Workouts for Women Strength Training Ideas from a Trainer

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Jan 15, 2026 at 4:35 PM

Women’s bodies do not produce enough of the hormone necessary to build a ballsy jacked physique. Creatine can be consumed through foods like red meat and fish. However, some people may benefit from taking a creatine supplement to get the necessary amount for their bodies to function optimally. People who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not take creatine, as there isn’t enough safety evidence on its use in those populations. It’s a good idea to check with a healthcare provider before taking creatine, especially if you have an underlying health condition like bipolar disorder or kidney disease.

‘Push-ups are a compound pressing movement that target your chest, shoulders, and triceps while forcing your core to stabilise your body,’ says Chambers. Slowing the tempo increases time under tension, a key driver of muscle growth even without weights. One reason that some people are reluctant to take up weight training is because of a fear of doing it incorrectly, which can result in injury. The general rule is that it’s better to start with lighter weights and focus on form until you get it right.

Turning your toes out during this move means the squat motion will target the inner thighs as well as the gluteus minimus (aka the side of your butt). Once the dumbbell sumo deadlift feels smooth, you can advance to the Romanian deadlift, using madmuscles cancel either dumbbells or a barbell. It’s another great beginner deadlift variation, and it’s arguably the best exercise for building bigger hips, stronger glutes, and better posture. No weekly workout routine would be complete without incorporating a cool down stretch. Stretching is important to keep muscles strong and healthy, as well as increasing flexibility and range of motion. Incorporate these midday stretches into your life to prevent slouching posture (which can lead to back pain) and stiffness in your joints.

  • We cover professional athletes, models and even social media stars to bring you the very best, up to date information in our profiles.
  • You will add muscle – after all, you can’t shape and curve a muscle without adding some small amount of volume to your frame.
  • Fitness newbies or older adults looking to stay moving will appreciate trainer Just Agustin’s accessible approach.
  • A strong body makes everything more manageable, whether you’re carrying groceries, picking up your kids, or rearranging furniture.
  • This structure hits your glutes, quads, and hamstrings from every angle, cycling through heavy strength work, hypertrophy, and pump training within one week.
  • This way, you use your gym time wisely and challenge your muscles fully.

C) As you lower, engage your core, pull your weight back through your hips and ensure your shoulders don’t round. A) Sit upright holding dumbbells, arms down by your sides, palms facing forwards. Bend arms at the elbow, keeping shoulders still until the dumbbells almost reach them. A) Sitting upright on a bench, start with dumbbells held straight above your head.

How Long Does It Take to See Strength Training Results for Females?

Here’s what you need to know to get started, according to a trainer. He holds a journalism degree from the University of North Texas, where he competed in powerlifting. His final competition was the Texas State Open in December of 1982, but has continued to study and practice muscle strength and hypertrophy.

Program Notes:

Slowly bend your elbows and lower dumbbells until they are in line with your shoulders. B) With your back in a neutral position and left knee soft, drive your left elbow up, lifting the dumbbell to your torso. In this case, the types of free weights exercises you do will be very different to someone who isn’t either of those things. Try different activities and stick with the ones you enjoy. If you want to make your workouts more fun, try adding a great playlist or partnering up with a workout buddy. B. Brace core and maintain hip placement while lifting left arm straight out in front of body.

Research shows both genders benefit from periodized strength training.

It’s a great movement to promote leg strength, as well as balance. It can also help remedy strength discrepancies from side to side. This exercise hits many of the same muscles as a squat would without placing undue stress on your lower back. Choose heavy, challenging weights — whatever that means for you — if your goal is to gain strength and size. Are you looking to build strength, gain size, or increase your endurance?

Reasons Why Women Must Lift Weights

Verywell Health acknowledges that sex and gender are related concepts, but they are not the same. To reflect our sources accurately, this article uses terms like “females” and “women” as the sources use them. In one study, female athletes who noticed reduced athletic performance and recovery time during https://www.reddit.com/r/FitnessGuidesReviews/comments/1li9ndx/mad_muscles_full_guide_2025_honest_overview_of/ a certain stage of their menstrual cycle benefited from creatine supplements.

weight workouts for women

Training Experience

A study published in Current Sports Medicine Reports, for example, demonstrated that strength training significantly boosts metabolism and promotes fat loss in women. Strength training for women is more important (and effective) than many realize. Above all, prioritize good form over the amount of weight you’re lifting, and don’t let fear stop you from getting started. Kettlebell exercises can increase your strength just as well as regular dumbbells. Proper form is essential for effective and safe strength training. If you’re not sure how to get started, enlist the help of a qualified personal trainer.

Workout A (Day : Lower Body + Core Progression

Join the challenge for exclusive meal plans, glow-up tips, and a healthier, more vibrant you. This movement challenges your strength and improves your coordination by working out several muscle groups at once. Imagine everyday activities like pushing a door closed or pulling a drawer shut. These motions mimic push and pull exercises, which are crucial for working all parts of your body. Pilates has been around for a long time (it began in the 1920s as a rehab and recovery method), but the practice has recently blown up in popularity. If you’re intimidated by the reformer classes at your local studio or are just looking to supplement your in-person routine, look no further than Lottie Murphy.

The Modern Bro Split Workout Program (free PDF)

Again, there’s nothing wrong with that if that’s what you like to do. However, we firmly believe all women need to weight train, and thankfully, it’s becoming more common. We laid out an awesome three-day training plan to put on muscle and improve women’s strength while addressing some of their unique concerns. Women have often been discouraged from strength training due to myths about building muscles and bulking up. Strength training is in fact an important part of reducing your risk of injuries, boosting metabolism, and reducing body fat. It also offers mental health benefits and can give you a boost in mood and energy.

Benefits of Creatine for Women

Schoeff agrees that HIIT can be effective for fat loss when done correctly. Schoeff explains that while Pilates and yoga may not build large muscles, they play a big role in stress https://www.reddit.com/r/homefitness/comments/1lbv7k8/mad_muscles_support_progress_cancellation_my/ management and injury prevention. For women dealing with hectic schedules, hormonal changes, or joint issues, these workouts can be especially beneficial.

What to Expect From This Workout Plan

This means you can be sure that each training session can be done with full intensity. You will use the concept of progressive overload with this program, just like any other program. For your heavier exercises, your main goal will be to add a small amount of weight weekly. You’ll notice that the primary exercises have you perform 3 sets of 6-8 reps then a single set to failure. This means to first perform your main sets of 6-8 reps. You’ll then perform one back off set (take off 20-30%) until failure. At the same time, we’ll give the hamstrings some more love.

Walking and low-impact cardio complete Schoeff’s list of recommended exercises. These activities support heart health, improve circulation, and are easy on the joints. Walking is also sustainable, making it suitable for daily movement. Overusing HIIT can increase cortisol, the stress hormone, which may lead to fatigue, hormonal imbalance, and poor recovery in women. Schoeff suggests limiting HIIT sessions and balancing them with lower-intensity workouts.

For example, say you’re working up to a heavy squat in today’s lower body session, spend a portion of your workout pumping out some bodyweight squats and lunges, first. Here, using free weights might be a big no for a little while at least. Weights, like any form of exercise, are a form of stress on the body. If your body is already under stress trying to recover, adding more might not be the best thing to do.

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