Should women weight train like men? Should weight training for women be different? If you look at female bodybuilders, it is easy to understand why so many women seem to be afraid of even touching anything resembling a barbell.

When it comes to women and weight training, some women fear that weight training will quickly turn them into female version of the “Incredible Hulk” - - but what is the truth behind those muscles?

These days, most female bodybuilders are “hormonally enhanced”, which is a politically correct way of saying - - they use anabolic steroids.

While it is true, that it is possible for a woman to gain sizeable muscle mass, it is just not going to happen for an “average” woman.

There are exceptions, of course, women who are genetically gifted, or those, who naturally have unusually high testosterone levels – could gain muscle faster. But even if you are one of them, regular weight training is not going to turn you into Ms. Olympia any time soon.

On average, men produce 5-10 mg testosterone per day - the hormone responsible for muscle growth - while women usually come up with only 0.1 mg daily. In addition, women tend to have smaller muscles.

Thus, compared to men, they have to work harder to attain relatively similar degree of muscularity. However, it does not mean that weight training for women should be different. In terms of exercise selection and intensity, women and men should train the same.

The reason for this is simple. Men and women respond to weight training in the same way - because, although skeletal muscles are a mix of different fiber types - in both genders they are made up of the same substance.

In my experience, if nutrition is dialed in, women could gain muscle and strength at the same percentages as men.