Will I Get Too Big and Bulky if I Lift Heavy Weights?

Will I Get Bulky and Too Muscly If I Lift Weights?

ONE WORD: NO

Bodybuilders become big and ‘bulky’ with a LOT of intense, HEAVY weight training and ALOT of food.

When I say lifting heavy weights, I am meaning lifting a weight so heavy that you can only just do 2-3 reps, and then you have to rest for 5 minutes, before you even attempt to do another set!!

This is definitely not the type of training that I do on Clapham Common with my clients.

The type of training I perform with my clients, and the workout plans I design for them (unless requested specifically by clients) are going to make you trim, toned, strong, and sexy. They are workouts that I personally do myself, and as you can see, I’m definitely not a bulky bodybuilder.

Using weights that allow you to complete 8-12 reps, then having a moderate rest time of 30-60 seconds between each set, will results in tone, endurance and strength.

Using weights that are lighter that allow you to reach your maximum exertion in 45 seconds to 1 minute; with 15-30 seconds rest between each set, will result in burning fat.

By Lifting weights we are building lean muscle, and that has dozens of benefits for women. These benefits include: more defined muscles, stronger bones, injury prevention AND increased calorie burn and fat loss.

Studies show that women that lift weights regularly burn more calories both during and after their workout. Plus, each pound of lean muscle burns 35 to 50 more calories per hour than pound of fat.

So by doing a combination of both cardio and strength training using weights will create tone, strength, and minimises body fat. Most of my clients have these objectives, so these are the principles I use to create and instruct their workouts, including those that I do MYSELF.

So to sum up, if weight loss is your goal, strength training will produce a more efficient weight loss effect than an equal amount of cardio. It will NOT make you big and bulky like a man, women just simply do not produce enough testosterone to let our bodies do this.

Lifting weights makes me feel strong powerful and awesome after every workout. Give it a try.

If you would like some more advice about lifting weights and would like to do a training session with me in Clapham, I can tailor a strength training program that works best for you. I guaranteed, you'll be feeling stronger, more confident and sexier than ever before!

Best Wishes

Amy Knipe, your personal trainer in Clapham

xxx