*** Guest Blog*** Coach Angela Friebus of The Energy Lab on Strength Training

As a woman, I know your fears of lifting weights.

You don’t want to get “bulky”

You just want to be “skinny”

You don’t want to hurt yourself.

You don’t know what you are doing; it’s intimidating.

If you could just lose ______ pounds, THEN you will be happy.

So you stick to what seems like a safe choice. Cardio.

And more cardio.

And more cardio.

But you’re not happy with your progress. The weight isn’t falling off like it did when you first started. Your trouble area is still a trouble area and you do all this work and nothing seems to be changing.

STOP.

We’re breaking down the barriers, getting rid of the excuses, and giving you 3 important reasons why you should pick up the weights.

1) You will burn more calories at rest

Your body is designed to run as efficiently as possible which means that you will carry the appropriate amount of muscle for the stress that you put on them. When you tear down your muscle fibers through heavy lifting (meaning that you push your muscles beyond their normal threshold), they not only rebuild themselves, but they rebuild themselves STRONGER to handle the heavier load that you have placed on them. 

To repair your muscles, you need energy - in the form of calories.

Your muscles go to work rebuilding for the next 48 hours - which means that you are burning calories long after your workout is over.

2) You will shape your body

Cardio will shrink what you are already working with - plain and simple.  When you build muscle on the other hand, you are able to actually reshape yourself (think - modeling clay). Want some tight and toned arms to wear in the new sleeveless top? Add some loaded movements to your upper body and say goodbye to noodle arms (not my best analogy, but you get my drift). 

3) You will feel like a BADASS

NOW THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT. Okay, I might be biased but hear me out. There is nothing like lifting a weight that you thought you couldn’t, or that used to be heavy. I can’t really explain it, it’s something you have to experience. The word that comes to mind is EMPOWERING. You straight up feel like a badass. BECAUSE YOU ARE. 

Gone are the days of damsel in distress. Ladies, being in control of your body, your mind, your health - is the best thing you can do for yourself. 

While I could go on and on about more benefits of lifting weights, I’ll leave it at that - for now. I challenge you to step out of your comfort zone. Try something new. And if you don’t know where to start - THAT’S OKAY, TOO.

That’s what we are here for.

Now go out and be that badass that you are.