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Strong Women
Benefits of using barbells for women: 5 fundamental exercises that will build strength quickly
By Alice Porter
3 years ago
3 min read
The 5x5 strength training programme is said to build strength in no time – something writer and barbell lover Alice Porter is fully prepared to believe.
More women than ever are strength training, and that’s great, but there’s still a gym gap between the sexes. This is particularly the case when it comes to using barbells – a piece of equipment that we might associate with professional weightlifters and a whole load of grunting.
The truth, however, is that a barbell is an accessible piece of equipment for women with various levels of fitness, including complete beginners. Barbells can be seriously effective for building full-body strength – something fans are only too aware of. In fact, searches for the the 5 x 5 strength training programme (a regime made up of five fundamental barbell exercises) have shot up by 300% recently.
What is the 5 x 5 strength training workout?
It’s super simple: five exercises, five sets, five reps. The goal is to build strength via compound movements; barbells are too big to use on isolated muscles so by heading to the squat rack, you’re more likely to work those big power muscles (and that’s how you build strength fast).
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