When you go to gyms like Powerhouse Gym, you often see 3 kinds of people – the ones who join fitness classes like Pilates, Barre or yoga; the ones who hang out in the cardio machines like the treadmill, stationary bike or elliptical; and the ones who are in the strength training area with free weights, lat pull down machines, seated overhead press machines, and so on. For many gym goers the easy choice is always the cardio machines. But resistance training also offers major health benefits that will not only help you build muscle, lose weight, and achieve overall fitness.
With resistance training, you also don’t need to go to a gym or buy any fancy equipment. I mean sure you can get these things if you have the budget for it but you can always start with resistance bands, TRX and free weights.
Resistance training, also referred to as strength training, uses resistance to build the strength, muscle and endurance. If you ask any fitness coach worth their salt, they will tell you that having a well rounded program with a combination of cardio, flexibility, balance and strength training is a must.
With a resistance training program, your body will end up stronger and more flexibility. Not only that, but you will also notice a difference in your day to day activities. You’ll notice you’ll have more strength to tackle your tasks, you walk or run faster, and you can do more things that you’re normally too tired or weak to do.
1. It helps build muscle strength.
Resistance training builds muscle strength and adds definition to your muscles. One study found that doing ten weeks of strength training resulted in improved physical performance, walking speed, movement control, better range of motion and functional independence.
2. It reduces risk of diseases.
Resistance training can help lower your risk of developing certain diseases like cardiovascular disease and diabetes. It improves heart health and lowers your risk of stroke or heart attack by as much as 70% simply by doing 1 hour of weight lifting per week.
3. It increases bone density and improves balance.
Higher bone density helps prevent chronic pain and injury, which is crucial when you get older. One study found that 12 weeks of strength training (squats) led to a 2.9% increase in lower spine bone density and 4.9% increase in thigh bone density.
4. It helps manage weight.
Weight gain is common when you get older but this can be prevented with resistance training, which has been found to boost metabolism. Building muscle increases metabolic rate and since muscle is more metabolically efficient than fat, having more muscle than fat in the body means your body will continue to burn calories even when you’re not doing anything (resting).
5. It improves mental health.
Just like with other types of exercise, strength training has a positive effect on mental health. Studies have shown that people suffering from mild to moderate depression experienced reduced symptoms by doing 2 sessions of strength training per week. Doing strength training releases mood-boosting hormones (endorphins) and also improves your self esteem, all leading to better mental health.
Benefits of exercise to your mental health: