Women have different bodies than men, and our fitness reflects those differences too. We have different needs, different strengths and even carry our body proportions differently. Being aware of our bodies needs can help you maximize greater gains from your work outs.
One of the big differences that women have from men is our bone density. Due to our ability to conceive and bring life into the world, women's bones are more pliable and we lose bone density more quickly as we age. This loss of bone density also puts women at a higher risk of osteoporosis. Having an active life style is a great way to help ward off osteoporosis in our later years. Weight lifting is a great way to help build bone mass and bone density. You don’t need to go heavy. You just need to be consistent so that you are protecting the bones and joints that you have.
Another difference that women have from men is our hormone levels. Hormone levels start to decline more rapidly as we enter our 30’s. It is a gradual change and you will feel fatigue and some even experience weight gain. Using fitness and exercise is a great way to battle some of these life change side effects. Men have higher levels of testosterone in their bodies than women. This is why men can gain muscle mass more quickly than women. But, don't be afraid to use weights at the gym. Regular weight training with proper form and weights will not cause women to bulk up. You will however have stronger joints and better protected muscle.
Women also tend to experience tighter hip flexor muscles than their male counterparts. Practicing yoga and proper stretching techniques is a good way to deal with hip pain and to help prevent future flare ups. Sports massage and foam rolling are also ways to help loosen those tight hip flexor muscles.
Women have different needs than men when it comes to fitness. Being aware of some of the differences can help you train smarter and more competitively. Do not try to self-diagnose or medicate yourself for any problem you think you may have. Schedule a visit to your primary doctor or a sports doctor. Both can order tests to check your hormone levels so you can train better. Having base line numbers are a good indicator of where you are health wise so that you can tweak or customize your workouts to benefit you the most.
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