6 Benefits of Resistance Training
Resistance training—also known as strength training, weight training, lifting, or the like—is crucial to your fitness success. It includes any workout that resists your movement, causing you to puuuush, or puuull with a little more ‘oomph‘ than if you were moving normally. The health and fitness benefits of resistance training are incredible, and we are going to dive into them here.
1 | Muscle Tone
There is something so special about feeling the muscles growing in your body. And when you can feel and see change, you are more likely to be motivated to keep on keepin’ on. Through resistance training, you are working your muscle groups by resisting some other force going in the opposite direction. Whether that is with free weights, a workout band you have lying around the house, or even your body weight, you are going to start seeing those results.
2 | Maintain Strength As You Age
As we age, we start to lose muscle at a rate of about 3% to 5% every ten years. This muscle loss can cause people to have to depend on outside assistance for normal daily tasks. Getting out of a chair or going up the stairs can become increasingly difficult or even impossible to do. To preserve as much muscle as possible as you age, it is important to add resistance training to your gym routine. Resistance training exercises can help folks maintain their strength to open jars and doors, go on walks, and keep their overall independence as they age. That is an obvious goal that we can all strive for!
3 | Improve Posture
The muscle groups around your spine help you to sit up straighter and maintain a proper posture. They are also part of what we call our “core” muscles. Most people think of core workouts as the roadway to carving out six-pack abs before summer, but your core is much more important than that. It helps to support your spine. We engage our abdomen regularly by doing day-to-day activities. By working on resistance training by way of deadlifts and other core resistance workouts, you are building a powerful center for your body which will help you to sit up and stand up straight and is ever-important as many jobs (Hello, desk jobs!) cause us to hunch daily.
4 | Mental Health
You are pretty great, and we think you should see that in yourself. One way to help with mental health issues like depression and anxiety is to stay active. One study found that people with mild to moderate depression who participated in a resistance training program two times per week saw reductions in their symptoms of depression compared to those who did not resistance train. You can find several articles on strength and resistance training and its effect on mental health all over the web. Personal testimonials are abundant on YouTube and across blogs. It is one of the most significant resistance training benefits on your health that you can enjoy.
5 | More Confidence
Don’t you just wanna feel oh-so-good about yourself? Well, you can, and you should! One study on adolescents from 14-18 years of age found that resistance training reduced depressive symptoms (see benefit number 4) and participants experienced an increase in perceived strength, self-esteem, and confidence. A reason this could be the case is that resistance training shows up more quickly on your body than cardio. (That doesn’t mean you should fully skip out on cardio, though!) Sometimes you can even see those muscles pop after just one session. So, go ahead, give it a try! We love seeing our Chuze Family walk confidently into the gym.
6 | Heart Health and Well-Being
We often think of our hearts in this metaphysical sense, but our hearts are arguably the most important muscle in our bodies. With heart disease being the leading cause of death in the United States, it is essential to think about your heart health and have it checked regularly. A study by Iowa State University found that lifting weights for an hour a week can reduce your risk of heart attack by up to 70%. That is an astounding finding, and with the added benefits of a cardiovascular exercise program, a well-rounded routine has a great chance of helping you maintain a healthier heart.
We want you to experience all of the resistance training health benefits possible. That is why we have space and equipment for resistance training at all of our locations. Stop in, high-five a team member at our front desk, and get to training! We can’t wait to see you soon.