Recommended Reading:  Vince Delmonte's No-Nonsense  Body Shaping For Women

Most women want to know how to lose weight, not how women build muscle.   If you are one of the few women that wants to build muscle, then read on - I've written this article specifically for you.

The truth of the matter is that many women often shy away from building muscle because they are worried about "bulking up".  Others have attempted to build muscle, but never achieved their desired results.

Many women wonder; Does the lack of testosterone in a woman's body make building muscle next to impossible? 

Although testosterone does play a large role in the muscle building process (which is why men build muscle more easily than women), it does not mean that women cannot easily build muscle.

Although the muscle gains in women will not rival that of their mail counterparts, any woman is capable of building muscle mass.

Genetics Play a Large Role In How Women Build Muscle

Just like men, a woman's genetic traits play a large role in the amount of muscle they can build.  some women have higher levels of testosterone than others, making the muscle building process more simple.  

Another factor that determines the amount of muscle a woman can build is the proportion of fast and slow twitch muscle fibers in the body.  Just like men, women that have a higher percentage of fast twitch muscle fibers can more easily build muscle. 

Simply put, all women can build muscle but it is easier for those with "muscle building" genetics.  Even if you don't have the best genetics for muscle building, you should not be discouraged, since any woman can significantly increase lean body mass with the right woman's program.

How Woman Should Train to Build Muscle

When it comes to women building muscle, a common myth is that woman should stick to lighter weights and higher repetitions.  This will lead to muscle "tone" and not "bulk".  This is completely untrue!

If your goal is to build muscle, it doesn't matter whether you are a man or a woman, the same principles still apply.  You have to lift weights that are heavy enough to tax the muscle fibers.  This is the only way to stimulate muscle growth.

High repetition training will not help you build muscles.  It will increase muscular endurance, but will not increase muscle size.  Aim for a weight that you can lift no more than 8-12 times.  Train three days a week, and focus on compound exercises.

Of course adequate rest and recovery are two other crucial factors when it comes to woman building muscle, but those two topics warrant an article of their own!