Introduction

Are you spending hours in the gym without seeming to make any progress? Are you one of hundreds of women who crave more information on strengthening and balancing the body through strength training than the trainers at the gym or any fitness magazine can give you? If you think that you've tried it all on your way to being in the best possible shape you can be, think again. This book will take you to the next level if you are already strength training and will hopefully convert you to strength training if you are not. I've designed it especially to show you the benefits and pleasures of this great way to train your body.

Throughout this book you will learn not only the hows of strength training, to satisfy your body, but also the whys, to satisfy your mind so that you become well versed in the benefits of strength training. Then you can eloquently explain to your girlfriend how you lost 20 pounds with the help of a solid strength-training program, whereas she may still be trying to lose pounds exclusively by sweating up a storm on the stair machine.

In the beginning of the book you will read about the evolution and progression of women's fitness and training. You'll see where we have been, where we are, and where we are heading. You'll read about exercise trends and fads and about proven knowledge from a research perspective. Because I list and describe all of the benefits of strength training, you'll discover why it is one of the most beneficial and valuable types of exercise you can do. If you have questions about muscularity and strength (having either too much or too little), you will find answers here. If you are concerned about fat loss, you will learn why and how strength training (compared to most types of cardiovascular endurance exercise) is the best way to cut fat and increase your metabolism.

In part II you'll learn everything you ever wanted to know about physical fitness but didn't have the time to ask. This section highlights strength training and explains it in detail. Find out about the different kinds of training that exist and how you can incorporate them into your strengthtraining routine. You will also gain information on nutrition, both for general health and for specific conditions like training and competition. In the last chapter you'll get tips for designing your own program. Ready-made routines are there for you to try. You'll find specific routines for beginning, intermediate, and advanced trainers as well as a bone-building program.

Part III wraps it all up with detailed descriptions of the major strength exercises, the muscles they primarily work, and the effects of these exercises on your body. You'll even discover some new exercises that you may never have heard of, to help you add variety to your strength-training workouts. The last chapter describes a training regimen for weightlifting, powerlifting, and strongwoman competitions. If you are an intermediate to advanced strength trainer who is looking for new ideas or who wants to make sense of all of the information out there, this book will be your salvation. But don't despair if it is all new to you, because this easy-to-understand book will introduce you to a whole new way of thinking and lead you down the fitness path to a better body!