Ever looked at those weights at the gym and thought, “Eh, lifting isn’t for me?” I get it. It can seem a little intimidating. But there’s more to strength training than just building big biceps, though; that’s a nice perk! This exercise boasts many benefits some of you might not even expect. Let’s explore the benefits of strength training.
13 Benefits of Strength Training
1. Increase muscle size and strength
Strength training is flexible. You can adjust your fitness routine to get the results you want. If you want bigger muscles, lift heavy weights fewer times. This method helps muscles grow.
But if you want to look toned without getting big, lift light weights more times. This makes muscles look lean and strong.
Look, everyone’s body is different. So, keep an eye on your progress and adjust as needed. The best part? With strength training, you can design your body the way you want.
2. Improve cardiovascular health
Exercises like running are good for the heart, but lifting weights is also good. Why? Lifting weights makes your heart beat faster, like when you do running exercises.
Doing weights often can help blood move better, be good for the heart, and help control blood pressure. The big heart group says weight lifting can help make bad fat in the blood go down and good fat go up. If you mix weight lifting with running exercises, it’s even better for your heart.
3. Make Bones Stronger
Our bones change as we grow. When we’re young, we get more bone than we lose. But as we get older, we lose bone faster. It can make older people have weak bones.
But lifting weights can help. Just like muscles get strong with exercise, bones get strong when we lift weights. When muscles work against bones during weight training, it makes bones stronger. Doing weights can help keep bones strong and not break easily.
4. Stabilize and protect joints
Think of your joints like door hinges and the muscles around them like screws. If the screws are strong, the door works well. Like this, strong muscles help joints work right and not get hurt.
As people get older, some get pain in their joints called arthritis. Lifting weights can help with this pain by making the muscles around the joint strong. It also makes a special oil in the body that helps joints move easily.
5. Support mental well-being
There’s a common saying: “A healthy mind in a healthy body.” Strength training epitomizes this. When you do a hard set or lift more than before, you feel proud.
Lifting also lets out special body chemicals that make you feel happy and less worried. Plus, if you keep up with weight lifting, it can make you strong in your mind too. This is also good for work or with friends.
6. Improve sleep quality
Doing strength training, like lifting weights, helps you sleep deeply. This sound sleep helps the body rest and get better.
Working out also helps our body’s sleep clock. So, if you lift weights often, you might sleep and wake up better. By using your energy in a good way when working out, you can relax more at night and sleep well.
7. Controlled blood sugar levels
When you engage in strength training, your muscles are put to work. These muscles require energy to function, and this energy primarily comes from glucose. By regularly subjecting your muscles to resistance exercises, they become better equipped to uptake and use glucose. This process leads to more regulated and stable blood sugar levels. This is significant for people with diabetes or those on the brink of developing it. Making sure glucose is used well and not building up in the blood helps avoid or handle diabetes.
8. Reduced Cancer Risk
Strength training may help reduce the chance of getting certain cancers. How? Regular workouts can help our body handle hormones and sugar better, which means less harm to our cells.
Exercise also decreases swelling, and long-term swelling is linked to some cancers. By making it a habit, you’re also boosting your body’s natural defense mechanisms.
9. Longer lifespan
Strength training isn’t just about adding years to your life; it’s about adding life to your years. By regularly doing these exercises, you stay active, fit, and feel younger. It keeps you healthier and happier as you age.
Styling agile and physically strong makes daily tasks easier. So, with regular exercise, you’re not just living longer; you’re living better and more freely.
10. Fosters metabolism development
One of the most well-known health benefits of strength training is that it increases the body’s metabolic rate which, in turn, can help protect from obesity and from all the health conditions that accompany it. This happens in two ways, acutely for re-modeling purposes and chronically for ongoing tissue maintenance.
11. Makes the body effective and prone to injuries
Improving muscle strength decreases the risk of falling and other related injuries. Developing strong bones and muscles can help to reduce the severity of falls. Increased strength will also allow your body to be more resistant to injuries, and general aches and pains.
12. Brain Cells Efficiency
Runner’s high gets a lot of hype, but strength training also improves symptoms of clinical depression and anxiety. Exercise-triggered endorphins play a role, but strength training also provides an opportunity to overcome obstacles in a controlled, predictable environment, increasing mental resiliency, according to findings from Harvard Medical School.
13. Curtails Fat
Building muscle actually helps to be more effective in burning calories. Did you know that muscle burns three times the amount of calories that fat burns?! The more muscle tone you have, the higher your metabolism will become.
Conclusion
Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, there’s always a way to incorporate strength training into your routine. So, what are you waiting for? Go out, start lifting, and get the various benefits that await. Your future self will thank you!
