Will Strength Training Bulk Me Up?

Will strength training bulk me up? 

I hear this question a lot. Women are afraid to lift weights and women are terrified to lift heavy weights. But all the research points to the fact that without testosterone or chemically-altering drugs it is impossible for women to bulk up. When women lift weights their muscle density increases therefore making them appear lean and toned. If you don't believe me, please read this article. 

Top 10 Reasons Heavy Weights Don’t Bulk Up the Female Athlete By Tim Kontos, David Adamson, and Sarah Walls - http://www.elitefts.com/documents/female_athletes.htm

I have to share reason #3 with you (in case you don't click on the link).  "For women, toning is what happens when the muscle is developed through training.  This is essentially bodybuilding without testosterone. Since the testosterone is not present in sufficient amounts, the muscle will develop, but it won’t gain a large amount of mass.  The “toned” appearance comes from removing the fat that is covering a well-developed muscle."

If you haven't been strength training because you're afraid you'll bulk up you can change that today. Go to my website - www.camichecketts.com - click on the links page and print out "Cami's Strength Training Guide." If you want a good chuckle you can also watch the You Tube videos. You can choose an exercise for each of the major muscle groups twice a week and do 2-3 sets of 8-12 reps or for more detailed programs (and no guesswork from you) follow my blog- http://fitmommas.blogster.com.