Josh Bowen: Strong is the New Skinny

I have written several blogs and articles on the importance of strength training, particularly as it relates to women. I have documented the reasons why women should pick up the weights. However, for some reason, some people don’t get it. Some think they are a genetic marvel that if they look at a 40 lbs. dumbbell that their quads will expand and it will prevent them from wearing pants. Remember this; any man that works out would love for that to be their problem. I wanted to take the time to profess that Strong is the New Skinny

To back up my claim for those non-believers let’s look one strong hormonal difference between men and women:

1. Testosterone- this hormone has a huge impact on muscle tissue growth (as well as other interactions in the human body). Men, on average, will produce 20 times more testosterone than women. This of course will determine the amount of muscle tissue a person can grow. That also is not to say women cannot build muscle, it just means you cannot build as much or as fast as a normal man.

So I bring this up because I firmly believe that strength training is as important, if not more important, for women than it is for women. Let’s look at those reasons:

1. Decrease in Body fat- women who strength train will naturally have less body fat than those that don’t. That looks good! Its ok to have a little muscle J
2. Increase in Bone Mineral Density- Women are more susceptible to osteoporosis than men and strength training helps combat that. The loading of the bones causes the bones to become stronger and increases the density, warding off brittle and weak bones
3. It is great for your health- Research has shown that women that strength train are in better overall health than those that don’t. So pick up a weight and start going at it!

Proof is in the pudding. Let’s take a look at several well-known women who strength train:

Halle Berry

Halle is an avid strength trainer, who uses circuit training to build her physique. She is also Type I diabetic.

Kim Kardashian

Kim is another avid strength trainer, she combines circuit training and interval training to produce her results. Also notice, she has bodyfat! Its ok to have bodyfat!

Courtney Cox

Michelle Obama

A former athlete, the First Lady, stays in great shape with plyometric exercises and strength training. She also has arms that most women would kill for.

To close this off, Strong IS the new skinny, and the above women prove you can be in phenomenal shape by picking up weights.