Lets face, as if it was not plainly obvious, men and women are different. And as such both women and men have different fitness and workout needs. While men make it a prerogative to work on their muscle strength, most women will do little or no strength training in favor of treadmill or trim bike. The purpose of women’s exercise routine should be to lower the excess body fat, improve the muscle tone, it is not to loose your curves altogether. It does not mean to give up on the Stairmaster or treadmill altogether, it means your exercise routine should incorporate some free weights as well.

With a workout that uses free weights the main difference between men and women is in the chest area. While men should concentrate on the chest muscle, for women the accent is on the upper back, which should give the shoulder blades more strength to pull together and support the chest. It will also give you a better posture.

Stomach muscles are the weakest areas for most women, regardless have you given birth or not. Why, apart from purely vain reason, is the stomach area so important? Because if this particular area is weak, the back will take the strain, which in the long run can lead to chronic back problems. And there is no need for a special machine to help you get those abs you have always wanted, simple sit ups will do the trick. It will take a while, however with determination it can be done.

If gym is not your thing, then Pilates or yoga is a good physical activity to consider as it might not burn the calories, but it will strengthen, tone and elongate the muscle you never knew you had. It is estimated that women who do not exercise regularly over a period of 10 years loose approximately 5 pounds of muscles. This leads to lower metabolic rate, metabolism slows down and it is even more difficult to loose weight that you have gained.

So find that gym you will enjoy going to or find an exercise class that addresses your fitness needs. It might be a good idea to join a women’s only gym club, as it will have machines and classes that are aimed especially at your needs. Do some shopping around and find what suits you best the choices are endless.