This is a question that we receive often - whether strength training will make women gain weight or look bulky. We are happy to report that the answer is a resounding NO! Here’s why: One pound equals one pound regardless of whether the pound is fat, muscle or some other substance like butter or steel. Muscle is denser and therefore takes up a smaller amount of space per pound than fat. Some scientists estimate that the "space" that one pound of muscle occupies is about 22% less than one pound of fat! If a woman begins strength training and eats exactly the same number of calories that she did before she began lifting weights, she may lose some weight because she is burning additional calories while exercising. Even more important is the change in her body composition. She will have gained muscle and lost fat...even if she her body weight stayed the same. In our experience, most women drop a dress size or two after they have been strength training for a couple of months because their body shape has changed for the better.