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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nHistorically, there have been many barriers to women in the weight room. Training environments where achieving a certain body image is the focus rather than building strength, healthy movement patterns, and improving body composition can be unmotivating and intimidating. The stigma of weightlifting as \u201cmasculine\u201d or that it \u201cmakes you bulky\u201d and the misconceptions that weightlifting is not beneficial for women are also among the many obstacles that women of all ages face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the May\/June issue of ACSM Health and Fitness Journal, Claire Ford et al. do an excellent job of defining the obstacles that women face in the weight room and have created a framework called \u201cThe 3 E\u2019s\u201d that outlines strategies to overcome these barriers. <\/strong>I’ll take the summary points from this article and translate them into practical solutions for women and fitness professionals to empower themselves in the world of weightlifting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ford, C, Kercher VM, Kercher KA; ACSM’s Health & Fitness Journal 27(3):p 14-19, 5\/6 2023.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Goal of the study<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Use a socioecological model to provide insight into the nature of women\u2019s unique experiences with weightlifting and describe a practical approach for empowering women in this environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some statistics<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Just 2 days per week of resistance training can reap physical, mental, and emotional health benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Only 25% of the US population meets these recommendations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 17.5% of women engage in weightlifting on a regular basis<\/p>\n\n\n\n Benefits of Weightlifting<\/p>\n\n\n\n Barriers to weightlifting unique to women<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The notion that women face unique barriers to weightlifting has been a subject of investigation. Harne and Bixby organized these barriers into the following 3 categories:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Time \/ effort<\/p>\n\n\n\n Physical Effect<\/p>\n\n\n\n Social<\/p>\n\n\n\n The 3 E\u2019s: A framework through which we can understand and address women\u2019s barriers to weightlifting<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n After identifying and categorizing these unique barriers to weightlifting that women face, the authors created a framework upon which to overcome these barriers. This framework is called \u201cThe 3 E\u2019s\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This ACSM article speaks to an audience of fitness professionals and how the fitness industry can work to overcome these barriers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In Part 2 of this article<\/a>, I take this a step further and translate these recommendations for fitness professionals into\u00a0strategies that non-professionals can implement for themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fit Pros: Offer menopausal and perimenopausal women an individualized approach to training, nutrition and wellness as a Menopause Health and Fitness Specialist<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\nThe 3 E\u2019s – Keys to Empowering Women in the Weight Room<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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