Female Muscle Myths

  Don’t believe all the strength training hype

We’ve all heard it from others or even said it ourselves - weight training is for bodybuilders. Who hasn’t avoided lifting weights because they are already too bulky and feel adding muscle would just make it worse.
Here’s a newsflash - that bulk is probably fat. Most people who think they are big boned or have a naturally stocky build would be surprised to see what their body looks like after they’ve gained muscle and lost the extra fat.

Weight has nothing to do with shape

Fat weighs less than muscle, which is one reason women trick themselves into thinking more muscle will equal more bulk. The truth is actually the opposite. Muscle may weigh more than fat, but one pound of muscle is smaller than one pound of fat. It’s also looks lean and toned as opposed to lumpy and flabby. Wouldn’t you rather look better, even if it means weighing five pounds more?

It’s probably not just the numbers on the scale that bother you. I’m betting your shape has a lot to do with it too. The good news is a woman who chooses to build muscle can remain at the same weight while losing inches off her waist, arms, legs and hips.

Even if you do gain a few pounds initially, muscle raises your metabolism and speeds the calorie burning process, making weight loss follow.

That genetically blessed woman probably lifts weights

The next time you feel a twinge of jealousy over a woman gifted with a great body consider the possibility that it’s muscle, not luck, that keeps her metabolism high and her body slim. Some people who look like they won the genetic lottery just know the importance of being strong.

Top female muscle myths:

• Weight training will make you look like a bodybuilder - Some women naturally gain more muscle than others, but to get to the amount seen in female bodybuilders is virtually impossible without following a super-strict diet and workout schedule, taking protein supplements and for some, using steroids. Since you won’t be doing any of those things you have absolutely nothing to worry about.will turn into muscle - Some women shy away from strength training because they are over their ideal weight and don’t want to turn existing fat into muscle. Fat and muscle are two different things and neither can turn into the other. When someone with extra fat builds muscle they may become bigger at first, but probably not for long. Once the muscle revs up their metabolism they’ll start to burn more calories and lose fat.
• Muscle will turn into fat - If a muscular person stops strength training they may lose muscle and gain fat at the same time, which can look like muscle turning into fat. In reality the weight gain is caused by a number of factors, two big ones being that they are missing out on a calorie burn during their workouts and as muscle disappears the higher metabolism goes with it.