If you weight train and have strong, healthy muscles, you will have less fatty tissue between the skin and the muscle, this keeps your skin looking young and healthy.

Women should have a base amount of fatty tissue between the skin and muscle, it’s healthy and it’s needed.

Training to build strength and not muscle mass does not obliterate fatty tissue, it reduces it.

Would you prioritise weights over cardio?

I would yes, because when you weight lift you get the same benefits associated with cardio training and you build muscle strength.

With cardio training you only build on your cardio endurance, quite simply if you cardio train you get cardio benefits.

Strength training however gives you the cardio training benefits and then some: postural improvement and hip strength; strength training keeps your back healthy and ensures the body moves in all directions it needs to stay mobile and injury free.

What are your favourite weight / cardio exercises?

Squats, pull-ups, deadlifts, lunges, rows, bench presses in conjunction with active recovery exercises such as planks and v-sits (the boat pose).

I picked these because they are balanced, tried and true; they are classic exercises for a reason as they are targeted and integrated.

A big takeaway here to note, even though you’re lifting a targeted area, if you lift heavy weights it works the whole body.

If I am squatting and get the depth needed within the movement, my core is on fire and my upper body has to support that.

Final thought?

As a female athlete who has coached women and men, I can say that fitness is a journey and body acceptance is on a continuum.

Whatever decade of your life that you are in, it is never too late to start strength training.

fitness is a journey and body acceptance is on a continuum

If you are strong and carry yourself well, you will emanate confidence and attitude.

That is my motivation when training women and can be your motivation to start lifting today.

Equinox.com; @equinox