No need to fear resistance training

Men and women alike have embraced resistance training as part of their regular workout, which is actually quite a big step for some. For a number of years, popular belief was that if you lifted heavy weights, you'd almost certainly get big and bulky. Thankfully, that myth has been dispelled for a fair amount of time, and most people are reaping the benefits of weightlifting. However, there still exists a small contingent of people who fear the potential for weight training-related bulkiness, which tells me that it's possible they never got the memo.

Truth be told, if someone is getting bulky, it's most likely because they've been lifting a heavy fork, not heavy weights. You can't be a salad dodger all your life and expect to look fit and trim, regardless of how many pounds are on the end of a bar. If bulking up is your big fear, focus on eating 5 to 6 small, high fiber and high protein meals and healthy snacks throughout the day. Drink copious amounts of water to flush toxins from your system and to aid in digestion. And work out. Train your body with a combination of cardio and resistance training; perform 12 to 15 reps per set, focusing on multi-joint, compound movements that target the larger muscle groups.

Before long, you'll look at your slimmer and fitter self as you bang out your last set of shoulder presses and wonder what you were ever so afraid of.