Why Strength Training is Important for Everyone
The Power Of Weight Lifting
While you might have a preferred way of working out and keeping fit, lifting weights is something that everyone should consider adding to their workout routine. There are so many benefits of strength training on the body, which is why men and women need to consider adding this type of training to their regular workouts. Keep reading as we share some of the top changes you’ll see in your body over the upcoming months when you start strength training.
Increased Muscle Strength
As we age, our muscle strength naturally decreases. This is the case for everyone unless you make an effort to add strength training to your workouts. Muscle strength is critical for us to enjoy our everyday activities and makes doing even the most basic of movements much safer and more effective. Strength training helps to strengthen and tone the muscles as it contracts them against a resisting force, offering you a quick improvement to your overall strength.
Protect Your Bones and Muscles As You Age
From the age of 30 onwards, you’ll find that your muscle mass naturally starts to decrease year after year. By adding roughly 30 minutes of weights to your exercise routine twice a week, you can increase your bone density and reduce the chance of low bone mass. The great thing about strength training is that it really is accessible to everyone, and you can start today as a complete beginner. You’ll soon notice that you progress with your training, allowing you to lift heavier weights with each session.
Boost Your Metabolism By Lifting Weights
While any type of exercise will help to boost your metabolism, this is particularly true of strength training. After you’ve lifted weights, your body will continue to burn calories after your session is over and you return to your resting state. If you are working to lose weight currently, strength training is just as effective as cardiovascular workouts. You’ll burn more calories both during and after the workout, helping you to get one step closer to your target weight. When your muscle mass increases, you’ll also burn more calories naturally each day. This makes it easier to keep any weight you lose off your body, boosting your confidence in the process.
Increase Your Energy Levels and Enjoy an Improved Mood
Strength training is a great option for boosting your energy levels, thanks to the impact it has on your hormones. In fact, this type of training is often recommended to people with depression, as it naturally boosts your endorphins. While any type of training increases endorphins, strength training offers even more of a positive effect on the neurochemical and neuromuscular systems. You’ll find that you enjoy a much better night of sleep after lifting weights, which can also have an impact on your mental health and overall mood.
Reduce the Chance of Falls and Injuries
Your overall quality of life will be much improved when you start to add strength training into your weekly routine. Strength training will allow you to continue doing the things you love as you grow older, as your bones and muscles will be able to support a wide range of movements. Strength training can also help to protect the joints, which reduces the chance of an injury. You’ll find that you are more balanced when moving around, so you are more likely to remain standing if you lose your footing. This can help you to maintain your independence for years to come, which is something many of us are concerned about as we enter the later stages of our lives.
How to Get Started with Lifting Weights
As you can see, there are so many reasons that everyone should consider starting lifting weights. You’ll find that by adding about two sessions of thirty minutes to your schedule each week, you’ll notice all of the benefits we shared above and much more. Make sure you start off with a lower weight on any machine or exercise you do and then continue to increase the weight as you grow more confident and stronger. You’ll find that weight training is hugely satisfying as well, as you’ll quickly notice improvements when you stick with your training sessions.
It’s never too late to start weight training, but the sooner you get started, the more you’ll protect your body as you grow older. Lifting weights is something that all of us should do to maintain a healthy and balanced lifestyle. Working with a personal trainer can be a great place to start, and they’ll help to set you up for success with this new addition to your training regime.
