Are you a woman who is intimidated by the idea of beginning strength training? Are you afraid that you'll "bulk up" if you begin using weights? Guess what? It won't happen.
As long as your doctor says it's okay, there's no reason you shouldn't get started with strength training, because getting strong will help you get slim quicker than aerobic exercise alone.
Burn, Baby, Burn!
Building muscle brings plenty of benefits, including:
- increasing endurance and flexibility
- protecting your joints (reducing your injury risk)
- increasing bone mass (which helps prevent fractures and degeneration from osteoporosis)
- increasing your energy level
- and boosting your metabolism
The benefits of strength training even continue when you're at rest! Your metabolism stays raised even if you are inactive. While some questionable diet supplements may promise to help you "lose weight while you sleep," exercise keeps that promise!
Getting Started
Doing exercises like sit-ups, push-ups and pull-ups are all components of strength training. You can also do your own modified version of weight lifting with household items. Hold a can of soup in each hand and do some chest-flies and curls.
Move up to heavier items a little bit at a time at a time. Try filling up a small milk or water bottle with some sand or kitty litter and then increase the contents a little bit at a time.
