This is why I started strength training with HEAVY weights a

http://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x330/thecrossfitchronicles/Screenshot2011-11-20at54410AM.png
Because of this photo above.

In June I ran my second half marathon, and in September I completed my first full marathon; I had been training since April (mind you, I only completed my runs and didn't do my cross-training.) Eating a reasonable diet of 1700-2200 calories a day of real food (meat, veggies, fruits, some grains), I still wasn't pleased with how I looked. How was it that I was running a minimum of 20 miles a week - more like 40 miles a week in the latter summer months, and still had 30% body fat, and a rather chubby tummy?

I started to research. In early August I found this: http://www.crossfitsouthbay.com/2011/05/skinny-fat/
I decided I wanted to look like the women on the right. Not the left.

Short of continuing my high cardio routine and cutting calories back a lot, there was nothing I could do. And still, even that would only produce results like the woman on the left. Let's be clear: I am not bashing cardio. I love running, and in fact plan to keep with the one marathon a year plan. I just realized I was missing a massive piece of the puzzle. I needed to lift, and lift heavy. I had tried high reps at lower weights in college, and saw no results.

I won't repeat the article - but I do HIGHLY recommend it. I was like 99% of women wanting to get a good body. I watched calories and cardio-ed my little butt off. I saw a degree of results, but ultimately I was frustrated. That same week in August I joined a gym that would facilitate the type of exercise I wanted to do. I looked around that first day and saw the women who had been working out there for awhile. They looked fantastic. (As a side note, I realize there are women with higher levels of testosterone who will build muscle in a fashion more similar to a man - and while I know you exist, I also think it's worth nothing this isn't the majority of women.)

I started lifting heavy, because I wanted to look like the woman on the right. The woman whose body looks healthy and slender and strong. The body that we think we can only have in our teens and 20s if we're lucky, because we still have high metabolism. (Note: This "high metabolism" is from the muscles we built up in our childhood and teens from being active, before our sedentary jobs. We can still benefit from these muscles for a few years, because muscles don't immediately atrophy.)

So to women who have been diligently counting their calories, and running and elliptical-ing and treadmill-ing and zumba-ing our little tails off, I'm not saying to STOP doing your hard work and exercise - but maybe consider trying something new. Do some research and add some strength training to the routine. I've never seen results in my body like I have from it