Exercise

Pump it Up!

The next time you go to the gym, be sure and hit the weight room before you leave. A lot of women talk about how they "don't want to look like a man," so they don't lift weights. The reality is, it would take a whole lot of lifting for you to look like a man, and by you completely avoiding the weight room, you also avoid all the weight loss benefits you could be reaping.

Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine found that lifting heavy weights for as few as 3 to 6 reps increased the sleeping metabolic rate of exercisers by nearly 8%. That's calorie burning effects you could be missing out on as you sleep! Many don't realize that the body is actually burning calories long after a workout. In fact, "Heavy weights create more protein breakdown in the muscle, so your body has to use more energy to repair and recover--that's how lean muscle tissue is built," says Anthony Caterisano, PhD, of Furman University (Prevention magazine, March 2009, pg. 102).

So, the next time you hit the gym, don't forget to lift some weights ladies. Not only will it help you lose weight, but it'll also help you stay nice and toned too!