Whether purposefully or accidentally, women have been distinctly absent from the weightlifting scene. It’s no secret that women are often discouraged from weightlifting by mainstream women’s health media.

Weightlifting has historically been a ‘men’s sport,’ making it difficult for women to take part in it without doubtful glances. To make matters more difficult, women’s fitness moguls have often been associated only with aerobics, cardio and other low-intensity activities that only ‘tone,’ rather than ‘bulk.’

“Women always think that weightlifting will make you big and bulky and make you look like a man. That [idea] is so misleading,” Marcella Lane, a senior exercise science major, said.

Lane, a devoted weightlifter, has lost 70 pounds since starting her freshman year at Central. During high school she struggled to find the secret to staying in-shape.

“No one ever tells you how to lose weight or the best way to go and do it,” Lane said. “The best way for me was to pick up some weights.”

It may seem like common knowledge, but it is physically impossible for the female body to naturally produce the same levels of testosterone as the male body. Given this biological difference, women are unlikely to ‘bulk up’ at the same rate as men when engaging in weightlifting, according to tech.mit.edu.

So why do so many women steer clear of weights?

Women are frequently exposed to the “Tone your arms!” and “Get the butt you’ve always wanted!” headlines that are plastered on magazines in nearly every store. These exercises combine low intensity with high repetition – a common thread for nearly all women’s workouts.

Women today still have a tendency to stay with the elliptical and five-pound dumbbells, disregarding the health benefits that can come with weightlifting.

“Cardio is great, especially when combined with weightlifting, but that alone will not do it for you,” Lane said. “There’s no challenge for your body to adapt like with weightlifting.”

As weightlifting becomes more popular among women and athletes of both genders, many scientific studies have been conducted to reveal the health benefits that weightlifting can reap.

Julie Wilcox, a contributor to Forbes Health, highlighted aspects of New York Times writer Gretchen Reynolds’ book, “The First 20-Minutes: Surprising Science Reveals How We Can Exercise Better, Train Smarter, Live Longer,” in her article, “The Health Benefits of Weightlifting and the New Science That Supports Strength Building.”

By building muscle tissue, the muscles’ demand for glucose increases. The muscles then pull glucose from the bloodstream so that blood-sugar levels don’t rise dangerously. This helps to prevent diabetes.Studies have shown that people who weight train have better blood sugar control than those who do not weight train, Wilcox said.

Wilcox also stated that weightlifting can increase the activation of motor units within muscles and can help reverse obesity and solve metabolic disorders.

However, just like other strenuous activities, weightlifting should be approached with caution and understanding. Combined with healthy eating habits, weightlifting can significantly improve your overall wellbeing, but for those just starting out, proper guidance is imperative.

“People don’t value their bodies enough,” Lane said. “You get one to live in, why would you treat it like crap?”