Strength training is one of the most important activities kids, teens, adults, and older adults can do to help improve their life at every stage. Strength training is also known as resistance exercise increases muscle strength and endurance helping you become stronger. The list of benefits of strength training is lengthy and includes:
- Improves heart health
- Reduces risk of diabetes and heart disease
- Helps manage diabetes
- Improves mental health and mood
- Less anxiety
- Makes everyday tasks easier
- Reduces the chance of injury
- Boost metabolism
- Burn more calories at rest
- Improves flexibility, balance, and joint stability
- Better Posture (when exercises are done with proper form)
- Increases bone density
- Reduces the chance of osteoporosis
- Reduces chances of arthritis
- Reduces pain
- Helps manage weight – increasing lean body mass and decreasing fat mass
- Better mind-body connection
- Look and feel younger
- Increases confidence
- Improved sleep
- Boosts immune system
Along with this list is being able to enjoy more life activities, like playing with your children and grandchildren, and being able to enjoy more food daily, because your body requires more food with increased muscle mass. Also helps enjoy those higher calorie favorite foods without worrying. For women, many believe they will become bulky if they increase lifting their weights in the gym, and strength train on a regular basis, but that is far from true. Women do not have the hormones naturally to support the bulkiness that comes with strength training. The bulky look is tailored to men because of their high level of testosterone. The athletic look many desire generally requires having more muscle on your frame than you do right now. Strength training is what gives the nice, sculpted look many refer to as ‘toned.’ Cardio can support quick weight loss (sometimes) but won’t help you get the defined muscles alone. The results from strength training also take time but are easier to maintain in the long run. If you are currently strength training, keep it up! If you stay away from it because of rumors you have heard or are not sure where to begin, reach out, I am here to help.
