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Why Bulking Up Could Be Better Than Slimming Down

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Society has taught women to avoid putting on muscle, because it looks too “manly”. However, for some women trying to lose weight past a certain point could be simply unhealthy. A psychologist and body image expert at Boise State University, Mary Pritchard, Ph.D. says “The message that our value is based on our thinness is all over our society”.

Jen Sinkler, a contributor for Women’s health fitness promotes a different approach. One that throws away the conventional trimming and weight loss, and focuses on muscle gain. She says “By focusing on muscle gain, you’re able to shift the conversation around women’s bodies”. This allows women to feel great about their bodies, and the stigma that is attached to bulking up will be a thing of the past.

For some of us forcing our bodies to shrink is not what our body biology actually wants to do. We all have unique bodies, and for that reason you cannot expect to have the same size thighs as the women next.

Then there are the health benefits of putting on muscle. When we increase muscle mass our metabolism increases and this promotes hormone balance, blood flow, heart health and a whole lot more. Also more muscle means that fat will burn at a faster rate, so ironically by putting on muscle losing the fat becomes easier.

When deciding whether to bulk up or become smaller there is no right or wrong answer. Listen to what your body is saying to you and do what makes you happy, but what you shouldn’t do is listen to the outdated stereotypes!

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If you’re interested in learning more about NW Women’s Fitness and getting on track to a healthier life, contact us today!

Myths About Women’s Fitness And Weight Loss

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There is a lot of information out there when it comes to women’s fitness and health. Women tend to be held to higher standards when it comes to physical appearance than men and the weight loss industry is definitely more focused on targeting women. There always seem to be a new fad diet or trend that is soon debunked in the world of women’s fitness but there are some myths and misconceptions that many women believe.

The Most Common Myths About Women’s Fitness

  • Weight lifting makes you gain bulky muscles. Contrary to popular belief, research and studies have shown that most women won’t gain more than a few pounds of lean mass, even if they use resistance training as part of a fitness program. There are many factors that make it extremely difficult to increase muscle mass unless it is an intentional goal
  • Cardio is the best way to lose fat. Cardio has long been thought to the optimal way to lose fat but the truth is that your diet is what affects fat loss the most. Proper nutrition along with a blend of resistance training, interval training, and cardio is the most effective way to rid the body of fat.
  • Core training is the way to lose belly fat. It is commonly thought that sit ups, crunches, planks, and other exercises that target the core are the best methods at getting rid of belly fat. It is true that the abdominals must be conditioned but a balanced workout is the key to a flat stomach.

Source: Huffington Post

Women’s Fitness In Portland

At NW Women’s Fitness in Portland, we take women’s health and fitness very seriously. We provide a variety of personal and group fitness exercises such as Pilates, Nia, Zumba, and Yoga. We also offer fitness boot camps as well as one on one personal training in Portland. Contact us for more information or stop by our center on Broadway!