So I’ll tell you something honestly, initially when I joined gym, I was more of a crossfit person. Gradually when I saw people lifting and the different kinds of equipments, I wanted to start weight training. My mom was against weight training because she thought it makes one look bulky and she went on to say, “thoda sa bhi muscle bana na, gym jaana bandh”- if you start building muscles, no more gym for you. And now I do 5-6 days of weight training followed by 10 minutes of cardio twice a week.

To tell you the truth- cardio alone will not help you achieve your goals. Incorporating weight training is necessary. It helps you shape and tone your muscles and burn more fat.

I’ve often heard people don’t want to lift because they think that after leaving gym they start to gain faster. That’s not true. It might happen though, if you don’t maintain a proper diet. Like for example, you are eating healthy and working out too and then you leave the gym and have no physical activity plus an unhealthy diet. That leads to weight gain. The simple mantra is- In order to lose weight, you should eat fewer calories than what you burn.

Although my first question will be, “why will you leave the gym in the first place?”

Here are 7 reasons why women should lift weight:

1. Lifting weight gives you self-confidence. It gives you inner peace and it makes you love your body even more.
2. By lifting weights, you can build the kind of body that you want. It changes your muscle’s definition and shape and tone them.
3. You can accomplish simple everyday tasks and improve your daily life, like for example carrying the heavy bags after grocery shopping.
4. After working a 9-5 job, hitting the gym can act as a stress buster. You feel energised and have a good sleep at the end of the day.
5. Some women feel that push-ups and pull-ups are meant only for the guys. With proper training and guidance, even women can attain these goals.
6. Lifting weights allows you to discover and be proud of what your body can actually do instead of always worrying about how it looks. Love your body, not just for the appearance, but for the amazing things that it can do. If someone else can do it, you are no less than her.
7. People often think lifting weights means doing specific exercises only and hence it gets monotonous and boring after sometime. But the truth is, you can always modify your workouts and make it fun.

It’s all about making most of whatever is available.

I’ve seen an 88 year old man working out and lifting weights. What’s to stop you then?

Good things take time. All you need is a healthy mindset and to never give up on yourself.