Sepia Prime Woman Digital Magazine October 2013 | Page 9

Body Strong
Tasha Odunuyi

The Importance of Strength Training For Women
Many women think of weight training as a masculine
activity. Go into any gym and take a visual poll. You will
find the majority of women in a group fitness class or
on a piece of cardio equipment. Most will argue that the
top reason they shy away from weight training is the fear
of developing big, bulky muscles. It’s important to note
that as women we are physiologically unable to develop
large muscles like men, due to our lower amounts of
testosterone.
Weight training
goes well beyond
developing big
muscles. Regular
strength training
will help aid in faster
weight loss more than
cardio alone. Muscle
tissue burns fifteen
times more calories
per day than fat tissue
does – even when the
muscles are at rest!
Cardio burns calories
while the activity
is going on. After
strength training you
get the benefits of shedding calories and increasing your
metabolism long after the workout is over.

4.
5.
6.
7.

Sculpts the body.
Enhances your mood.
Improves sleep.
Improves glucose metabolism, body composition and
insulin sensitivity.
8. Decreases risk of injury.
9. Reduces your risk of osteoporosis.
10. mproves your attitude.
11. Increases strength.
12. Provides lean muscle mass.
So ladies don’t be afraid to pump the iron! You will notice
improved results by incorporating strength training a
minimum of 3 days a week along with a healthy nutrition
plan and effective cardio.

There are more reasons than not to begin incorporating a
strength training program into your regiment.
Strength Training:
1. Increases muscle mass and burns more calories.
2. Increases metabolism.
3. Helps slow down muscle loss due to aging. (After age
20 we begin to lose one half pound of muscle mass per
year.)

Tasha Odunuyi is owner of
Circle of Life Fitness.
For more info and tips to help
you achieve remarkable fitness
results contact Tasha at
www.colfitness.com

pg9