health
# LEXY__ PADILLA
HEALTH
WEIGHTLIFTING
FOR WOMEN
LEXY PADILLA SHARES HER FITNESS JOURNEY BY NORA HESTON TARTE
W
eightlifting: it’s not just for men. There seems to be a common misconception that when women lift weights, they bulk up, which may not be their preferred body type. That, however, couldn’t be farther from the truth. In fact, weightlifting actually builds curves in women.
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AUGUST 2022 | SJMAG.COM
. “I could go on for days about all of the ways lifting can improve you as a person, not just physically but mentally,” says Lexy Padilla, a Lodi native and weightlifting junkie who shares her fitness journey on Instagram and Tik Tok @lexy.lifts. . Science shows that weightlifting helps women burn fat, but there are mental benefits, too. Those who lift may experience reduced stress, improved ease in everyday tasks, increased endurance, and better moods. . Weightlifting not only helps to build strength and muscle, but as a functional training exercise, it works to improve everyday life for men and women. Plus, lifting heavy weights can quickly advance you to your target heart rate zone, which means you’ll be burning calories like it was cardio. “There are children in their teens all the way up to women well into their 80s that have shown positive results in their overall well-being from weightlifting,” Lexy says. . The best advice Lexy can give to anyone interested in giving weightlifting a try is to “just start.” The weight room can be intimidating, especially when you don’t see anyone that looks like you in the room. Lexy, along with other influencers and personal trainers, are working to change the stigma, showing that weightlifting helps achieve a tight, toned, and womanly body, if that’s what you’re after. “I have lived it firsthand in my own physical transformation, and have seen it happen for so many others,” Lexy says. . Start slow, even spending just a few minutes in the weight room as you get comfortable with routines. “The internet is an incredible vault of knowledge on all things weightlifting,” Lexy says. “I recommend looking to qualified individuals such as certified personal trainers, dieticians, and general experts in the industry for reliable advice.” . In addition to following Lexy on the gram, she also recommends turning to Bret Contreras, PhD, and Jeff Nippard for tips. “As with any other new challenge in life, you never will truly feel ‘ready’ to begin,” Lexy says. “You just need to jump in and give it your all.”
