Ever notice how the majority of women in the gym can be found where the cardiovascular equipment is? Are you one of those women, the ever so popular, “cardio bunny?” Don’t get me wrong, cardio does help to burn fat; however, it is not the end all be all of training. In fact, it is only a small piece to the body recomposition puzzle. You can do all the cardio you want, but if you do not have any muscle mass underneath it, you will never see the tight midsection so many of us strive for. 
It has been demonstrated through years of combined scientific research and real world application of the VIVO 360 Program that muscle helps burn fat.
Often times, women say they do not lift weights because they are intimidated to walk in to the weight room; they are afraid that everyone will be staring at them and passing judgment. If you haven’t lifted before you probably don’t even know where to begin! VIVO 360 is a great way to introduce you to the world of lifting weights. It is a complete nutrition, supplement and exercise program that offers a workout routine geared towards your fitness level. It will tell you exactly what exercises to complete and even offers a complete library of exercise videos showing you just how to do each exercise. Don’t worry, just because you lift weights does not mean you will turn into a female bodybuilder! The proper combination of cardio and weight training will give you a nice lean and toned physique.
And now for the Top Five Reasons Why Women Should Lift Weights:
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You WILL lose body fat
It is true, not only are you burning calories while you are lifting weights (i.e. resistance training), but you are building muscle; and the more muscle you have, the more calories your body will burn at rest. On average, for each pound of muscle you gain, you burn 35 to 50 more calories each day. This can really add up.
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You will decrease your risk for many chronic diseases (i.e. heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis, diabetes, etc)
Studies have shown that people who lift weights are less likely to develop many chronic illnesses that are plaguing so many Americans. Weight-bearing exercises along with an adequate calcium intake may improve bone density - reducing your risk of developing osteoporosis.
Not only that, but weight-training has been shown to lower cholesterol by reducing LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and increasing HDL (“good”) cholesterol, and lowering blood pressure. These benefits help to lower your risk of heart disease. As far as diabetes is concerned, lifting weights contributes to your body’s ability to process sugar more efficiently, putting you back in control of blood sugar/insulin levels. This alone can reduce your risk of diabetes by 10 percent.
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Increase your strength and energy levels
Lifting weights is going to result in one thing for sure, increased strength. And if you are stronger, daily activities will be easier to perform and your energy levels will be thru the roof!
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Improve your athletic performance and reduce your risk of injury
Developing a strong core (abdominals and lower back) will help decrease your risk of injury because you are increasing your ability to keep balance when thrown off course. If you are an athlete, it does not matter what sport you participate in, your athletic performance will improve with weight-training in your regimen. Even a golfer’s swing can benefit from a little weight-bearing activities; providing more force behind their swing.
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Increased mood, self-confidence booster, and decrease your risk of depression
Building muscle and developing strength in your physique will not only bring positive changes on the outside or from a health perspective, but also from a mental perspective. You can be confident in your new body and tight bum, your glowing skin and shiny hair, which are all a result of incorporating weights into your weekly routine. Possessing more confidence is a huge part of combating depression; not to mention the stress relief some experience while bonding with the iron.
Keep in mind that lifting weights will cause you to put on muscle, so if you judge your progress strictly by what the scale is telling you, you may get deterred. For instance, if you weighed yourself this morning and the scale said 125 lbs. and then you weigh yourself in exactly one week and the scale says 127 lbs. it could be that you may have lost 3 lbs. of fat, but gained 5 lbs. of muscle; this would explain the weight increase on the scale. It is best to take note of how your clothes are fitting and take weekly skin fold measurements in various locations on your body to truly assess your progress. If it’s available, have a qualified person take your measurements each time to ensure accurate measurements. VIVO 360 is great for progress tracking because it provides a place for you to enter your weekly measurements using the FREE iPhone/Android App and has the option for email and text reminders. *App requires active membership in the VIVO 360° Program.
So, now you know why you should be lifting weights. Don’t be afraid to start incorporating this into your workout regimen today! If you think you’re not ready for a program such as VIVO 360; you’re wrong! VIVO 360° is proven to work for guys and girls of all ages and sizes. VIVO has demonstrated long term success and can be the perfect fit for you to start incorporating weight lifting into your exercise routine.
