As female-specific research is being increased, we’re getting the evidence to back up the many benefits of strength training for women, throughout the various stages of our lives.
Whether you’re new to strength training or not, are keen to get started, or aren’t too sure, I figured covering the why of strength training would be a good place to start.
Im eager to get as many women involved so you can benefit sooner, rather than later, from working on your strength. You don’t need to have reached a certain level to take part, nor do you need any fancy equipment as the there are always options suitable for all levels starting simply using body weight.
The Benefits of Strength Training for Women
So let’s cover some of the benefits of strength training that you can get from adding this to your weekly schedule.
It Boosts Your Metabolism
Muscle is more metabolic than fat, so strength training is key to encouraging a higher metabolic rate. Increased metabolism means that your body converts calories into energy faster and disposes of waste more efficiently. Boosting your metabolism can help you burn more body fat and maintain a healthy weight.
Strength training can increase your metabolism for up to 36 hours after finishing a session. And over time, a higher muscle-to-fat ratio can increase your resting metabolic rate (RMR), the base calories that your body requires to just function and stay alive.
It Helps In Other Areas Of Life
The purpose of strength training isn’t only to lift heavy weights at the gym. Building up your strength can benefit you in many other areas of life too. To keep it simple community members tell us that strength training has helped them build body confidence and feel more able to cope with daily life.
Strength training can also help improve performance in many other sports, like running and cycling, through increased mobility and endurance, improved posture, enhanced coordination, and so much more. Functional weight training can also help you perform other daily activities, such as moving heavy furniture, lifting children, or carrying your luggage through the airport.
Reduces Your Risk Of Injury
Strength training improves the strength of your muscles, tendons, and even the ligaments and bones, as well as enhancing flexibility and balance – all things that can reduce your risk of injury in daily life, and when taking part in other sports and activities.
Supporting Your Mental Health
It’s not only your physical health that will improve with strength training. It can have huge benefits for women’s mental health too. Resistance training releases endorphins, while seeing progress can help you feel more powerful and confident with your body.
Several studies have also shown that regular strength training can reduce anxiety levels and help manage the symptoms of depression in women.
It Can Help Protect You From Certain Illnesses & Health Issues
Weight training can offer some important long-term health benefits too.
As women, we are much more susceptible to developing joint and bone conditions as we age, with peri-menopause and menopause not helping the situation. Performing regular weight-bearing exercises can increase bone density and reduce the risk of osteoporosis (weakening of the bones). Strength training can also help manage arthritic pain by building stronger muscles around the joints.
And if that’s not enough to convince you, studies have also suggested that strength training can reduce your risk of developing type II diabetes and cardiovascular disease. It can help rebalance hormonal health in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) too.
How To Get Started with Strenght Training
How To Get Started with Strength Training Getting started with anything is always the hardest part, right? If you’re newer to strength training, you’ll want and need expert guidance. If you’re more experienced, it could be the inspiration and accountability you’re looking for.
Learn The Different Ways To Strenght Train
If you think that strength training only means deadlifts and bench presses, think again. Strength training refers to any exercise that uses resistance to work your muscles. There are many different ways to strength train, ranging all the way from bodyweight workouts to barbell squats, all of which you’ll find in Beyond Strength – Foundations with all levels catered for.
Most beginners of strength training start with bodyweight exercises. These are movements that use your own natural body weight rather than external weights. Squats, burpees, lunges, push-ups, and planks are all great bodyweight exercises. They can help you to build up power, practice your form, and understand movement patterns. You’ll cover these in Beyond Strenght – Foundations.
From bodyweight exercises, you can build your way up to using free weights and machines. Free weights include dumbbells, kettlebells, or barbells which can be used in a number of different exercises. Machine weights such as the leg press are fixed to a particular movement.
In Beyond Strength -Foundations, you will progress from body weight to using light dumbbells (1kg-5kg), kettlebells, or tins of beans if that’s what you have.
Focus On Your Form
Nailing your form is one of the first things you need to do when starting out with strength training. The correct form ensures that you’re targeting the right muscles with each movement. Your form also prevents you from getting injured when lifting heavy weights.
When following along with the on-demand strength workouts (or live sessions each week), you’ll be able to see your coach perform the exercises and share important teaching points to help you understand what the correct form is and how it feels.
You can also connect with your coach and other community members via the kisE Studio on Discord to ask any specific questions and share your journey.
Warm-up, Cool Down & Stretch
A proper warm-up and cool-down are essential elements of strength training. A dynamic warm-up helps to get your muscles ready, increase your range of motion, and reduce your risk of injury.
Stretching after your workout is also important for reducing muscle soreness and speeding up recovery time. Foam rolling can also help to massage out your muscles in between workouts.
Train With A Friend Or Community
Strength training may seem like something you would mostly do alone. But it can be much safer and more effective when done alongside others which is why we run the live session in the kisE community.
Outside of the Beyond Strength session, this might be having a friend spot you in the gym, working with a Personal Trainer.
Rest & Recovery Are Essential
Feeling achy or sore the day after a heavy-weight session is completely normal. It’s a sign that you worked hard and challenged your body. However, you don’t want to feel so sore that you write yourself off for several days or end up injuring yourself.
Taking rest days is key, especially as that’s where you reap the benefits of your strength training when your muscle fibers repair and come back stronger! Particularly at the beginning of your training.
Personally, I’ve loved delivering Beyond Strength and the feedback has always been positive. Its never too late to get started either as you can cover the foundations whilst attending the live sessions and all sessions are recorded and accessible