Strength training includes any exercise that builds muscle. This can include weight lifting, body-weight exercise, free weights, resistance bands, and more!
There can be a lot of trepidation surrounding strength training, but I am here to tell you that it is a healthy way to accelerate the results of your workout! If you’re still not sure, check out a few of the top benefits that strength training can do for you:
- Fat Loss: strength training has been proven to burn fat directly. During aerobic exercise (think cardio), your body will burn fat and muscle as it slims down. During strength training, your fat is burned and your muscles are built!
- Burn More Calories: you will burn a significant amount of calories during your strengthening session, but you will also burn calories after your workout! Your body works to repair the muscles that you built during your workout, thereby increasing the amount of calories you burn.
- Confidence Boost: have you been hitting the gym lately? You look great! Your increase in muscle tone will certainly boost your confidence. But beyond that, when you complete a difficult workout, your brain starts to think you can complete other difficult tasks. Pretty soon, you are able to take on any challenge that life throws your way.
- Increase Bone Strength: not only are you increasing muscle mass, you are increasing bone mass when you strength train! When your arm lifts a weight, the muscles attached to your arm pulls on the arm bones, encouraging the bones to increase cellular production. Essentially, your bones become stronger and you are less at risk for osteoporosis
- Your Other Workouts will get Easier: when you are strength training, you are building muscles all over your body, including your core. This increase in strength will boost performance in all of your other exercises, from running to yoga!
Wow! Who wouldn’t want to start strength training with all of these benefits? And I only just scratched the surface on the numerous benefits of strength training. If you are interested in starting a strength training routine, check out this article to get started. Have fun building muscles!
