Weight Training
Working out with weights is very beneficial for us in many ways. Let us look at some of the major reasons we should weight train.
Whether lifting for gaining muscle or toning you will get stronger. Being strong helps prevent injuries and increases confidence. It is a great feeling when you can perform all your daily activities and not hurt the next day. You want to be able to pick up your children or play a round of golf without your back hurting for a week after. As we age, we lose muscle mass (sarcopenia). Most studies report that in our 40s muscle mass loss begins at a rate of 2% a year, increasing as we age. The only way to prevent this from happening is to lift weights and make sure you eat enough protein in your diet.
Increased Strength and Muscle
Weight training helps our bones maintain and build strength. Weight bearing activity along with calcium and vitamin D are our best tools to prevent osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a condition where bones become weak and brittle. It can be very painful and lead to fractures and posture problems. Loss of Bone Density (Osteopenia) can start happening in our 40s. This is our last chance to change the path of bone loss before we have Osteoporosis and a long battle ahead of us.
Increased
Bone Mass
As we get stronger our muscles will grow and increase our metabolism. Muscle burns more energy than fat in our bodies, is a great way to boost our metabolism and give us more energy. Waking up each morning feeling refreshed and energized is amazing. Regular exercise will also lead to a reduced resting heart rate. This is due to the heart becoming more effective each beat, pumping at a higher volume. Exercise increases our heart strength and can lead to reduced blood pressure and reduce chances of heart disease.