The Many Benefits of Weight Training

There are many myths regarding weight training. A lot of people view weight training as the sole preserve of big, muscular body builders. Women, in general, are especially averse to weight training as they feel that they will bulk up. Many amateur sportsmen do not engage in weight training because they feel that they will glean more benefits from cardio exercises alone.

Sadly, none of these myths are true. Weight training is actually good for you, whether you are a man, woman, young, or old. Let us take a look at the many benefits of weight training and debunk some of the myths that surround this wonderful form of exercise.

Lose the pounds. If you want to lose weight you should do cardio, and if you want to gain weight you should do weight training. Wrong! Weight training should play an integral role in the exercise routine of anyone looking to lose pounds. While it is true that you will probably burn more calories while running on the treadmill for an hour, as opposed to weight training for an hour, what is not taken into account is that as soon as you stop your cardio workout, you stop burning calories.

With weight training, you continue to burn calories for hours and days after you have stopped working out. This is because weight training breaks down the muscle tissue and they grow back bigger than before. This process, which is called hypertrophy, happens for up to 48 hours after your workout and you continue to burn an increased number of calories in this period. So the next time you want to lose pounds, and get a lean, toned look, consider incorporating weight training into your exercise routine. Women who want a good figure should also consider weight training. Do not worry that you will bulk up like a body builder. Most women have too little testosterone to bulk up like men. What you will get is a toned body to complement your beautiful curves.

Avoid injury.

Many middle aged people avoid weight training because they feel that they might be running a risk of injury. Actually, the converse is true. Weight training decreases your chances of injury. Weight training strengthens your muscles, tendons, and ligaments, so that they are less prone to injury. It also strengthens your core muscles so that you are less susceptible to back pain. Regular weight training will also help you as you grow older because it reduces bone deterioration due to old age. Once again, it is especially important for older women as it can significantly the risk of osteoporosis.

After thirty years of age, most people also start to lose muscle at the rate of 3 to 5 per cent every decade. This is a natural process and is known as sarcopenia. It also results in weight gain as the metabolism slows down due to the loss of muscular tissue. Weight training can help to retard the effects of sarcopenia and slow down the loss of muscle.

If you have never tried exercising with weights, it is never too late to try. You are not expected to pump heavy weights from the word go. Consult a good trainer and start slowly, perhaps with light weights, and resistance bands, and you will be surprised at how much younger and better you feel in a matter of months.

Get healthy.

Weigh training not only helps you to burn calories and make your body stronger, and more resistant to injury, it also makes you healthier. Other than the obvious health benefits, studies have shown that weight training decreases the risk of contracting many diseases typically associated with old age such as diabetes, colon cancer, and cardiac disease. Regular weight training helps to lower your resting blood pressure and heart rate. It increases the levels of good cholesterol in your blood. Anyone who has spent time grappling with weights will also testify that it is one of the best cures for insomnia. Working with weights also improves your balance and muscular co-ordination. Weight training also strengthens your immune system, making you less susceptible to disease and infections. This wonderful exercise also elevates your mood and helps to keep depression at bay.

Look good.

Most people who take up weight training do so because they want to look good. Weight training is the best possible form of exercise to develop an impressive physique and improve your posture. No matter how much cardio or free hand exercises you perform, it is hard to be able to rival the muscles of a dedicated weight lifter. The results are not only more obvious, but also faster in weight training. To put it simply, there is no better exercise for developing a good looking body with impressive muscles than weight training. Ladies, weight training can also help you to achieve the body of your dreams. Now that you know all about the various benefits of weight training, why not give it a shot by dropping into your nearest gym.

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