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Aiming to raise awareness of the benefits of strength training among women, Fernwood Fitness is set to launch its Lift the Nation campaign from 20th to 26th August.

Aiming to boost women’s participation in strength training for a strong, healthy future, the campaign is designed to educate women on the benefits of strength training, debunk some of the myths that might be preventing them from getting started such as ‘becoming bulky’, and ‘lift’ the percentage of women regularly training with weights.

Mindful of a Australian Bureau of Statistics report that revealed just 1% of Australian women were regularly working out with weights, Fernwood’s campaign will culminating in a free week of strength training for all women from 20th to 26th August at Fernwood clubs across the country.

The invitation aims to allow all womae to experience the benefits strength training can make to their body and mind.

As well as being one of the best ways women can reduce their risk of chronic illness, tone up, and control their weight, recent research shows strength training is also showing promise as one of the best ways to improve overall wellbeing and reduce depression. And with one in five Australian women suffering from depression at some stage in their life, engaging in regular strength training could ‘lift’ the spirits of women across the nation.

Fernwood Fitness founder Diana Williams is excited to share her knowledge of strength training with Australian women, stating “women typically perceive cardio as the best way to lose weight, but regularly training with weights can be much more effective for weight loss.

“The muscles you build from strength training are more metabolically active in your body, helping you to burn more kilojoules – even while you’re resting.”

Women can register their interest in the campaign at liftthenation.com and will receive a free Lift the Nation eBook filled with expert information and advice on strength training, including a basic step-by-step guide to exercises they can safely complete at home and at the gym.

In a recent blog, Fernwood Fitness detailed the 10 ways in which lifting weights can improve women’s health.

1. Improved tone
Michelle Obama didn’t get those arms from just jogging! The aesthetic benefits of strength training can’t be ignored, with leaner legs, a perkier bottom and more streamlined silhouette just some of the physically appealing rewards you can expect from starting a strength training program.

2. Reduces risk of osteoporosis
Regular resistance training increases bone density and decreases the risk of osteoporosis – a brittle bone disorder affecting over 1 million Australians.

3. Reduces depression
In a 2005 Harvard study of 60 older adults with depression, high-intensity strength training was found to be more effective at reducing depressive symptoms than low-intensity strength training.

4. Helps maintain a healthy weight
Increasing your muscle mass raises your muscle-to-fat ratio and metabolic rate, helping your body burn more kilojoules when at rest. Studies have shown that adding an extra 1.4kg of muscle mass can increase your metabolism by up to 7%, making it easier to maintain a healthy weight.

5. Boosts body image
Weight training can help you feel sexier – RAWR! Research at McMaster University in Ontario found that after 12 weeks of regular weight training women enjoyed a huge spike in body image plus greater self-confidence from the satisfaction of gradually lifting more weights.

6. Helps prevent chronic illnesses
Regular weight training can help prevent or control chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, back pain and obesity.

7. Improves sleep
If you’re tired of being tired, lifting weights could be the key to a better night’s sleep. Studies show getting 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity a week can provide up to a 65 percent improvement in sleep quality.

8. Improves overall wellbeing
The noticeable improvements in strength from weight training boost self-esteem and general wellbeing. We’d be proud as punch too if we’d improved from squatting 5kg to 50kg!

9. Improves balance and coordination
Weight training improves core strength, balance and coordination, reducing your risk of falls and injuries as you age.

10. Decreases your risk of injury
Less falls means less injuries, setting you up for great health well into your golden years. Having great strength – particularly in your core – helps reduce your risk of injury to other areas of your body, such as your neck, hips, back, knees and ankles.

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