Training heavy and the associated benefits

New week, new goals and another opportunity to train harder and heavier than last week! That is what Monday's are all about, right!?
This evening I had a big heavy shoulder session with my housemate Arek.
Tonight's workout incorporated exercises:

1- Seated Dumbbell Shoulder Press
2- Army shoulder press
3- Upright rows with bar
4- Dumbbell lateral raises
5- Dumbbell front raises

I like to train heavy. There are so many benefits to heavy weight training, yet so many women are still under the impression that weights equate to bulky, manly and muscularity! This is one of the biggest misconceptions and sees countless women avoiding the weights room and opting for cardio!

I would like to share with you the benefits of heavy weight training and why it will NOT make you look like the incredible hulk.

Why you will not turn into a man:

1) Women do not have the testosterone levels to put on the kind of size men do when weight training. Testosterone is the primary muscle-building hormone in the body. Unless of course you plan on taking anabolic steroids, I wouldn't be concerned about getting too big.
2) Building muscle and bulking up are not the same thing. Adding muscle actually makes you look leaner not bigger. Muscle is a lot denser than fat.
3) Weight training reshapes and sculpts the body. Yes, cardio will burn calories, but it won't change your body shape.
4) Bodybuilders eat A LOT to bulk up. Women typically don't consume enough calories to get huge.
5)The more lean muscle, the higher your metabolic rate.
6) It will improve your posture. My shoulder used to 'slump' forward a lot more before weight training. Exercising my back muscles has pulled my shoulders back.

Now that you know the truth about weight training, get in the gym and starting lifting ;)

xxx

Above: Doing a pull up for my back :)