I sometimes get a little embarrassed when I share the size of the weights I use. If I’m working out my abs I’ll go as heavy as possible, but if I’m training my upper body I keep it light.
My personal set of dumbbells.
That’s okay, according to a recent study Journal of Applied Physiology. Whether it’s 3-pounds or 30-pounds, you’ll still be able to get strong and build muscle.
I think a lot of people (particularly women) are feeling the pressure to lift these days. There are a lot of articles on the web and in magazines touting the benefits of strength training, and incidentally, shaming anyone who believes that they might “bulk up” to the size of a bodybuilder.
Photo Credit: Makethemenvyyou.tumblr.com
While it’s true that most women don’t have the genetics to gain a lot of muscle mass, there is a percentage of women who do put on coveted muscle with ease. They’re called easy-gainers.
It’s not easy to find a lot of information about easy-gainers. I had to ask a trainer about them to learn just exactly what a easy-gainer was. I’m one of them, mind you. And so are these women.
Strength training is good for you. That’s a no-brainer. But as the study from McCaster University shows, there is no reason to feel pressure to push it to the limit unless you want to. You’ll still be reaping the benefits of lifting, even if when you opt or 10 pounds instead of 100 pounds.
Good to know.
Do you lift heavy or light? Which one do you prefer?
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