Since going Paleo my family has fallen even more in love with our grill. Paleo and grilling just work well together. The past couple of years I've even been stepping outside my grilling comfort zone more and more. Grilling things I'd never thought to have grilled before and trying new flavor combinations. I have to say I'm pretty thrilled with the results of most of my flavor experiments. In the past I'd never have thought to grill fruit, but it's amazing. Grilling fruit and adding it to traditionally savory dishes? Brilliant. Oh yes, and? New rule: every burger recipe for the rest of forever must contain grilled pineapple. OK, maybe more of a guideline. It's a seriously delicious combination though. This Smoky Grilled Pineapple Burger is always a crowd-pleaser at my house. It's not only Paleo, but Whole30, glutenfree, lower carb, and clean eating friendly. I promise you won't miss the bun! paleo, grilled pineapple burger, smoky
I love strength training. I love the changes I am seeing in my body from it. I love my new found muscles. I love feeling strong and capable. I love how I feel I stand tall now. I know that once I get a little more fat off of the top that I have a pretty good looking bod underneath! I think however that a lot of women are still a little afraid of strength training. Afraid that it will make them big, bulky, manly looking.
Most women actually have a tough time bulking up. It would take a lot, and even a little artificial help for the average woman to get big muscles. I gain muscle fairly easily for a woman and it would take a lot for me to look manly muscly creepy.
Muscles give us curves and just make our bodies look hot. No way around that!
My doctor encouraged me to continue my strength training regimen last time I visited. He told me that he sure wished many of his elderly patients had strength trained in their adult lives.
I think many well intending people will often tell you NOT to strength train when you are trying to lose weight. I completely disagree. As my body composition changes I love what I am seeing. And those muscles are going to torch more calories! My jeans were a little tight around the thighs when I first started strength training, possibly from muscles retaining water...but they sure aren't anymore! They are baggy.
I don't want a Hollywood waif body. I want a strong body, I want a capable body, I want to run and play and lift my kids. I want to live and live healthy.
Don't be afraid of weights ladies. Be wise, be educated on how to strength train. Start slow and work your way up. But DO strength train. Whether you want to lose weight or just be healthy. Pick up the weights.
In an effort to encourage women to strength train I will be tweeting #weightsareforgirls join me?
Weights ARE for girls! Well done Kat on this most important article. I hear it all the time: "But I don't want to look like a man".. I promise you ladies - you WONT!
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
ReplyDeleteLast night I had a sleeveless night gown on. (this is OK for me to do in my own home with the shades down) lol I've never worn sleeveless outside of my house! Anyway, my BF looked over at me and was staring at my arms. He can see the resistance exercises that I am doing in the pool helping tone my arms! So it's not only weights that can get ya ripped! WHOOHOO!! :)
You are so right! I used to avoid strength training because I didn't want to "waste my time" doing something that wasn't burning a lot of calories when all I wanted to see was the number on the scale drop.
ReplyDeleteI've always known that building muscle means I burn more calories all the time, which just enhances the calorie burn of my cardio workouts. But when losing weight was my goal, it was hard for me to justify putting in the extra effort in the minimal time I have to workout. Now that I'm less worried about weight loss and more focused on my health and how my body looks and feels, strength training has become more integral in my workouts. Plus, my body looks so much hotter when I've got the shape that muscles give me!
YOU ROCK.
ReplyDeletemuscles rock.
Im off to tweet the word :)
True that! I love strength training!!
ReplyDeleteYAY! I love weight training and I love my lady guns. I'm all in it to win it with you!
ReplyDeleteAlison :)
I totally have a girl crush on Jackie Warner. Love her.
ReplyDeleteI agree: muscles are sexy; waifs are not. i LOVE strength training. my body feels amazing when i really push myself. i feel tighter & fitter.
Oh I totally agree that muscles look great on girls. If I would quit eating too much maybe my arms would have a chance to show off!! I love training. Cardio....blech....strength training....fantastic!!
ReplyDeleteAmen to that!
ReplyDeleteI've only lost 10lbs-ish so far, but the difference that strenght/resistance training has made has been huge! I've really noticed a difference in my body this time around instead of last time when all I did was lose weight, and last time, I lost FIFTY+ POUNDS and never noticed a difference in my body, seriously.
So yes, I fully agree. Muscles - especially HEALTHY muscles - look great on girls. Muscles + curves + health = fabulous, yes? :)
2 things I have to say to this:
ReplyDelete#1- I got the skinniest I've ever been by using weights- and I'm not talking 5 lbs. I'm talking LIFTING. Like a man. IT WORKS.
#2- It's pretty much impossible for women to gain enough muscle to look manish. When your muscles bulk up like that when you start lifting, it's because your muscles are swelling with water (because they're not used to what's happening). The water weight will subside once your body gets used to the lifting. I mean, think about it. It takes testosterone to gain muscle mass. We don't have enough testosterone. Men have more testosterone...yet many of them still have to resort to steroids to help them because even serious lifters have a hard time gaining enough muscle to make a difference. And we don't have the testosterone to compete with men!
Yay for weights!!!! It's the best thing any woman can do- not only will it keep you from becoming hunched over when you're old, it will preserve your body and your youth much longer. Seriously, and once you're at "goal", you'll be able to eat so much more!!! YESSSS
Yay! You "get" it! So many women are afraid of bulking up, but weight lifting truly is for women, and has so many benefits (increased metabolism, increased bone density, everyday movement becomes more effecient, you also lower your risk of injury...) I'm glad you're see the light. Like you, I saw the biggest changes in my body with strength training (though cardio is very important too). Just remember to give yourself adequate rest between ST sessions, and to stretch often.
ReplyDeleteYou're doing great!
Great post!!! I've pretty much stayed away from weight training, though, because 1) I do everything at home, 2) I don't HAVE weights aside from some 3 pounders I use with dvds and 3) I wouldn't even begin to know where to start! Bah.
ReplyDeleteKaren, I only workout at home too. Try Jackie Warner's new video, it is an awesome strength workout for home. 3 pounders are a good place to start!
ReplyDeleteGreat Post! I thought for so long all I needed to do was cardio. but I'm seeing better results when I throw weights in. I love it.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to have some awesome pipes that I'm proud to show off in sleeveless shirts...weight training will get me there! I love pairing weight training with cardio moves to bump up the calorie burn but still get the benefits of weight lifting and multiple repetitions.
ReplyDelete