Should Women Be Strength Training Like Men?

I am compelled to share some thoughts with you.
Something that I hear my female clients say, "I don't want to do that exercise because I don't want my muscles to bulk." It makes me crazy that the "exercise world has somehow defined how men and women should train".
Here is the truth. Maybe emotionally Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus, but our Physiology is very similar apart from testosterone!
Men build muscle faster because we create 20 times more testosterone than women!
I disagree with the muscle head in the gym that grabs 75 lb dumbbells and arches his back like crazy to rep it out, then drops them on the floor and grunts for attention.
I also disagree with the women that grab the cute little 3 or 5 lb pink dumbbells and do 30 reps with out breaking a sweat. Some of these women have been using light dumbbells for years without any results. Duh!
I have had some of my female clients squatting 150+ lbs and they weigh only 120 lbs. They aren't bulking up; they are putting on lean muscle, getting stronger and losing body fat.
For sport specific explosive training I've had female clients performing cleans and dead lifts without bulking.
Whether you are a man or a woman; the concept is the same. You must use the "overload principle". In layman's terms this means when you can comfortably get to your desired rep goal; you must increase your weight. It's the only way to get stronger and continue to see results.
So women please don't be afraid of bench, squat, or changing it up for tire flips, kettle bells and rope climbing.
Let's stop training for our specific gender and lets train like human beings!

Stay Healthy and Fit!

John Edwin
Principal
Strength Personal Training, Inc