Bro, Do You Even Lift?

I like to consider myself a frequenter to the KAC.  While we all know that the KAC is beautiful and perfect, there has been one pattern that I have been noticing during my many trips there that has been troubling me a bit. 

Ladies, you really do love your cardio machines, don’t you?  The elliptical machines, bikes, and treadmills are almost always bustling with activity from girls.  But when it comes to free weights and weight lifting machines, it is almost always the guys making use of them.

Why is this?  Is it because cardio is seemingly a better workout? Are some of us just embarrassed because lifting weights is a “guy thing”? Or are we so self-conscious about our sweaty bodies and makeup-free faces that we can’t even stand next to that cute football player pumping iron? 

The excuse doesn’t matter.  The weights at the gym deserve some love from both guys and girls not only because there is no reason to be embarrassed, but also because strength training is a highly beneficial exercise. 

To address the former, think about this for a second.  When you are at the KAC and are in your zone, do you really notice anything that is going on around you, or are you too absorbed in your burning muscles and music blasting in your ears?  So, would people in the gym even think about judging you for lifting when they are so immersed in their own workouts?  I didn’t think so.

For many girls, cardio machines feel like the way to go when it comes to gym visits, and it’s easy to see why, especially when trying to lose weight or burn fat.  Many cardio machines have a calorie counter right on the screen, and the constant ticking of calories burned is a huge motivator during the workout and a huge reward afterwards.  With weights, it’s more difficult to tell just how much is being burned. 

Strength training, however, is a huge metabolism booster, even more so than cardio, and is essential for burning calories and keeping the pounds off.  Also, a good weight lifting regimen can curve the upper arm muscles and fight the force of gravity, getting rid of an arm jiggle.  Cardio rarely works the upper body to its fullest, but weights help keep that section of the body tight.

But the advantages of strength training far surpass just looking good and losing weight.  Muscularity significantly lowers the chance of sports-related injuries.  Other remarkable health benefits include blood pressure drop and a huge decrease in risk of heart attack or stroke.

Some women are also wary because they are afraid of getting too bulky instead of lean.  We girls really have no reason to fear.  Because we have significantly less testosterone (the muscle-building hormone) than men do, we do not gain muscle like men do. 

So, ladies, next time you want to work out, don’t just ignore all of the weights at the back of the KAC.  They’re there for you; take advantage of all of the benefits that they have to offer.