I saw this meme the other day. It was a bit confronting, but it made me think:
“Just me standing here wondering why all girls think they’re big… except the ones who actually are.”
One of the most important things to remember is that it’s rude to judge someone’s appearance.
Jesus says love your neighbour as you love yourself, and that means if you’re casting stones at your own reflection, it’s time to stop. And stop doing it to others, too.
But if you do think your body is a problem, if you’ve been led to believe that more cardio, sweating, and movement is the key to staying lean, healthy, and living longer, this article is here to lovingly destroy that myth.
Because lifting weights isn’t just for building muscle.
It’s not just for men.
It’s not just about looks.
Lifting weights is the key to staying out of nursing homes.
Muscle mass is the secret weapon for women who want to live longer, live stronger, and stay independent. (And yes, this applies to men too.)
And that fear of “being bulky”?
That’s not a weightlifting problem.
That’s a too many calories problem.
The fact is, muscle mass is the ultimate Anti-Ageing Strategy. Muscle is not just tissue. It’s a biological asset. A life insurance policy. The more muscle you have, the better your metabolic health, the greater your insulin sensitivity, the stronger your immune system, the more resilient your bones, and the lower your risk of falling, breaking a hip, and ending up in a care facility.
Want more years in your life?
Build more muscle.
Want more life in your years?
Build more strength.
Muscle is an active tissue, which means it burns calories at rest. It holds your skeleton upright. It helps regulate blood sugar. It stores amino acids that support immune function during illness.
And for women? It’s essential as you age and begin to lose lean tissue faster post-menopause.
This means strength is no longer optional. It becomes vital.
Another hidden indicator that will help you determine the length and quality of your remaining years is VO2 Max. If muscle mass is your savings account, VO2 max is your credit score.
It measures how efficiently your body uses oxygen and is a major predictor of longevity.
A high VO2 max means your heart and lungs work well, your body can handle stress, and you are less likely to suffer from chronic disease.
And here’s what most people don’t realise:
The best way to raise your VO2 max isn’t endless cardio! It is the clever use of strength and conditioning.
That means:
- Heavy weight training to build total-body strength
- High-intensity intervals to push cardiovascular limits
- Low-intensity aerobic work to improve recovery and baseline fitness
It’s not about doing more. It’s about doing the right kind of training.
This balance, what we call concurrent training, is the golden zone. And that is what we do best at Vasse Strength and Conditioning.
Let’s clear this up once and for all.
What does the ‘Bulky Myth’ really mean? Why is it such a lie?
Well, this is it. Muscle is hard to build. It takes consistency, intention, protein, and proper recovery.
Women don’t accidentally “get bulky.”
If you’re gaining more size than you want, it’s not because of the barbell. It’s because your energy intake (aka food) is too high relative to your body’s needs.
“Bulky” is a nutrition issue, not a strength training issue.
In fact, the more muscle you have, the easier it becomes to maintain a lean, athletic body.
Your metabolism is faster, and you burn more calories at rest. You also feel better, move better, and carry yourself with more confidence. The fact is, Stronger Women Live Longer!
Let the world chase sweat and skinny.
Let influencers push detox teas and six-week shred challenges.
We’ll be here building women who are strong, capable, confident, and alive well into their 80s and 90s.
Because in our opinion, being strong means:
- You can lift your own groceries
- You don’t need help off the couch
- You recover faster from illness
- You can chase your grandkids
- You won’t be another frail statistic in a nursing home
Strong women don’t age… they upgrade.
Here are my final thoughts, which I hope will seem to matter if you are reading them.
We don’t care what the scale says or what you look like in a bikini (ok, well we do care what you look like in a bikini, because muscle looks damn good—and confidence looks even better).
We care that you’re living with purpose, energy, and strength.
We care that you feel unstoppable.
And if you’ve been avoiding weights out of fear you’ll look “too big”?
Let this be the moment you rewrite that story.
Because weights aren’t the problem.
They’re the key to more birthdays, better years, and a body that carries you, not the other way around.
So get up. Get after it. Do things differently. BECOME EXTRAORDINARY.