Most people begin strength training to enhance their physical beauty, shed a few kilograms or simply to build muscles. However, the fact is there are many health benefits from doing regular strength training that go beyond physical attractiveness and weight reduction.
So, let’s find out the top ten benefits of strength training.
But before that, you need to know exactly what we mean by strength training? Also commonly known as weight training or resistance training, strength training is ‘a physical exercise specializing in using resistance to obstruct the force produced by muscles’.
The role of strength training is vital for the promotion of our health and well-being. So, it is no longer considered to be restricted to body builders or athletes. In fact, there is an increasingly growing body of research recommending that strength training should be done by people of all ages and genders.
Now, let us outline from the research the top ten benefits of strength training:
- Boosts your metabolism – Your body’s metabolism depends on the muscles you have. As we age, we tend to loose muscles at an increasing rate. This happens especially after we reach the age of 40. Strength training will not only make your stronger but also help you burn more fat and calories. What you will get as a result is efficient muscle fibers that will consume carbohydrates and fat and help stay protected from obesity as well as numerous health problems.
- Builds and Protects bones and tissues—Doing strength training regularly makes your bones and muscles healthy. This prevents the onset of osteoporosis. Stronger and healthy bones and tissues make our musculoskeletal system stronger. So, increased balance and flexibility makes our life becomes easier and enjoyable.
- Prevents Injuries—When our muscles become strong and healthy, the whole muscular system including the connective tissues become stronger. And this gives our body protection against injuries in our day-to-day life. As per a research at the University of Wales, United Kingdom, participants who were mildly disabled and took to weight lifting for a period of three months saw a notable increase in the intensity and frequency at which they could work while experiencing less pain as well as increased movement.
- Increases flexibility and physical performance—Healthy muscles are flexible too. Muscles become used to stretching and healthy muscles can certainly do more. You can witness several changes physically. Your central nervous system becomes stronger. Even with an average diet and exercise schedule, you get better output in your strength and performance.
Strength Training Benefits
- Increases your energy levels—Our everyday life seems to become simpler and easier when we adapt to strength training. Earlier, you might have been feeling tired after doing a small job, but with strength training for a couple of months, you will have the energy to accomplish various tasks with ease. This becomes possible due to your increased energy levels, thanks to strength training regime.
- Decreases Resting Blood pressure—Strength training is a panacea for several ailments. It helps to keep your heart stronger by decreasing the force on your arteries. This helps in lowering your resting blood pressure.
- Decreases Risk of Diabetes—You can maintain healthy blood sugar levels in your body by strength training and improve its glucose use by a whopping 23 percent. Yes, that’s true. 16 weeks of strength training regime is considered to a drug free remedy for improving your body’s glucose metabolism, reveals the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Great Posture and improved balance—When your muscles get conditioned through strength training, they can hold and keep your body straight. Moreover, they result in better muscle control and balance. So, the probability for falling decreases. You stand taller and also tend to be more confident, slimmer and full of energy.
- Elevates your mood—When you do strength training, your body releases endorphins or opiates– natural and anti-stress messengers existing in your body. Strength training is a natural stress buster and enables you handle stress in your life in a better way. It elevates your mood to just let you be with yourself and enjoy life.
- Healthy heart—As per the American Heart Association, strength training is great for the heart as it prevents heart disease and also reduces risks in people already suffering from heart problem. Strength training also raises good cholesterol levels while lowering bad cholesterol levels.
So, what are you waiting for? With so many health benefits from strength training, come and start a strength training program under the supervision of an Inspire Fitness Personal Trainer or Exercise Physiologist and experience the health benefits today.
Call our Exercise Physiology team on 9857 3007 to ask us how you can get started.