New fitness app's that help not only strengthen but also empower women

Leah Kendrick adores her second child, but not the post baby weight. The thought of walking into a gym to get her body back was intimidating.

"Seeing the majority of guys, you know, weight training. You're going to feel like you don't belong. Or that you're going to get these looks like what is this girl doing here?"

So Kendrick decided to try something different. "Spitfire Athlete" is a strength-training app created by two women who felt other female fitness apps didn't quite cut it.

"They take something that was designed for men, make it pink, and make it slightly worse and now it's for women. These apps would often feature a lot of physique training, weight loss. They really wouldn't ever mention anything about performance related goals," said Nidhi Kulkarni, Co-Founder Spitfire Athlete.

Spitfire Athlete and other women-specific strength training app's feature actual female athletes demonstrating the movements. Instead of models teaching everything from strength training basics to advanced techniques.

"We actually wanted to infuse this sense of female strength and power into our app from the very beginning. Knowing which exercises you're going to do, how you're going to do them, how you're going to set up the equipment," said Kulkarni.

Most of these apps are free to download, though many have paid options for a more personalized experience.

Dr. Dixie Stanforth, a professor of health education at the University of Texas, thinks of the apps as a welcomed workout tool-- which is vital to a woman's overall health.

"I'm going to have a reduced risk of osteoporosis, diabetes, heart disease. They become stronger even just mentally, not just physically."

Kendrick said she feels better all the way around. Since finding the app, she's fallen in love with lifting and now feels confident enough to step into a gym.

"I became like the girl that I always wanted to be. Now, I have the confidence. My body image has definitely improved."

If you are afraid that by lifting weights you will bulk up like a body builder, experts said those fears are unfounded. Lifting weights will give you definition but it is the testosterone that causes men to put on mass amounts of muscle.