It’s no secret that exercising regularly is great for your health. You can live a healthier, longer life by simply incorporating thirty minutes of physical activity a day. However, there is a way to get the most out of your exercise, and that’s through strength training.
Nearly 60% of Americans don’t do any strength training, which means it’s an overlooked way to get in shape. If you’re interested in taking your fitness to the next level, then this is the guide for you. It’ll go over everything you need to know about strength training and its many benefits.
Ready to learn more? Let’s get started.
What is Strength Training?
Strength training, also called resistance training, is a physical exercise designed to improve endurance and strength. It’s associated with the use of weights, but it can also incorporate a variety of other techniques.
When you strength train properly, there are a number of functional benefits and improvements in your overall well-being and health. People who are new to fitness or accustomed to cardio tend to be overwhelmed by the idea of transitioning to strength training. Fortunately, it’s easy to learn, and you’ll be reaping the benefits in no time.
Speaking of benefits…
Benefits of Strength Training
The best way to demonstrate why strength training is an excellent activity to incorporate into your life is by breaking down all of the benefits. Whether you’re looking to get leaner, feel happier, or fight chronic illness—strength training you covered. There are also some other key benefits to consider.
It Protects Bone Health and Muscle Mass
Once you hit 30, around three to five percent of lean muscle mass is lost per decade. Luckily, only 30 minutes twice a week of high-intensity strength and impact training can help improve functional performance. This will also preserve your muscle mass.
Weight-bearing exercises put temporary stress on your bones, and this sends a signal to all of the cells that build your bones to rebuild them stronger. Having strong bones helps reduce your risk of fractures, osteoporosis, and falls, especially as you get older.
It Makes You Stronger
One of the biggest reasons that people start to strength train is to become stronger. When you incorporate strength training exercises into your fitness routine, it allows you to perform daily tasks much easier. This means carrying heavy groceries will no longer be the same burden as before.
If you’re part of a sports team, resistance training helps improve athletic performance in anything that requires power and strength. Women tend to be worried that strength training will make them bulky, but the truth is that it’s very difficult to get to that level of muscle. In fact, women benefit from the way that strength training helps them look leaner and get stronger.
It Helps Burn Calories Efficiently
If you are on a weight loss journey, you’ve likely already started to incorporate physical activity into your life. This is great because all exercise helps boost your metabolism, which is the rate that your resting body burns calories throughout the day.
When you combine strength training with aerobic exercise, however, your body continues to burn calories as it returns to a rest state. This is called excess post-exercise oxygen consumption.
This is because when you strength train, your body requires more energy based on how much you’re exerting. This means that you can amplify the effect depending on how much energy is put into the strength training workouts. That means more calories burned during your workout and after the workout as well.
Manage Chronic Diseases
Strength training can also help calm symptoms in people with many chronic conditions, including neuromuscular disorders, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and certain cancers. For the millions of Americans who have type 2 diabetes, a healthy lifestyle change and adding strength training can help improve glucose control.
Mood and Energy Booster
If you’ve been feeling symptoms of depression and low energy, strength training can be a legitimate treatment option. This is because all exercise boosts mood by increasing endorphins. You’ll leave the gym feeling refreshed and ready to start the day.
Strength training also helps you sleep better, and it’s no secret that good rest is the key to boosting your mood. Overall, adding resistance training will help improve your energy and mood in a short amount of time.
It Improves Heart Health
Regular strength training exercise helps decrease blood pressure, improve blood circulation and lower the amount of bad cholesterol. Strength training also helps you maintain a healthy body weight and control your blood sugar levels.
With high blood sugar being a major risk of heart disease, it’s evident that resistance training is an excellent option for people looking to improve their heart health. You’ll notice the changes in a short period of time and the results last as long as you continue to exercise.
Start Strength Training Today
If you’re looking to improve your health and fitness, strength training is the way to go. Not only will your physique improve, but you’ll feel happier and ready to take on the day as soon as you wake up. It can be intimidating to learn the ropes, but all you need to do is take the first step.
Once you start your fitness journey, you’ll realize how much of it is staying consistent and motivated. Go ahead, grab some weights and start feeling your best!
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