Ladies, being strong and muscular isn’t just for men.
While it’s true men are naturally stronger and more muscular, God gave both men and women bodies capable of building muscle for different reasons. Men naturally have more strength to fight off threats, build great things, and hold doors open for women (that’s right). But just because men are inclined to be stronger doesn’t mean women shouldn’t seek to improve their strength as well.
Like our female ancestors, our lives demand a level of physical strength. Lifting weights isn’t for women to “be like men,” but to lean into God’s design for our bodies. Multiple studies have shown women who lift while pregnant reduce the risk of complications and build endurance for labor. Women can also lift to have strong bones, feel confident and handle their daily tasks, and maintain healthy metabolisms well into old age. They lift so they can carry their children and grandchildren for long periods of time. Weightlifting is a form of self-care in order to better take care of loved ones. That is peak femininity.
Like high-impact workouts, lifting weights is good for longevity. A moderate weight lifting routine is also less stressful on the female body. Excessive cardio or high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts over time can lower basal metabolic rate and potentially cause hormonal and fertility issues down the line. But just 30 minutes of weightlifting two to three times a week yields more significant results over time, like burning excess fat and building muscle even at rest.
Building the habit in one’s late teens and early twenties is much easier than waiting until muscle mass begins to decline in one’s 30s. Hillsdale offers many opportunities for women to improve strength and build muscle, from personal functional fitness training at the Health Center and strength training classes to the equipment in the Sports Complex and Founders Gym. Don’t be intimidated by the gym goers who can curl 50 pound dumbbells. Everyone has their own personal goals (and they’re probably too focused to care how heavy your weights are).
Traditionally feminine exercises like Pilates and barre can be great parts of exercise routines. But don’t throw strength training aside because it’s “for the boys.”
Some women understandably worry strength training will make them appear too masculine. A woman would need to do hours of training, significantly increase her caloric intake, and have high levels of testosterone to build muscles large enough for her figure to resemble a man’s. And isn’t it time we threw out the frail-as-can-be ideal for women’s bodies anyway?
Sometimes we can conflate traditional femininity with weakness. However, the oft-quoted Proverbs 31 tells of the ideal woman — and she is by no means a delicate flower. Rather, she is a physically active, productive member of her household. And she’s physically strong. Proverbs 31:17 reads, “she sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.” Want to be a Proverbs 31 woman? Go grab some weights!
