7 Reasons Why You Should Do Strength Training
Weight lifting twice a week can improve the quality of your life
The human body contains more than 600 muscles which make up to one-half of the body weight. Along with the other cells, muscles hold our body together to perform daily activities.
It does not matter if you like strength training or not, our muscles need our constant attention. They are an integral part of our body and depending upon how you treat them, muscles will either wither or grow.
First, we will understand how muscles grow, and then we will talk about why strength training is a must.
How do muscles grow?
When we are performing a physically demanding task like lifting weights or carrying heavy furniture, our muscles go under a lot of stress. This stress induces microscopic damage in muscles (which is a good thing). The damaged cells send a signal to the immune system which repairs the injured cells. The repaired cells are now stronger than the earlier cells.
The more damage you do to your muscles, the stronger will be the repaired cells. This is where the magic happens. The continuous cycle of damage and repair helps our muscles to grow continuously and makes us stronger.
Benefits of strength training
1. Muscle Growth
The most obvious advantage of lifting weights is muscle growth. Regular weight lifting maintains the continuous cycle of damage and repair which stimulates muscle growth making us stronger and stronger.
2. Increases metabolism and fat loss
This is the indirect benefit of strength training. Muscle building is one of the most energy-consuming processes in your body. So your body is consuming energy and burning fat because of the muscle-building even though you are resting.
The increased muscle mass leads to higher energy consumption in your body thus increasing your metabolism rate. From personal experience, I have been eating more food throughout the day since the start of my strength training.
If your goal is to lose weight, then strength training is s must in your routine.
3. Prevents muscle shrinkage
Our daily activities do not provide any physical strain on our bodies. Most people don’t know that if the body is not put under physical stress, then there will be no damage to muscle cells leading to muscle shrinkage.
Muscle shrinkage is bad for our body as it will not only make us weak but also result in more fat storage in our body which can cause serious health problems in the long run.
4. Improves strength and stamina
Strength training can make everyday tasks much easier. If you have more strength, then you will find it easy to carry grocery bags and cutting grass on the lawn. Improved stamina will help you climb upstairs easily, and you won’t feel tired after playing with your kids and dogs.
Just think about it. If can do everyday tasks and play with your loved ones without feeling exhausted, would not it be wonderful?
5. Improves physical appearance
Strength training can also help you get in shape. You can look more athletic which can boost your self-confidence. This self-confidence will help you achieve your best in your profession as well.
Cardio (running, cycling) is not enough to change your physical appearance. If you want to transform your body, then strength training is a must.
6. Improves bone density and brain functions
Regular strength training improves the bone density in your body leading to better adaptability of the body in changing environments. Additionally, strength training improves the blood circulation throughout the body including the brain which can stimulate the release of healthy chemicals for your brain. Also, learning new exercises can improve your memory.
7. Improves sleep
Research has shown that resistance training can help you fall asleep quicker and can improve the quality of your sleep. Better sleep can help you be more productive in your work.
In conclusion, every age group (above 18) of people should do strength training. Damage your muscle, eat right, and repeat the cycle. Strength training can be hard at the start but it is worth it in the long run.
Stress is necessary for meaningful growth in life