Workouts for Women

Everyone feels the need to be healthy; it’s an innate desire in all humans. However, this desire to exercise in women seems to take on a life of its own. Women, for whatever reason it may be, tend to be healthier as well as being less willing to indulge in poor diets, especially when compared to males of the same age. This dichotomy between men and women over their health has changed the fitness industry so that nearly 17% of all weight loss plans, diets, and workouts are marketed to women. That being said, even with all of those plans being sold to women, not all of them have been designed to be used by women to either gain muscle or lose weight to become toned.

Exercises for women, especially those designed solely for women, are built around different goals and principals then exercise programs for men. As a general rule, the best exercises for women are those which burn fat while at the same time improve and strengthen muscle mass throughout the body. These workouts are typically referred to and described as toning exercises for women as toning for men typically requires the creation of more muscle tissue then fat loss.

It is sometimes believed that workouts which segregate and improve specific muscles (like lifting dead weights for example) are the best for improving the body, making it fit, as well as attractive. In women however, this exercise program is usually ineffective for becoming toned as little fat is being burned while muscle tissue is only being built inside that specific area. Instead of exercises which build muscle mass, women should attempt workouts that burn fat around the whole body equally. For instance, cardiovascular workouts that involve the movement of the entire body (such as rowing or cycling) are specifically intended to get the whole body moving and thus fat and muscle mass of are being created and destroyed at equal rates during the same time.

Additionally, workout programs designed for women should also include exercises for pregnant women. As with anything strenuous during pregnancy, it is important to talk to your doctor before beginning a new exercise routine as it may inadvertently hurt the fetus if unknown medical conditions are present. That being said, weight lifting and moderate exercise has been known in some cases to help alleviate the pain felt during the birthing process, however it should be noted that after the first three months of gestation, workouts done while lying down must be avoided as they may induce early pregnancy. Exercises such as squats or calf stretches are most beneficial at these times as they pose no risk to either the mother or the baby.