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Guest post by Jenna Atkins
http://www.fitnessbodyonline.com
Many of us women out there love to burn and sweat just as hard and as much as men do. So the question arises?are we then going to be cut and "ripped" like them too? Well, I don't know about you, but I don't want to have legs that could kill a small kid with just me flexing them. Most women like the "long and lean" muscle look. The "Pilates" body so to speak. So does that mean that we can't use at home workout programs more geared to men? What does that mean for us wives or girlfriends whose men use and love these programs? Does that mean we are doomed to exercise loneliness?
Maybe you have heard of some of the programs?Billy Blanks Get Ripped Taebo, or Shaun T's Insanity? the most popular get ripped routine for men seems to be Tony Horton's P90X. All of these have the aim of kicking your butt and getting you ripped, thus the reason men flock to them. I have to say though, I am a woman who has used at least one if not more of these programs. Did I get "ripped"? Well?. No.
It's really your aim in the program and how you use it. For instance; say you are doing arm exercises with weights. Do you do 8-10 reps or 12-15? Well, to get that long and lean look?you should be doing the higher reps, while your significant other or male counterpart is sticking with the 8-10. This is just one way that you can tailor these programs to fit the needs of a woman's body. Good rule of thumb? think that the more reps you do, the less bulk you are going to put on. As women we also have an advantage (or disadvantage however you look at it) in that we are not designed to "get ripped". We can get cut, lean, and strong without having to look abnormally strong. This can allow us to work just as hard and dig just as deep as the men in our lives and still create a feminine silhouette for ourselves.
One other bonus?many of these programs have great kick your butt, heart pounding cardio routines that is really for any of us. Some of them are yoga routines, kick boxing, plyometrics (great one!), and the list goes on. If you are still weary of anything that has to do with getting you "ripped", stick with these at first and you will love and see the benefits and this might give you the courage to work out more like a man (and probably be more graceful doing it). Coming from a woman who has a man who loves these routines, and who has used them with him?you can work out like a man but still look like a woman.
About the writer ? Jenna Atkins is a guest writer for several Health and Weight Loss related blogs including Fitness Body Online. Jenna enjoys participating in and writing about the newest exercise programs and diet plans.
