Look like a model?  Is that possible?  Well, first – really what is a model supposed to look like?  To really look like a model, you have to have perfect skin, perfect features, etc, etc.  And who decides what perfect is?

So, lets pretend that looking like a model only has to do with your body shape – having curves, not angles, no bulges, etc.  How do I get there?  Weight training is part of the process.  That is great for guys – isn’t the perfect guy muscle bound?  What about the women?

Vincent Delmonte – you know, the skinny guy that ‘grew’ muscles and now looks FABULOUS – has something to say about that.  In one of his articles How to Look Like a Female Model he says “Now, curves are back so long as they are created with muscle mass and have a softer appearance.”  ”Hot celebrities such as Jessica Biel and Jessica Alba are now gracing the covers showing off their new curves.”  First things first. Pink Weights” “Weights have the power to completely transform your body. They will make you a smaller, yet curvier version of your body now.”

In my words, basically it is the actual work out routine that allows a woman to make progress faster with weight training rather than cardio workout, but at a rate that curves the body rather than going ‘muscle bound’.  This allows you to develop the curves to your satisfaction, then stay at that level rather than going on to the ‘iron man’ contest (or the Women’s Figure Competition).

Vincent has teamed up with Shannon Clark to set up a fitness program just for women called Bodyshaping Success Kit for Women.

The news earlier this year was filled with speculations about the Man on Mars. Man? Who says it has to be a man?  Could this not be the picture of a woman body builder? You know, all muscular and such?

This is just to illustrate the misconception that if a woman body builds or muscle builds/tones that she will ‘look’ like a man. I was browsing through the web earlier and found an interesting article by Machelle Lee. Most women shy away from muscle building (or toning) fearing they will look like a man. Her article is a good synopsis of why women should have a muscle toning routine and how to use it. As she points out, muscle toning IS NOT for spot reducing.

Here is an excerpt from the article “Muscle Toning for Women“:

“. . . The key to muscle toning for women is that you need to realize what the results of building muscle will be. When you break down your muscles, they will build back up, creating more strength. These new muscles need to burn more energy in order to remain strong and healthy – and they burn this energy in the form of calories. As you increase the toning of your body, you increase your muscle mass, which means you’ll be burning more calories at rest than you do right now. And when this happens, you can eat more without gaining weight or you can eat the same amount as you are right now and lose weight.

The trick with muscle toning for women is that you want to learn how to create muscle mass. This means that you need to learn basic strength training exercises that will help stress your muscles. To be even more effective, you should learn how to lift weights for their larger muscles – i.e. glutes and thighs. Because these muscles are larger, they can help to burn more fat and calories when they are strengthened through regular workouts. Try to find a fitness program that focuses on your major muscle groups instead of just your specific ‘trouble’ areas. You will want to know now that you can not spot reduce areas with toning exercises. . . ”

You may read the rest of the article at www.stress-fat-heart-solutions-for-boomers.com