Women have been slowly starting to jump on the resistance training grind for a while now, but there are still many of you who might be shy to reach for a barbell or just unfamiliar with weight training in general. This blog post is for you!
There are so many benefits to strength training that it'd be hard to highlight all of them, but I want to share some of my favorites to encourage you ladies to pick up some dumbbells and start incorporating weight training into your workouts.
1. Life Gets Easier
When you are stronger, life gets easier. You don't have to ask for help lifting or moving things as often, you're able to lift your kids up with ease, you can pull yourself out of a hole (just in case you ever happen to fall in one), that sort of thing. There's also less risk of injury or bone and joint disease like osteoporosis or osteopenia, which are prevalent in women later in life. Having more muscle also makes living easier on your joints, reducing pain and aches in the hips, back, shoulders, etc.
2. Lifting is More Efficient
A good, high-energy strength program will not only burn fat while you're at the gym, but also when you're at home even just sitting on the couch or laying in bed. This phenomenon is called exercise post oxygen consumption (or EPOC). On the most basic level, EPOC is the energy it takes to bring your body back to normal metabolic function, continuing to burn calories long after your workout is over. The thing is, only resistance training experiences the EPOC effect, not steady state cardio. So basically those 500 calories you burned in an hour and a half on the treadmill are the equivalent of 30 minutes of weight training + the EPOC calories burned after. Resistance training is more effective and takes less time than steady state cardio.
3. You'll Look Better
I know I don't often talk about the physical benefits because there are so many non-aesthetic ones to focus on but the truth is that weight lifting makes you more physically fit, shaping your feminine curves for a healthier, happier, and more attractive physique in all bodies, regardless of shape or size. Not to mention the hormone boost will likely contribute to a healthier libido. You're welcome.
4. You'll Live Longer
The last, and maybe most notable, benefit of resistance training is a longer life span. Resistance training prevents muscle loss, increasing the density of bones. It boosts metabolism, releases positive neurotransmitters in the brain, benefits memory, and more.
Lifting things is in our human nature, it's built right into our genetic code.So don't forget to pick things up and put them down today. It'll continue to benefit your body now, tomorrow, and 10 years from now.
Need a good strength program to get you started? Click HERE to get set up with me training online or in-person.
xx
Coach Sierra