The subject of women weight training has been a hot topic lately for countless fitness magazines, blogs, and forums. In my own experience, a lot of my friends feel that if they weight train, they’ll bulk up and look too “manly.” But, that’s an absolute myth!

Numerous studies have proven that women do not have it in them biologically (testosterone) to bulk up like men. Though we do have some testosterone, it’s not enough to have us looking like Arnold Schwarzenegger. I mean, the only women I see bulk up to that extent are the female bodybuilders who use steroids and other artificial weight gainers. And you’re not going to be walking around looking like Linda Hamilton in Terminator 2 or Angela Bassett in What’s Love Got to Do With It. Genes play a role in how your body responds to training, and these women trained intensely for their respected roles.

There are many added benefits to weight training such as: improved posture, fat loss, increased bone density, and the list goes on. If you decide to start weight training, I would suggest seeking the guidance of a professional, such as a personal trainer. The reason behind that is because you’ll want to protect yourself from injury and you don’t want to waste your time.

What I mean by not wasting your time is that for some of the women I see weight training at my gym, a lot of them do so with improper form. They are using their momentum to lift and are not training the target muscle. A personal trainer would be advisable for any of you first-timers who have made the decision to weight train. For some of you who have lost weight and have not added weights to your workout regimen, why not tighten up some “loose ends?” — There is always room for improvement!

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Let me start off by saying to you all! — Happy New Year! — I know, I know. We’re almost in the second week of 2011, but that’s okay! When it comes to setting goals and resolutions for the new year, it can be extremely frustrating when we find that a lot of these goals are too difficult to fulfill. It can be even more challenging when we’re trying to lose weight, get back into shape, etc.

Some of us are still trying to find the perfect diet/fitness program, or set aside time to workout. To make things less stressful, I’ll make a small suggestion that has worked for me and countless others… Create smaller goals.

For example, instead of saying, “I am going to lose 20 pounds this year,” tell yourself “I am going to lose 2 pounds in two weeks!” — Doesn’t the second goal sound more achievable than the first? Achieving a goal feels great, and it also provides the motivation and satisfaction to moving forward with other goals.

*This technique can also be used on all goals that pertain to other areas of your life…not just fitness ones.