Lifting weights, weight training and achieving your strength fitness goals? Is this all something women can do? The answer is, hell yes!
Being in the strength training industry has shown me just how strong us women really are, and we can do anything when we put our mind to it.
However, studies show that 78.6% of professional weightlifters are men whilst only 21.4% are women. Let’s get this number up and show everyone what we’re made of!
Do you want to get into weight lifting or strength training but not sure how? Great gyms – like Strength Ambassadors – now offer Ladies Who Lift classes to help you feel confident in our fitness environment and get the most out of your lifting sessions.
So, let’s take a look at some of the most impressive ladies who lift success stories which may persuade you to finally get to your first session of weight lifting!
Why should women try weight lifting?
Women who lift large weights can feel healthier, stronger, and more confident in all they do.
Women can benefit from resistance training in various facets of their lives, from feeling stronger in their mind and body to being able to move something heavy, to dealing with stressful situations.
Women’s muscular density begins to decline beyond the age of 30, and this trend continues as they age. Between the ages of 30 and 80, lean body mass might drop by 15%. This decline is accompanied by a loss of general strength.
Following a well-planned resistance training programme that improves the size of muscle fibres can prevent the age-related muscle loss that happens in women. Oh, and have great fun doing it!
Above all, weight lifting:
- Improves your mood and confidence
- Gives a sense of achievement
- Creates a constant challenge
- Improves body control and awareness
- Helps you feel strong!
5 ladies who lift success stories
Here are a few success stories from women who tried weight lifting and fell in love with it!
Amy Lewis
Amy started training at the Strength Ambassadors gym in 2013 and hasn’t looked back since!
Intimidated by conventional gyms, Amy found it difficult to weight train properly and stay motivated when crowds of men would flock to the weight section.
In an interview she said “It’s been really, really good for me! I came in just wanting to boost my confidence, and I was maybe a little bit worried about having to do everything in front of a big group as well, but the atmosphere was probably the most impressive thing for me; it’s a really supportive community and atmosphere, everyone’s really with you, with everything you’re doing.”
Amy can now deadlift 60kg which is more than her own body weight! Take a look at her in action below.
Laura Hoggins aka Laura Biceps
Laura is a fitness coach and personal trainer known for her outstanding upper body strength. She travels across London teaching a variety of modified strongman, strength, and conditioning circuits, as well as posting workouts and ideas on her Instagram account.
Lift Yourself, the title of her debut book, explains her approach to exercise, focused on improving our bodies and minds. Finally, Laura usually appears to be having a good time throughout her workout, which is enough to persuade us to try strength training.
Shona Vertue
Shona is passionate about all forms of exercise, from yoga to jogging to jiu jitsu, but the underlying thread in all she does is the significance of strength, which we clearly agree with.
Shona’s approach extends well beyond the aesthetic, which is something we are firm believers in here at Strength Ambassadors.
She frequently writes pieces emphasising that there are “99 reasons to exercise and fat loss doesn’t have to be one of them,” in which she discusses all the benefits of weightlifting and training, from mental health to osteoporosis reduction to lymphatic system support.
Sophie Butler
Sophie’s story is one of the most inspiring on Instagram, as she continues to share her fitness journey and skills after suffering a spinal injury while exercising in 2017.
Years later, her training grid is full with workouts that show how her strength has grown while also inspiring you to lift heavier than you thought you could.
She also reminds us all that every body type can absolutely smash weight lifting!
Jo Wilson
Another Strength Ambassadors success story, Jo Wilson tried a Ladies Who Lift class and found it suited her way more than her previous cardio fanatic gyms she was used to.
She said:
“I found the emphasis on raising weights and hitting your limits to be really inspiring and was pleased to lift my own bodyweight in the back squat in the final class. And by ‘pleased’, I mean boasting to everyone I know!
Since then I have continued to lift a couple of times a week and given myself some interesting goals, such as make my bodyweight a working weight rather than a one rep max and do at least one unassisted pullup.
I enjoy going to the gym now, and really like feeling like my strength and energy are coming back!”
Take a look at some more Strength Ambassadors Ladies Who Lift success stories in the video below!
Looking for a Ladies Who Lift class in London?
We hope these success stories have given you the confidence boost you need to start your weight lifting journey, our fully equipped strength training gym in London has a great atmosphere and support system to get you going!
Come along to one of our popular Ladies Who Lift classes where you’ll be guided to push yourself and unlock your strength potential with our expert coaches.
We also offer 1:1 personal training, strength building and Olympic lifting classes so you can find your ideal training sessions.
Book a class today and start your strength journey with us!
Ladies Who Lift FAQs
What percentage of women lift?
Strength training should be a part of any woman’s workout routine. Despite this, according to the National Centre for Health Statistics, just about 20% of women lift weights. Poor guidance could be to blame. Women are frequently duped by misleading information about weightlifting.
What does weight lifting do for women?
Weight training not only helps to develop muscles, but it also helps to increase bone density. This lowers the likelihood of fractures and broken bones. It also strengthens connective tissues and promotes joint stability, which aids in injury prevention.
Should you lift heavy first or last?
Starting with lighter weights allows you to focus on form and master it before progressing to heavier and more difficult weights that demand excellent form to avoid injury.