That is a comment I’ve heard countless times from women who are afraid of weight training. This thought process is based on a common myth regarding women and resistance training; and I want to make a promise to all the ladies reading this article. You will not look like a man, I promise. Give me a minute to explain.

Men and women have different physiques and historically women were not seen as strong. Well, we were judged on the strength of our hips for child bearing.

As society moved forward, I feel many women have internalized that thought process, the myth of women and resistance training we discussed above, thus limiting their fitness experience to cardio machines, and bodyweight fitness classes.

With that said, let me explain why I decided to create a platform to deliver this message.

During my training career I have encountered numerous women who didn’t want muscles, and a 20 pound dumbbell was too heavy. Slim arms and small midsections are all I hear especially from moms.

My clients who are mothers desperately want their old mid section back. I let them know they would need resistance training and I reminded them that they have probably picked up children that were 15 to 20 pounds.

I reminded them that they carried that child or children for 9 months, and all of a sudden fitness became more relative. Fitness became functional, and it was not just about vanity anymore.

How many of you realize that there are exercise movements that mimic intimate positions? During my gym training career I was asked to sub a group dance aerobics class. I’m a bootcamp instructor not dance; therefore the ladies in the class were not pleased with my exercise requests.

I noticed I was receiving displeased looks from some of the women when I asked them to hip raise or bridge. It was at that time that I decided to test my platform. I explained to them that the hip raise is a functional movement we should all recognize.

The very next morning, I saw a member of that class hip raising with resistance. A kettlebell, the most piece of functional equipment out there in my opinion and I was pleased to see that.

I created Erotic Fitness to help women afraid of resistance understand how to train for a functional lifestyle. Most women are unaware of the different types of fitness physiques they can have. You don’t have to look like a bodybuilder, you can have the physique that gives you confidence.

There are many different body types out there and I encourage you to add to the diversity of fitness. Show us what you got, what you can do, and how determined you are to reach your goals.

Women need strength for more than the reasons I listed above. Women need strength to hold up our reproductive organs, by keeping our pelvic floor strong. Kegels are not the first or last step to ensuring we don’t need bladder control assistance, or vaginal mesh.

Strength can help even if you don’t have children. We as a society, we forget all too often about preventative practices. We can maintain a strong core throughout our lives because it is important. Your core is responsible for providing balance for every movement you can think of- from doing laundry to gardening.

So let’s change our thought process on fitness. Fitness is not about vanity, it is about being healthy, being around your children, and to fully enjoy your life.

Staying healthy is not easy, but with proper planning it can be done. I created Erotic Fitness program to help women manage the chaos life brings so you can have a piece of mind and enjoy a consistent fitness journey.