Have you ever considered adding strength training to your exercise regimen? Lifting weights can be ideal for building and preserving your muscles. Plus, you can tailor an effective workout according to your abilities and fitness goals.
Although strength training takes many forms, the concept is the same. You may know it as resistance, muscular, or weight training. It uses free weights, machines, or resistance bands, states Harvard Medical School.
What Happens to Your Body When You Start Strength Training?
Do you want to tone and strengthen your body while boosting your health? Lifting weights may be one of your best options. You can target a muscle or group of muscles by lifting weights combined with other exercises.
Maybe you already have an exercise routine, but you want to give it a boost. It’s easy to incorporate strength or resistance training into any workout, backed by science. Here are ten good things that can happen to your body when you start working out and strengthening your muscles.
As with any new exercise routine, please check in with your family doctor before you start lifting weights.
1. Strength Training Helps Manage Stress Better and Improve Your Mood
Everyone has occasional bad days, and you want to go to bed and hide under the covers. Although a certain amount of daily stress is inevitable, chronic stress can be detrimental to your well-being. The overflow of stress hormones can lead to several physical and mental diseases, even premature death.
Many researchers concur that exercising can help lower stress levels. Aerobic exercises like weightlifting release endorphins or “feel good” hormones, and you may notice a mood boost. It may also help alleviate symptoms of chronic anxiety and depression.
Some of the best strength training exercises to elevate your mood are ones that move several muscle groups simultaneously, called multi-joint exercises. Try lunges, squats, or free-weight workouts. It offers a double benefit because you’re strengthening your muscles and improving your mental health.
2. You’ll Improve Memory and Brain Health
A sobering fact of life is that you slow down physically and mentally as you grow older. Your cognitive and memory functions gradually decline. However, staying active may support your brain health and minimize aging.
Neuroplasticity is the ability of your brain to create new neural connections and adapt to environmental changes. Strength exercises and other workouts move your body, increasing blood flow to your brain and boosting these vital connections. Increased neuroplasticity can keep you mentally sharp and more flexible in stressful circumstances.
Suppose you begin strength training and weightlifting while young; you’ll have a significant head-start. However, it’s never too late to start, even as a senior. You can still benefit your brain health and strengthen your body at the same time.
3. You’ll Burn More Calories and Fat With Strength Training
You’ve probably heard that adopting a healthy lifestyle includes more than just a balanced diet. You also need to exercise every day if you want to burn calories and melt excess fat. It means a total lifestyle change and commitment, not a fad diet or other questionable weight-loss gimmicks.
Do you have a few stubborn pounds that you haven’t lost? Being overweight or obese can be a significant health risk, especially if the fat is around your gut. This is called visceral fat–too much of it can lead to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other dangerous conditions.
4. You’ll Be More In-Tune With Your Body
If you pay close attention, your body will subtly speak to you and tell you how it’s doing. Strength training and lifting weights help you focus on …
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