women to “look bulky”
Many women associate resistance training as something only men should do because they believe it leads to weight gain and a “bulky look.” Strength training may cause you to gain weight but if the gains you experience are gains in Lean Body Mass, this means your weight can stay the same, or even increase, but you will look more lean and toned.

Myth #2: Lifting huge and heavy is required
Women have the ability to lift a tremendous amount of weight, but not increase lean muscle mass at the same rate as men. Lifting heavy with low reps is just one style of strength training. This means you don’t have to deadlift 2x your bodyweight or curl dumbbells the size of your head in order to reap benefits. Strength training at whatever level you’re comfortable with yields positive results.

Myth #3: Weight Lifting does not burn as many calories as cardio
Some women feel that weight lifting does nothing to melt the pounds off and that cardio is the only way to shed the fat. However, the more muscle you have, the more effective your body gets at burning calories, so you’re able to burn calories even when you’re at rest.

Lifting weights can be the way to get that lean and toned body that you want. For better health, start weight training and see what a difference it can make in your life.