women and weight training (Pic heavy)

I see so many beginners here, particularly women who are scared of the weights! DON'T BE! And don't stay in your comfort zone of 5lb-10lbers! Push yourself! I promise you'll love the results. Also, do it before your cardio and it will boost your calories lost. I wish I had known this when I first started losing weight. I focused pretty strictly on cardio and calisthenics to lose the weight. But started adding some dumbbell routines as I went along. When I finally joined the gym, I met some great people (including my current amazing boyfriend) who have taught me proper techniques and new workouts to better myself and my body. I also recently started taking whey protien as well and have already seen a difference! I think women assume that if they touch a dumbbell they're going to turn into a she-hulk, but without proper nutrition and the right drugs it doesn't happen like that: this is what happens

Starting with just cardio:

Workout progress by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people
/kristinamoser/]Khrystina the Ninja[/url], on Flickr

Then I started learning bit by bit at a gym. Had terrible form, and limited equipment at my parents resort (yes, resort gym -_- haha)
Eventually they said I could no longer workout there unless I wanted to spend nearly a thousand dollars a month for my own membership 0_0

learning. by Khrystina the Ninja, on Flickr

wrar? by Khrystina the Ninja, on Flickr

arms by Khrystina the Ninja, on Flickr

Then I joined LA Fitness and started really amping it up!

Beast Mode by Khrystina the Ninja, on Flickr
A MONTH after that photo was taken I took this one

0914121528 by Khrystina the Ninja, on Flickr
My training buddy Tony has taught me so much about weight training and pushing my limits. None of those fake squats anymore

IMG950557 by Khrystina the Ninja, on Flickr.
Shoulder routine

shoulder day by Khrystina the Ninja, on Flickr

Snapshot_20121207 by Khrystina the Ninja, on Flickr

triceps and shoulders by Khrystina the Ninja, on Flickr

POV abs by Khrystina the Ninja, on Flickr

Take my word for it ladies, once in a while it's ok to join the big boys in the back of the gym. Don't be intimidated. The results don't lie! I've never been more confident in my body my whole life! I'm not stick thin, I'm fit! I weigh a bit more than I did in high school and yet I feel like I have a better body for it! And all those nay-sayers who claim that you'll look "Manly" with muscles....they can bite me ;-)

DSCN8386 by Khrystina the Ninja, on Flickr