I’ve recently started getting back into the gym. I’m a hesitant exerciser – mostly because I would prefer to be sitting down eating chocolate writing, than tiring myself out in a room full of sweaty people. I’m not a fan of the gym atmosphere and there is one reason in particular; because I am a petite girl I really can’t do much cardio as I’ll get too scrawny, instead I need to do resistance work. Essentially this means one thing; venturing into the weights area of the gym – a typically male spot.

I may feel a bit out of place standing amongst big men lifting heavy iron, but resistance training is something I think all women should try. Here’s why.

While cardio burns a lot of calories, muscle does too. In fact, for every pound of muscle you gain you’ll shed an extra 50 calories every day with no extra effort.

Weight training is just as suitable for women as it is for men. Many women are wary of taking it up for fear that increased muscle means increased masculinity. This is just not true. Testosterone is a very important factor in the development of muscle shape and as women have very low levels of this hormone their muscles develop differently, meaning a little resistance training will not lead to a bulky, butch physique.

Weight training has been proven to have a positive affect on insulin resistance, resting metabolism, blood pressure, body fat and gastrointestinal transit time, factors that are linked to illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer.

A little effort will reap big benefits. You can feel healthier and look better, which in turn will make you feel better about yourself and the benefits can last for the rest of your life.

It is important to remember that weight training is a slow process, start light and slow and work your way up. It will take a few weeks before you start to see results. Don’t focus too much on your changing weight either – muscle weighs more than fat per square inch. So you may be losing a dress size but maintaining or even gaining weight.