Why Women Shouldn’t Fear Building Muscle
- Oct 6, 2025
- 5 min read
Andrea Douala is the founder of MissDoualaFitness, a bilingual fitness and wellness brand. Her approach emphasizes nurturing every dimension of health, mind, body, and soul to help you become the best version of yourself.
Many women step into the gym with goals like toning their legs or burning belly fat. Yet, when it comes to strength training, they often stick to long cardio sessions and only dedicate a few minutes (if any) to weights. This usually comes from two things, fear of the unknown and more commonly, the fear of becoming “bulky.” I don’t blame you, society has pushed this idea for years, making it feel like the norm.
But the truth is, times have changed. Ladies, today I want to break this myth wide open and show you why lifting weights is one of the best things you can do, not just for your body, but also for your mind and soul.
Myth busting: Weights = manly
But where does this myth even come from?
The answer lies in cultural perceptions, media influence, and stereotypes. For decades, the “ideal” standard of femininity was tied to being slim and elegant. In some cultures, like many in Africa, a fuller, curvier body was valued, but muscle has almost always been associated with masculinity. To make things worse, when the media did portray women lifting weights, the focus was often on female bodybuilders at the extreme end of training. This created the false idea that any woman who picked up a dumbbell would suddenly look “manly.” Add to that a history where women were not even allowed in many of the same professions and hobbies as men, and the stereotype stuck.
Physiologically, the truth is simpler. The physical and biological differences between men and women are rooted in hormones. Both sexes produce the same ones, but in very different amounts. Men have much higher levels of testosterone, the hormone most responsible for muscle growth and strength. Women, on the other hand, have far less testosterone and much higher levels of estrogen and progesterone. This hormonal profile makes it much harder for women to “bulk up” the way men do. Instead, strength training helps women build lean muscle, lose fat, improve definition, increase bone density, and boost metabolism. What you get is a stronger, more toned body, not sudden bulk.
Why women should lift: Body, mind, soul
Well-being isn’t just physical, it’s also mental and spiritual. Weightlifting allows you to nurture the connection between these three pillars. Beyond the visible transformation of your body, it improves your sleep quality, boosts your energy, and supports hormonal balance.
For the mind, lifting strengthens more than muscles. It builds resilience, sharpens focus, helps regulate stress, and boosts self-confidence.
For the soul, it’s an act of care and revival. It may sound paradoxical to call sweating and pushing through discomfort a form of self-care, but it is. In the gym, you find yourself face-to-face with your thoughts, your limits, your strength. You rediscover parts of yourself, sometimes even reinvent them, and connect deeply with your feminine side.
This journey is like the blooming of a flower. First, you plant the seed, which is those early steps you take toward change. Then comes germination, where the seed breaks open so strong roots can form, just like you are building your foundation. With time, nourishment, and patience, growth becomes visible. Slowly but surely, the flower blooms. Your body, mind, and soul unfold in harmony, revealing their full strength and beauty.
Lifting & womanhood: Juggling roles
In the past, womanhood was often defined by the roles women played within their families and communities, sometimes at the expense of their individuality. Women were expected to think of others first, rarely of themselves. Today, womanhood has evolved. It embraces self-awareness, autonomy, and the plurality of life paths. You can be ambitious, build a career, nurture a family, love deeply, and still prioritize yourself. You have the right to grow, to flourish, and to define your own version of womanhood.
For me, this realization came through lifting weights. It was one of the best investments I’ve ever made in myself. Training taught me that taking care of yourself is not selfish, it is essential. You don’t need endless hours in the gym, even 30 focused minutes can spark powerful change. It transforms not only your body, but also your mind and soul. You will gain energy, resilience, and mental clarity. You will reconnect with your strength, your essence, and your femininity.
Weightlifting became the soil where my roots deepened. With each workout, I planted seeds of self-care, discipline, and self-love. Over time, those seeds germinated, breaking me open to build me stronger, until I began to bloom into the woman I was meant to become. Through this journey, I learned to know myself, love myself, and stand firmly in who I am. Weight training became more than exercise. It became a practice that nourished me physically, mentally, and spiritually, helping me navigate womanhood with grace, strength, and confidence.
And you can plant your own seeds too. With time, consistency, and care, you will see yourself bloom in your body, your mind, and your soul.
Getting started: Practical guidance
If you have made it this far in your reading, it is probably because, deep down, there is a quiet desire to try. And that genuinely makes me happy. My greatest hope is that you choose to embark on this journey for yourself.
Remember, discipline and consistency take time. You might stumble a few times before finding your rhythm, and that is okay, it is all part of the process. What matters most is identifying your inner “why,” the reason that will keep you grounded and motivated when things get tough.
Once you have found that reason, take a moment to define your physical goals and decide how many days you can realistically commit to strength training. Grab a notebook dedicated to journaling. This will become your personal compass. Use it to write down your goals, victories, lessons of the day, favorite and least favorite exercises, how you are nourishing your soul, and any thoughts or reflections that come to mind.
You do not have to set foot in a gym right away if you are not ready. That is exactly how I started too. When the moment comes, take your first body pictures. Over time, these photos will capture not just physical changes, but also the mindset shifts and soul growth that blossom throughout your journey.
Above all, start light and progress gradually, both with the weights you lift and the habits you build. Small, consistent steps will take you much further than sudden, unsustainable leaps.
If there is one thing you should remember, it is that lifting weights will not make you “manly,” inside or out. On the contrary, it will unlock your best self. So, take that first step. Your strongest, most radiant self is waiting. And MissDoualaFitness is right here to help you rise.
Read more from Andrea Douala
Andrea Douala, Certified Personal Trainer and Nutrition Coach
Andrea Douala is a certified personal trainer and nutrition coach passionate about inspiring others to embrace the joys of healthy living. As the founder of MissDoualaFitness, a bilingual small business offering services in both French and English, she is dedicated to making fitness and wellness accessible to everyone. No matter how busy life gets, Andrea believes that your health is your greatest strength. With her holistic approach, she empowers clients to create sustainable and meaningful changes that are unique to them.
