Weightlifters

Women weightlifters may seem like a rarity, but it is definitely a false idea and a prejudice to assume that force training is just for men. Well, statistics indicate that women are more involved in their training and that the number of female weightlifters has increased over the last five years, as compared to that of male weightlifters that seems to remain constant. When there is a study that shows that one woman in five trains twice a week, what better evidence can we ask for? The great consequences of such sports practice are the improved health, the better body shape and the overall fitness.

Osteoporosis is a bone problem that affects women with preponderance after 40 years of age. It seems however that the percentage of the osteoporosis cases among weightlifters is very small. In fact weight lifting prevents the loss of bone mass helping people stay healthier and younger. Even senior adults practice this kind of training and although the figures are lower, there is an increase in popularity here too. While at the end of the 90s, there were 11% of male weightlifters and 7% of female weightlifters over 65, the numbers have increased to 14% for men and 11% for women in 2004.

There is no gym without weightlifters; old and young, men and women try to build their bodies in beautiful shapes, lose weight eventually and enjoy a better look. The highest numbers of weightlifters are amateurs, and there are very few professionals training in regular neighborhood gyms. The conditions are a bit different for Olympic training, and the athletes follow other rules. Nevertheless, the workout basics are the same for all weightlifters, and so are the nutrition, hydration and safety rules. Both men and women weightlifters have to choose their weights carefully, they have to support their body effort with a proper diet and try to avoid weightlifting plateaus.

Although working at home is also possible, nothing compares to gym training. There are all the equipment items necessary for weightlifters to perform exercises, and a safer environment for all the techniques. There is professional technical assistance, and one has the constant opportunity of being able to learn from peers. Lots of progress is made because of emulation, when people are stimulated by the better shape and performance of other amateur athletes. Moreover, it is a common image by now to see men and women weightlifters training side by side and sharing experience.