How to get stronger

Well said Laura. I'm in total agreement. Congratulations Leslie on the amazingly fast swims! :cheerleader:You've worked hard! Best of luck to you tomorrow and please keep us all posted with how you do. To say that a woman will get tank like if she lifts is ridiculous! Muscle takes three times the energy to maintain than does fat. Thus, to keep your metabolism up, create muscle! Aerobic training is a quick fix for calorie burning....but a few hours after activity, you go back to your resting metabolic rate. If you have more muscle, your resting rate is highter, and your burning more calories. This hardly equates to Tankhood. Also, if you're an older woman (or man) and swimming is your only activity, osteoporis is a concern because although our sport is phenomenal for general health...it is not weight bearing, so your not taxing your bones and encouraging them to stay dense. Weight training counters this. I'm a middle-aged woman with fat tendencies. Trust me; there is no way I'm going to throw myself into an activity (other than the local Chinese buffet on occassion) that is going to make me bigger. I have NEVER seen a woman become bulky from lifting. EVER. For a woman to become "masculine" by weight training, there's a concentrated effort on her part of changing diet, taking various 'supplements' and having a solid focus on becoming "huge". On the level you seem to be talking about here (having weights compliment your swimming by lifting a few times a week) there is nothing at all to worry about. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it. And Leslie....I've seen you. You are gorgeous!

Well said Laura. I'm in total agreement. Congratulations Leslie on the amazingly fast swims! :cheerleader:You've worked hard! Best of luck to you tomorrow and please keep us all posted with how you do. To say that a woman will get tank like if she lifts is ridiculous! Muscle takes three times the energy to maintain than does fat. Thus, to keep your metabolism up, create muscle! Aerobic training is a quick fix for calorie burning....but a few hours after activity, you go back to your resting metabolic rate. If you have more muscle, your resting rate is highter, and your burning more calories. This hardly equates to Tankhood. Also, if you're an older woman (or man) and swimming is your only activity, osteoporis is a concern because although our sport is phenomenal for general health...it is not weight bearing, so your not taxing your bones and encouraging them to stay dense. Weight training counters this. I'm a middle-aged woman with fat tendencies. Trust me; there is no way I'm going to throw myself into an activity (other than the local Chinese buffet on occassion) that is going to make me bigger. I have NEVER seen a woman become bulky from lifting. EVER. For a woman to become "masculine" by weight training, there's a concentrated effort on her part of changing diet, taking various 'supplements' and having a solid focus on becoming "huge". On the level you seem to be talking about here (having weights compliment your swimming by lifting a few times a week) there is nothing at all to worry about. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it. And Leslie....I've seen you. You are gorgeous!