Women started participating in female body building competitions in the 1970s. Nowadays, the number of women taking part in weight training programs to achieve a more attractive physique and prevent bone loss is steadily increasing. Strength training and female body building has a lot of benefits which include an increase in bone mass, avoiding bone loss, and increase in muscle strength and balance.



Despite the popularity and obvious benefits of female body building, some women are still apprehensive about these activities. Some think that engaging in these types of activities will cause them to look bulky by gaining too much muscle. This fear is rather unfounded, as women do not have enough testosterone in their body to produce the amount of muscle mass men can. Areas relating to female body building such as figure and fitness competitions, which have also seen a rise in popularity, may be a better option for women. These different activities provide women other alternatives to the type of muscle development provided in body building.

Fitness and figure competitions are closely related to competitive body building; however, there are several different aspects. Fitness competitions have as the swimsuit competition and the performance of dance, aerobics, or gymnastics routines. Figure competitions, which are based on a newer format, are focused only on the symmetry of the body and muscle tone and do not consider the size of the muscles.

Engaging in fitness, figure, and body building competitions are not the only reasons for starting a weight training program. Many women engage in this type of exercise routine simply to have a better physique and improve their overall well being. Here are a few tips on how to do just that.

-Consult your physician. You should always consult your physician before starting any exercise routine or changing your diet.

-Set realistic goals. Define what you want to attain and set it within an achievable time frame. Creating unrealistic goals is tantamount to setting yourself up to fail. Setting goals that are too high may soon discourage you and ultimately cause you to give up. Set realistic and achievable goals, and remember to also reward yourself once you achieve them.

-Consider the costs and create a budget. Remember, going into a body building program will require a certain amount of funds. The amount of money you can set aside for your body building program will determine if you can join a club or set up a home gym.

-Think about cheaper alternatives to expensive body building equipment. Used or second hand equipment is still as effective and as functional as any brand new equipment. And they are sure to cost you less.

- Eat healthy. The best complement to a good body building work out is good nutrition. Consult a dietician and come up with a diet plan best suited to your needs.

-Lastly, be kind to yourself. You do not need to drive yourself to the ground just to achieve the goals you have set. Remember, obsessive and stressful behavior is not fit to the type of healthy lifestyle you are trying to achieve.