“I do body pump” is what one 38-year-old woman said to me when I asked her “do you do any strength training?” And yet, despite doing her body pump classes, she was still sitting in front of me (a personal trainer), wondering why her body wasn’t as toned as it should be, given how much time and energy she spent on training.

The solution was simple. Body pump isn’t strength training. Rather, it’s more like cardio with weights. Not that you shouldn’t do it, but bear in mind, that it doesn’t have the same effects on your body as strength training. How do I define “strength training”?

For it to be considered strength training, you need to perform exercises with a resistance that you can only do 15 times or less. If you can do it more than 15 times, it’s no longer strength training, and will not have the desired effects on your body.

So without further ado, what are the top 3 reasons that women should strength train?

 You Look Better

             I know what you’re thinking. “If I lift heavy weights, I’ll look like Arnold Schwarzenegger.” Fortunately for you, chances are you couldn’t look extremely muscular if you tried. Why? Because the key ingredient that makes men muscular is testosterone. Since women have so little of it compared to men, you probably couldn’t get muscular if you tried. But toned? You bet.

Look at ladies like Jessica Biel, Jillian Michaels and Jennifer Garner. Do they look toned? You bet. Do they lift weights? Yep. Coincidence? I think not.

One of my clients, excited about the changes in her body, said “man, my butt looks pretty good in these lululemons now.” And then, I blushed and changed the subject.

 You Feel Better

             Do you know the feeling of walking out of the gym after you completed a workout that just a few short months ago would have made you queasy just thinking about it? If feels like you can kick the world’s butt. It gives you a great sense of confidence and self-esteem.

That confidence and self-esteem spills over into other areas of your life. Suddenly you perform better at work, your interpersonal skills are better, and you feel ready to tackle other challenges.

You Get to Eat More

            What if I told you that if you gained a few pounds of muscle, you could eat more without paying the price for it? Well, that’s exactly what happens when you add some quality, lean muscle. Your metabolism runs faster, which means that you are burning more calories at rest. Sure, you might be slightly heavier, but you’ll wear smaller dress sizes, look better in the mirror, and be able to eat more.

These are just 3 of the many reasons why women should strength train. Now go hit the gym.

If you’d like to learn how to strength train properly, effectively and without getting hurt, apply here for a Dream Body MAP Session.

Infographic Designer: Evie Carrier.