If you're a woman accustomed to more cardiovascular or light exercise, you should consider to incorporate some form of weight lifting. You're probably asking "Me, lift weights? But, I'm a woman...is that acceptable?" Well, yes. You are a woman and it is acceptable. I pose one question, why shouldn't you lift weights? Because of your gender? Not nearly.

If you look past the gender separatism that exists in the exercising world, one would notice females are sectioned off from partaking in weight training. But, weight training among females is now rather normal, dare I say it, and has even proved beneficial for women. Pumping iron as a female isn't a means of defeminization, it's merely adaptation to current exercise methodology and betterment to one's womanly self.

Now ladies, I'm sure you have a slew of reasons to avoid lifting weights -one of which, the obvious attached masculine stigma-but if you consider the advantages gained from exercising with weights, you might repeal your existing viewpoint and may even add some iron to your workout formula.

Adding Some Iron

Ladies, don't look at lifting weights as merely, well, lifting weights. Rather, consider weight lifting as 'strength training.' Essentially, when lifting weights, you're exercising, or training to gain strength. And what's masculine about gaining strength? Strength is universal. So, why can't us women be strong, too? We are already strong and can hold our own as females as it is.

Now, you're obviously not going to be lifting heavy, unless you have female bodybuilding inspirations. The beauty for us women and strength training is we can choose our desired weight to exercise with. We women can lift lightly, moderately or heavily. Even by incorporating light weight lifting, results will appear gradually and daily tasks that would normally leave us winded will now refresh and invigorate us.

Losing Some Baggage

Let's face it, girls, we all have some extra pounds we'd love to shed. With strength training, you can do this and more! It's proven that with correct diet, cardiovascular activity and strength training you'll gain a slimmer physique, tone up your body and gain some added power. By sticking to a weekly regiment, not only will you lose fat and gain toned muscle, but you'll also boost your metabolic rate. So, while you're already burning calories during actual strength training, you'll also be burning more calories day to day while sedentary at work or home all through your new, sped up metabolism.

Avoiding The Bulk

Now, if you're just beginning to ease your way into strength training be cautious. If you're looking to slim down and tone, then lifting light weights with more repetitions is your best bet. If you chose to lift with moderate to heavy weight, you could possibly build some muscle, resulting in a bulking up of sorts.

Women though are typically not ones to build or bulk up with too much muscle, as they have less muscle hypertrophy -or muscle growth- capabilities. So, ladies, keep with light weights and don't exert yourself too much. You'll reap the benefit of a trim, tone and metabolically quickened physique and avoid muscle bulging.

It is possible and acceptable as women to train with weights. And the advantages are clear, so why not try this new style of exercise for women? Ladies, if you're ready to break the womanly exercising mold and steer clear of narrow-mindedness then start strength training today. Pump some feminine iron, lose some extra baggage and gain that slender build you once had or have always desired.