How Much Weight Should a Woman Lift?

*True or false: Will a woman will bulk up if she lifts more than a 3-pound dumbbell?  So many women fear lifting weights as they believe it will make them look bigger.  Truth is that to improve strength and get toned you need to lift dumbbells that by the 15th repetition you lose form and are very fatigued.  For upper body use a dumbbell that is 10 to 15 percent of your total weight; for lower body make that 20 percent. If you can lift a weight over 15 repetitions without losing form, it is time to make the weight heavier. You will build muscle and increase your metabolism, not bulk up.  If you want to see results, stop fearing the heavy weights and push yourself to fatigue. 
​*Individual results may vary.

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