Rather than bulking your muscles, strength training is great for toning muscles and building your strength and stamina.

While there are many benefits of this training for women, we’ve highlighted the main 5 for you below.

1. Flexibility

When you think of strength training, you may picture yourself struggling to lift hefty weights or enormous boulders like the one’s on World’s Strongest Men. However, the nice thing about resistance exercise is how many objects you can use to assist you – you don’t need to spend money on equipment but instead could workout using a bag of flour or bottle of water, or use stretchy bands to force your body’s muscles against.

2. Toning

If you need evidence for the toning benefits of strength training then look no further than Sian Toal, winner of Bikini Model Fitness England 2011. Sian is the picture of health, and the benefits of working out with weights are clear from her toned physique and taut muscles.

3. Convenience

You can wear what you feel most comfortable in, a pair of your favourite VATA Brasil Capri pants perhaps, to do resistance workouts. Sports wear that fits well and works hard to keep you cool throughout your exercise enhances your overall enjoyment too. And when it comes to time commitment, you’ll see results from just a couple of quick 20-minute sessions twice a week.

4. Strength

Regular weights-based exercise helps strengthens your muscles and build stamina and speed too. Your bone density will improve also, helping you stay fit and agile into old age. And you’ll notice and appreciate this increased strength in everyday activities like lifting heavy shopping bags or going for a run.

5. Fat loss

Toned muscles actually burn fat because they are “on standby” all day, every day, burning more calories as a result. So rather than bulking up, you’ll not only tone your muscles but work towards the slender, fat free, figure you’ve always wanted.

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