Quinn Collins
Ten years ago working out for me meant going on a run or jumping on an elliptical. Heck, fifteen years ago I didn’t even know where a gym in my neighborhood was! I would rarely stretch, and you would never catch me with a weight in my hands. To me, working out simply implied cardiovascular exercise.
I’m not sure when the change happened, perhaps before my wedding in an attempt to get toned arms for my gown. But now, I’ve come to realize that working out requires a balance between strength training and cardio.
From talking with other women, there are many who fear strength training because they think they’ll bulk up. BodyPump classes give you the flexibility to tone and build up your muscles without turning into a female body builder. By engaging in strength training, your muscles grow and trigger your metabolism to rev its engine, which in turn, burns more calories.
So now when I’m at the gym, I’ll hop on the treadmill or elliptical, but soon after hit up a strength training class, or do my own weights routine. I feel lean, strong and powerful and can’t see myself abandoning this routine any time soon.