Standing Up Against the Myths of Women’s Fitness
There are many women’s fitness myths out there that women continue to follow. One after the other falling under the trace of empty promises such as:
“Lose 30 pounds in 30 days.”
“Get washboard abs in 7 days.”
“Do 100 burpees a day to get the perfect bikini body.”
“You can lose weight without changing what you eat.”
I mean, I fell for these too. Many times.
How would I not? Everyone else was doing it and a handful of the “dedicated” saw success. Maybe my failure was because I wasn’t dedicated enough? Had no drive? Couldn’t follow the protocol?
It wasn’t until I had my children that I realized something.
I wasn’t the one that was broken.
It was common fitness marketing that was broken.
So I began to turn my back on what is “normal” for women to do in the gym. Started to lift heavy, eat a LOT along with prioritizing sleep and recovery.
You know what, doing the exact OPPOSITE of what the fitness industry was telling me to do was what led to my success today.
Now facing that misadvice and looking fear in the eye required a huge shift in mindset.
Below I’m going to go over some top myths that I had to face in order to get where I am today:
Cardio is Better for Weight Loss Than Strength Training
Myth: Many women think cardio is the only effective way to lose weight.
Fact: While cardio is great for burning calories, strength training builds muscle, which increases your BMR and helps burn more calories even when you’re not working out. Most of your body recomp, ie. fat loss, happens when you’re not in the gym!
Strength Training Will Make Women Bulky
Myth: Women believe that lifting weights will cause them to gain large amounts of muscle mass.
Fact: I really wanted this to be true when I started my journey. Little did I know how HARD it is to gain muscle as a woman in her late 30s. The truth is that women typically have lower levels of testosterone than men, making it harder to bulk up. Strength training will help you build lean muscle, improve strength, and boost metabolism without the risk of getting bulky.
Women Should Only Use Light Weights
Myth: There’s a misconception that women should only lift light weights for higher reps to avoid bulking.
Fact: This one makes me want to laugh and cry at the same time. Lifting heavier weights with proper form is safe for women and helps build muscle, strength, and bone density. It’s all about the right weight for your fitness level, whether heavy or light. Your weight selection should always be there to challenge you but also take into consideration your prior lifting history and injuries.
Strength Training Is Only for Building Muscle, Not for Toning
Myth: Many women believe strength training is only about gaining muscle and that cardio is the best way to “tone” the body.
Fact: If I got a dollar for every time a woman went straight to a stationary bike to lose fat after going through a weight lifting session. Toning is just another way describing the act of building lean muscle. Strength training is the best way to achieve a toned, sculpted look by reducing body fat and increasing muscle mass. The way to achieve a lean and strong look is not through cardio but in fact rooted in strong nutrition.
Author: Erica Villaneuva
