It is unfortunate, but true, that many people do not have a genuine understanding of the value of weight training as an important and effective part of any fitness or weight loss program.

This is due, at least in part, to a misunderstanding on the part of the public about three terms:

Weightlifting

Bodybuilding

Weight Training or Lifting Weights

Start talking about barbells, dumbbells, and "lifting weights" to most people, and they often begin imagining hulking figures they have seen on the covers of magazines or portraying monsters in movies...although the "commando" thing does grab some males. While most males would like to have a nice physique, the pictures in the magazines tend to unnerve them, or at least portray an image of someone obsessed with "bulking up" and "getting ripped"!

Women especially tend to be turned off by the idea of "weightlifting" partly because they fear that they too will look somewhat like the males mentioned above. They may also have seen pictures of professional female bodybuilders or weightlifters. Many women, while desiring to lose weight and be fit, like to feel that they are "feminine" and that any sort of weight training will result in their looking like these professional athletes.

As in many discussions, a portion of these fears is the result of simple ignorance. I don't mean "ignorance" in any derogatory way, either. I am equally "ignorant" of nuclear physics and needlepoint simply because I have never had cause to study them. However, were I to begin looking for a hobby or a new career, I might avoid nuclear physics because it seems too difficult, and needlepoint, because...well...you know...it's for girls, and I'm a guy!

Were I to do a little research, however, I might find that Rosie Greer, once an NFL lineman, was well known for his needlepoint and NOBODY dared tell Rosie Greer he was less of a man for his hobby. In fact, having this piece of data, and learning that many people find needlepoint relaxing, might make me a little more appreciative of needlepoint and consider it for a hobby!

Well, let's do that with all this weightlifting confusion.

First of all, let's just say that training with weights; lifting weights, using resistance training, using free weights, weight machines, or resistance machines such as the Bowflex, can be quite effective in any fitness or weight loss program.

Second of all, don't worry about what you will look like if you do choose to "lift weights". While the ultimate outcome will be determined to some extent by genetics and personal hormone levels, most weight training, if done properly, will simply result in a strong, toned, healthy body which exudes confidence and self assurance. women will end up looking "feminine", and men will look "masculine".

Those people you see in the magazines have chosen to train in certain ways at certain levels of intensity, and have opted for a dietary and supplement regimen that will only be followed by those who WANT to wind up looking that way! They are athletes in training for specific purposes, and you will no more wind up looking, or acting, like them than you will be able to bicycle like Lance Armstrong just because you ride a bike for your health and fitness regularly.

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