Benefits of strength training
Most of us know that strength training is good for us, but that doesn't make it any easier to do it. It may help to know some of the benefits of strength training and all the ways it can help you look and feel better. These are my favorite reasons to lift weights. I hope they help get you motivated to start strength training today.
- It helps you lose inches
- It makes you strong and improves your quality of life
- It reduces your risk of injury
- It can reduce arthritis pain
- It increases balance, stability and flexibility
- It can improve sports performance
- It improves confidence
- It can help lower blood pressure
- It adds variety and challenge to your exercise routine
- It makes your life better
When you lift weights, you build lean muscle tissue which is more metabolically active than fat (it burns more calories and works more for you than fat does). When you increase your muscle, you also increase metabolism which means you're burning more calories throughout the day. Regular strength training is just as important as cardio exercise for losing fat, losing inches, and getting fit.
2. It makes you strong and improves your quality of life
It is obvious that lifting weights can make you stronger...but it doesn't just make you strong for your workouts, it makes you stronger in other areas of your life as well. When you lift weights with consistency, a lot of other things in your life become a little easier too - carrying groceries, housework, gardening, carrying the kids, etc. Furthermore, it doesn't just make your muscles stronger, it makes your bones stronger too which can help reduce or even manage osteoporosis as we get older.
3. It reduces your risk of injury
One of the best things about strength training is that it strengthens everything, not just your muscles and bones. When you lift weights, you also strengthen connective tissue - the ligaments and tendons that keep your body moving well on a regular basis. Strengthening your connective tissue will help you continue to operate in peak condition and protect your body from injuries.
4. It can reduce arthritis pain
Recent studies have shown that those suffering with arthritis who lifted weights actually reduced their joint pain. By strengthening the muscles, they were able to cushion and protect the joints during impact activities like walking. In fact, most physical therapy programs incorporate strength training to help rehab a multitude of injuries, which shows that lifting weights can make a big difference in getting better and having a better quality of life.
5. It increases balance, stability and flexibility
When we don't preserve muscle mass with strength training we lose muscle mass as we get older and that's often what leads to weight gain and loss of balance and flexibility. Lifting weights can help you work your joints through a full range of motion, keeping them strong and flexible and keeping you steady on your feet.
6. It can improve sports performance
Most athletes follow a strength training program to keep them strong and avoid injuries. Training specific to your sport can also help you improve your power, strength and speed to make you a better athlete. Even kids and teens often benefit from strength training when it comes to playing sports.
According to some studies, both men and women feel better about themselves when they lift weights. By getting stronger and noticing strength and endurance changes over time, both men and women build confidence and improve body image. Lifting weights, along with other types of exercise can even help manage symptoms of depression and anxiety...a great way to deal with stress in a healthy way.
8. It can help lower blood pressure
Some studies have shown that regular strength training can help reduce high blood pressure over time, so this may become another way (aside from cardio exercise) to help treat high blood pressure in some people. If you do have high blood pressure you should always talk to the doc before doing any new activities. But, if you get the okay, consider starting a basic program along with other recommendations from your doc for helping reduce your blood pressure.
9. It adds variety and challenge to your exercise routine
It can get boring if you have been doing the same cardio workouts for a long time. Strength training is a great way to mix things up and challenge your body. The nice thing about strength training is that it offers so many ways to set up your workouts...there's always something new to try and you never run out of new exercises, different types of resistance, new routines and a variety of ways to challenge and change your body.
One thing that can surprises people after they start resistance training is how it affects other areas of their lives. I often get feedback from clients telling me how they were able to work in the garden without back pain or walk up the stairs without aching knees. It's those small improvements that offer the greatest rewards and it doesn't take much time with weights to see and feel those kinds of improvements.