Common Myths About Lifting/Rage

Lately many of us have seen a few more women choosing the squat rack over the cardio equipment than in previous years, but many women still have many false misconceptions about weight lifting. The most common excuse to not lift is “I don’t want to look bulky” or “I don’t want to look masculine.” This is completely untrue. Lifting weights and eating healthy won’t make you look like the female version of the hulk. Steroids will. The women they see who compete in bodybuilding competitions work long and hard to build up their physique to look the way they do along with heavy does of supplementation.
Another common misconception is that “My goal is to burn fat, not build muscle so cardio is the only thing I should worry about.” Wrong again. Although weight lifting weight burns a significantly less amount of calories in one session versus one session of cardio, weight lifting has been proven to boost one’s resting metabolic rate in the long run. Long story short, if you move some weight, you’ll burn more fat at rest.
And “All my muscle will turn to fat when I stop lifting”? Can you turn scrap metal into diamonds? No. Fat and muscle aren’t the same thing. They are two different materials. Muscle can’t turn to fat and fat can’t turn to muscle.  When you think your muscles are turning to “fat" muscle atrophy is actually what happens and gains (fat gains that is) are made. Next? “Women shouldn’t lift heavily. They should only focus on light weights” What? Muscle is respondent to resistance and tension. How can someone build muscle or get toned if there isn’t any resistance? You never know how you’ll look or feel until you try something new like a new class or routine to challenge yourself. Whether it’s adding 10 pounds to your deadlift or doing 3 more reps of every set you do, push yourself. If fitness is as simple as it seems than a lot more people would be fitter than they are now. These common misconceptions shouldn’t even exist because all they do is get into our minds and lead us to believe that we’re inferior to men and should leave weight lifting to them. Women shouldn’t be afraid of looking bulky (because they won't!), or focus only on cardio, because weight lifting goes beyond that. (407)