“But I don’t want to get too bulky” is what I told my Dad when he invited me to “pump iron” with him in seventh grade. My Dad laughed and told me there was no way I’d bench more than the bar in the first two years. And he was unfortunately right. 

After proudly “pumping iron” for over half a decade, and as a young woman, I can strongly say you will not get too bulky. You’ll actually feel more feminine, strong, and confident. Here’s why more women should go to the gym. 

If it’s your goal, lifting is one of the best ways to lose weight and get muscle definition. That’s because lifting keeps your heart rate in a healthy, working zone, but not too intense, and it builds muscle. This boosts your metabolism to burn more calories, even at rest, leading to fat loss and improved body composition (ratio of bad fat to good fat, muscle, organs, and other good stuff). 

Also, lifting promotes improved bone density, injury prevention, heart health, joint stability, and core strength. NPR reports that lifting puts stress on bones, which triggers new bone tissue growth, helping to combat the natural loss of bone density, and stronger mussel supports joints. Personally, I experienced crippling back pain until I strengthened my lower back and glutes. Blake: 1 Back Pain: 0. If you’re not suffering from incapacitating back pain, then one benefit I’d sell to you is abs. Core strength is needed in basically every lift to keep posture and hit the correct muscle; so, within time, you’ll start seeing core definition and strength. 

So, how do you actually join a gym and start getting ripped (within five years)? I’d recommend going to your health insurance and asking if they cover a gym membership. Some providers do. When you go to the gym, you’re basically getting paid to workout. Girl math! 

Next, hop on Google Maps and search “gym.” No matter what fitness influencers or salespeople, or the guy chugging creatine in your third period will tell you, all gyms are the same. If they have a weight rack and adhere to safety guidelines, you’re good to start. Don’t get caught up in all the B.S., just focus on your Bulgarian Squats.  

One pro tip is going to your park district. Look on their website and call them, you could be eligible for special discounts based on where you live! And when you join a gym, get a hold of their special first time member discounts (ex: hiring a personal trainer for one session, their free workout calendar, ect.)

Headfirst is how my Dad chucked me into our local fitness center. Before I even stepped into this holy place that smelled like feet, was populated by gym bros, and glittered with protein powder, my former personal trainer father started teaching me form. Form is THE most important part of lifting.

If you’re not lifting heavy things correctly, you won’t target your desired muscle, become more injury prone, and, most importantly, not get gains. 

For beginners, some quick tips are stacking your joints (ex: keeping your knee over your ankle in Bulgarian Split Squats), breathing in for negative reps, exhale for positive reps (positive=using your muscle, negative=returning to starting position), and tightening your core to keep your back straight. Another pro tip is that sets are the amount of repetitions you do at a time (ex: three sets of 10 reps is three rounds where you repeat the exercise 10 times). If you’re struggling to find a workout, surf the internet or use AI. 

Basically, lifting is pretty cool, and enables you to hit all your fitness goals. So, take a deep breath, gather your research and confidence, and go pump some iron like a girl.