As a trainer to women of all different fitness levels, my eyes automatically roll to the back of my head every time I hear a woman say she believes lifting weights will make her look like a man.
I’ve heard this so many times. Clients come to me telling me they want to be fit but not “too bulky” and that they don’t want to “look like a man”.
The truth is that yes lifting weights will make a woman stronger, but no, this doesn’t mean she’ll physically resemble a man.
Women don’t come close to producing the natural amount of the muscle building hormone, testosterone, that men do, so it would take years, decades even, for a woman to naturally come close to achieving the bulky and muscular look that male bodybuilders display.
Another fallacy I often have to dispel is that too much protein is bad and will make women big. I’ve met a lot of women who are afraid to use protein shakes and amino supplements. I always explain to them that protein is the building block of muscle. Once the body breaks protein down to amino acids, it uses it for muscle repair and growth.
So when women train hard, run long and put in work, it’s super important to ensure the amino supply is sufficient. This is especially the case for women who are calorie-conscious, so that their bodies don’t divert amino acids for other metabolic purposes.
Therefore, the question shouldn’t be “Is this too much protein I’m having?” but instead, “Am I getting enough in?”
The third misconception I want to touch on today is the notion that women don’t need supplements. I always tell my clients that supplement needs for women can be different depending on their lifestyle and medical history. Even though my clients get in several meals a day, and eat a pretty clean, balanced diet, I still recognize that they have to supplement.
I usually recommend that they stick with three basic supplements A good multivitamin to ensure they get enough of each of the essential vitamins and minerals
Fish oil – It’s important to keep your joints lubricated but fish oils also carry other great benefits like helping to boost the immune system and fighting off heart disease.
Whey Protein – A diet high in protein is important since it plays a huge role in muscle recovery
With the right positive attitude, workout programme, a balanced diet and proper supplementation nothing can stand in the way of you and your fitness goals and you shouldn’t let any myths hold you back.
