Training Myth #1 -Weight training makes women big, bulky and manly. Women do not, and cannot, "naturally" produce as much testosterone (one of the main hormones responsible for increasing muscle size as the "Boys" do. It is impossible for a us to gain huge amounts of muscle by merely touching some heavy weights. Unfortunately for the general public the image that comes to mind when we think of heavy weight training is "Women that look like men!" "Professional female bodybuilders".

Most of these women, unfortunately or fortunately for them use anabolic steroids (synthetic testosterone) along with other drugs in order to achieve that manly look "big bulky manly muscles." Have you seen Ms Olympia?

And in having written that, I'm not trying to diminish these Athletes in any way. Most have good genetics coupled with an unbelievable work ethic and very strict diet regimens that enable them to gain more muscle and recover quicker.

These women are dedicated to their sport. They spend countless hours in the gym lifting very, very heavy weights. These women know what their doing. And while I don't subscribe to using steroids, each to their own. Works for some just not for me.

I love being strong I also love being girly and feminine to! Those of us who weight train "heavy" without the use of steroids get toned and fit "hard" bodies that you see in most natural "tested" fitness, figure, bodybuilding shows these days.

Tested means a test is taken to see if you have used any illegal enhancing drugs, like, "Steroids.?

Training Myth #2 - Weight training increases your chest size wow if only this were true! Women's breasts are composed mostly of fatty tissue. Therefore, it is impossible for us to increase our breast size through weight training. As a matter of fact, if you go below a certain percent body fat, your breast size will decrease. Yes?

On stage you get that pencil eraser effect because you are so lean....you have no boobs! For those of you that have never seen us in our competition state its a sorry sight when your so lean your left with only little pencil erasers on your chest! Weight training does increase the size of your back, so this myth probably comes from confusing an increase in back size with an increase in cup size.

Weight training does however decrease that little bulge that hangs over some our sports bras though lol. So the only way to increase your breast size is by gaining fat or getting breast implants. I've done both at one time or another!

Training Myth #3 - If you stop weight training your muscle will turn into fat. This is like saying that you can turn wood into plastic or apples painted red are turned into tomatoes. It's like saying you can turn metal into gold or teeth into money, so unless your "the tooth fairy?" it just isn't possible.

The only way to get that lean toned look is by gaining muscle through weight training coupled with a well rounded nutrition and cardio program. "Aerobics for you cardio queens! Again, muscle and fat are two very different types of tissue. It's impossible to turn one into the other.

What happens many times is that when people decide to go off their training programs they "don't use it so they lose it". Muscle that is! Well that amongst other things. And usually along with slacking in your training, comes a slacking in the diet also.

So the result is Crappy eating habits along with shrinking in your muscle equals slower metabolic rate: equals the impression that your muscle is turning to fat and suddenly your butt is sagging and you've got a dingle dangle where there never used to be? Belt notches mysteriously move. The reality is, that muscle is being lost and fat is being accumulated.

The less muscle mass you have the slower your metabolism is...the less calorie expenditure your doing at rest.

NOT your muscle is turning into fat...your just losing muscle and gaining fat!

Myth #4 - As long as you workout you can eat anything that you want Oh how I wish this were true also! Peanut butter cup blizzards and gourmet jelly beans here I come. This could not be further from the truth and a little complicated.

What we "do" or "don't do" for our individual metabolisms determine how many calories we burn at rest and while we exercise. But put simply, If we eat "more" calories than we burn on a "consistent basis", our bodies will store these extra calories as fat, regardless how much we work out.

Training Myth #5 - Women only need to do cardio and lift very light weights. First of all, if you only do cardio then your "muscle" and "fat" will be burned for fuel. We need to do weights in order to get the muscle building metabolism machine going and thus prevent any loss of muscle tissue.

Women that only concentrate on cardio will have a very hard time achieving the look that they want. You have all seen these stair master "Cardio queens"...I used to be one of them. They come to the gym on a consistent basis and sweat there little hearts out. Dedicated day after day. Human hamsters on the treadmills. Only to remain the same year after year.

Let me put it this way, A toned and fit body = "Fire" HOT! Your body is like a fireplace.....the muscle helps the fire place be more efficient. Food is like the fuel.......right fuel in the fireplace burns hot! Cardio in the right amounts helps to stoke the fire, ads oxygen to the mix! Hmmm sounds like the best way to achieve a " HOT BODY"

So as far as the lifting of very light weights, this is just more

NOT TRUE!

Our muscles respond to resistance. If the resistance is too light, there's no reason for our body to change and adapt. Our bodies are very complex, unique, adaptable and amazing machines.

Lucky for us we can out smart them! So we should train hard and heavy! I have trained with some of the most amazing lean beautiful feminine women on the planet.

Just check out my friends: Terri George, Sandy Olsen, Sue Rahe, Haley Mitchel and Renee Doucette just to name a few! We train hard, "Durti Gurlz" hard! We all look nothing but lean and feminine. If you want to look lean and hard "toned", don't be afraid to pick up the weights and lift hard and heavy! Get Durti, train like a Durti Gurl!