For decades, women were told the key to being healthy and fit was to “eat less and move more.” We once lived in a society where strength training was viewed as only socially acceptable for men. “Bulking up” was often seen as something that was reserved for athletes and bodybuilders. Thankfully, that conversation is changing today! Shew!!
Strength training for women is much more than building muscle and changing the way your body looks. In fact, it has a tremendous impact on your overall physical health and well-being - the way you feel, how your body functions, and even how well you age.
The older I get, the more I understand my primary goal isn’t to simply weigh less, but to build a body that is strong, healthy, capable, and one with a lot more confidence. Here are five reasons why I believe strength training should be a priority for you, too.
Muscle is your metabolism’s bff
Muscle is metabolically active tissue - aka your body uses energy to maintain it. Building muscle is a metabolism booster….it lights the fire of your metabolism! Having lean muscle is an essential part of supporting your metabolism - especially as you get older.
Strength training improves overall metabolic health by helping your body use energy more efficiently. Instead of focusing on burning as many calories as possible, strength training offers you something valuable to build and preserve - muscle.
Women who have spent years dieting, indulging in excessive cardio, or constantly trying to squeeze into a smaller size, shifting the goal toward becoming stronger can be incredibly powerful and FREEING!
Helps regulate blood sugar
Blood sugar regulation isn’t talked about enough when it comes to muscle and the role it plays.
Your muscles use glucose for energy and strength training can improve insulin sensitivity. In simpler words, helping your body move glucose from your bloodstream into your cells more effectively. Regularly using and building your muscles can be an important part of regulating healthy blood-sugar levels and overall metabolic health. You’ll be able to handle carbs significantly better - and who doesn’t love some carbs?!?!
So while we often think of strength training as something we can see in the mirror, its most important benefits are happening on the inside.
lift heavy, age beautifully
You can’t stop aging, but what if I told you that you can absolutely be intentional about how you age.
Circulation, metabolic health, muscle mass, bone health, posture, and overall physical health are all areas which strength training supports.
There isn’t a workout that can promise wrinkle-free skin or replace healthy nutrition, hydration, sleep, sun protection, and skincare. However, taking care of your body from the inside-out matters. Aging well isn’t about trying to look like you’re in your 20’s again, it’s about looking and feeling healthy, strong, and having the energy and resilience to enjoy every stage of life.
same weight, totally different body
Body recomposition is probably one of my favorite benefits of strength training. It means changing the ratio of muscle to body fat - building or maintaining lean muscle while reducing body fat. It completely changes the way we think about progress.
You may notice your waist feeling smaller, clothes fitting differently, arms and legs becoming more defined, or maybe your overall shape changing while your body weight stays relatively the same.
This is the primary reason why the number on the scale shouldn’t be your only measure of success. The goal isn’t to make your body weigh less, but changing what your body is made of.
Train for life, not just the mirror
The most underrated reason to strength train is also probably the simplest - being strong makes life easier. It’s the everyday tasks that require strength - carrying groceries, picking up your children/grandchildren, climbing stairs, getting up from the floor, doing yard work.
Maintaining strength as you age becomes even more important, as it’s an investment in what you want to be able to do in 10, 20, 30 years from now.
I don’t know about you, but I don’t just want to live longer, I want to be strong enough to enjoy the life I’m living!
Strength training completely changed my perspective on fitness. It’s about building ME. Whether that’s building muscle that supports my metabolism, helping my body manage blood sugar, investing in how I age, or changing my body composition, I’m creating strength that carries with me into everyday life.
You don’t have to become a bodybuilder. You don’t have to spend countless hours in the gym. You don’t have to burn the most calories. And you certainly don’t have to be the strongest person in the room. Because as women, one of the best things we can do for ourselves isn’t simply to take up less space - it’s to build a body strong to carry us through the life we want to live.
Whether you’re new to strength training, in a rut, or one who bolts straight towards the treadmill at the gym, Inspire Fitness Training is here to help you! We offer services such as exercise programming, nutritional coaching, private 1 on 1 training, and virtual training. We serve clients in Wake Forest, North Carolina and beyond.
