The Top 5 Benefits of Strength Training

The Top 5 Benefits of Strength Training

Your goal, your age, your gender; it doesn’t matter when it comes to the benefits of strength training. Regardless of goal, age and gender everyone needs to do some form of strength training. Your goal, age and gender will play a role in what style of strength training you should look into. Not everyone needs to be under a heavy bar in the squat rack. Not everyone needs to grab the lightest weight possible and crank out hundreds of reps. The programming is different for each. The benefits however are the same for all. Here are Fitastic’s Top 5 benefits of strength training.

#1 Overall Health

Consistent and proper strength training will

Overall Health at any age

• Increases HDL – High Density Lipoprotein (good cholesterol) and decrease LDL – Low Density Lipoprotein (bad cholesterol).
• Reduce the risk of diabetes and insulin needs.
• Lower risk of cardiovascular disease.
• Lower high blood pressure.
• Lower risk of breast cancer – reducing high estrogen levels linked to the disease.
• Decreases or minimizes risk of osteoporosis by building bone mass.
• Reduces symptoms of PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome)
• Reduces stress and anxiety.

#2 Body Composition (Body Fat)

               Strength training has a boosting effect on your metabolism. When your metabolism is boosted your body will burn more calories at rest (1lb of lean muscle burns 3500 calories). With your metabolism boosted your body will start to build lean muscle tissue which causes body fat reduction. You may not see much in terms of pounds lost but you will see decreases in your body fat measurements (tummy, hips and thighs)

 #3 Physical Strength for everyday activity

When you are properly building your strength your body will naturally become stronger. Therefore making daily activity less taxing then it once was. You will find yourself able to walk up flights of stairs without running out of breathe. Be able to grab a box off a high self or off the ground with ease and less risk of injury. Carrying heavy objects will also not be as difficult as it once may have been. This is more commonly called “functional” strength because it assists in daily function increasing your quality of life.

#4 Less Risk of Injury

Similar to #3, when your muscles are stronger your tendons and ligaments will get stronger as well. This will allow them to handle more stress then before making it less likely to be injured in daily activity or in the gym itself. Having increased your bone density will help reduce pain in your back and knees because of the added lean muscle tissue you have built in those surrounding areas.

#5 Positive Mental Attitude

How great will it feel when you start to see results? Have great will it feel when you stop putting yourself down because of your appearance? How great will it feel each time you end your workout knowing you are working towards your goal? Strength as stated before will help reduce stress which will allow you to sleep better and sleep deeper. This will allow your body and mind to properly rest and recover. With less stress on the body and mind your attitude will have a more positive outlook.

Any age, any gender, any goal can benefit from any style of strength training. If you are new to strength training be sure to look at our beginner body burn program or advanced body burn program to start working on proper form and technique to better assist when you get in the weight room. If you are familiar with weights but want to take it slow check out our metabolic toning program. For our advanced community members look into our strength training program to see increased gains on the strength you have already built. Or our Adipose program to lean out and build definition in your existing muscles.

Don’t be afraid of the weight room. Be excited for the results instead.

Wild Will