"I Don't Want To Gain Muscle, I Just Want To Tone Up!"

"I don't want to gain muscle, I just want to tone up". This is one statement I hear over and over again. You want to tone up, but you don't want to gain muscle. Ladies and gentlemen, listen up: YES YOU DO!! I’m going to tell you why you want to gain muscle and why you’re not going to look like Arnold after doing so.

We all want to look and feel great, have smaller waistlines, and fit into that favourite pair of jeans buried deep in our closets.

If you want to reshape your body, you need to increase yourmuscle, and to increase muscle OR tone up, it’s the same thing, you need to lift weights.

Let’s put to rest the fear of bulking up and looking like Arnold. As women we are lacking one very important ingredient needed for bulking - testosterone. We simply don’t have enough of it. And ladies, most men can’t look like Arnold even when they try, so please, please don’t worry about getting too big!

What you will get through regular weight training is a toned,sexy body that you will love and feel great in!

Change the shape of my body?! I know you’re thinking “Wow that’s fantastic!”, but here are some other fantastic reasons to tone up by lifting weights.

• Increased Metabolism:When you lift weights your metabolism stays elevated for hours after your workout. Although cardio sessions are needed to maintain a fit and healthy heart, your metabolism is only elevated for less than an hour after your exercise session, before returning to normal. With resistance training, because you are increasing your muscle you are actually increasing yourmetabolism permanently. Once you have added muscle to your body, it takes more calories or energy to sustain it.

  Did you know that:

• 1 lb of fat burns about 4 calories per day
• 1 lb of muscle burns approx. 30-50 calories per day

• Increase Bone Density:Osteoporosis affects 1.4 million Canadians. 1 in 4 women over 50 years and 1 in 8 men over 50 years have osteoporosis. Although it is prevalent in men and women over 50 years of age, the disease can occur at any age. The good news is that resistance training is one of the best activities you can do to strengthen your bones and fight osteoporosis.

Other benefits of Resistance Training

• Increased Strength
• Increased Balance/Co-ordination
• Increased Self-Esteem
• Feel Great
• Sleep Better
• Reduces Stress
• Decreased Risk for Adult-Onset Diabetes
• Improved Posture

I hope you are now reassured that through lifting weights you and your body will only see benefits. What are you waiting for? Go get started.

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