We all know that regular exercising is important for our health, but how many of us know what we can gain from weight training? All those people who pump iron and spend hours at the gym lifting different weights - are they doing it only to have rock toned muscles or are they getting something more from it?
Whether you prefer to use exercise machines or free weights like dumbbells and barbells, weight training should certainly be part of your workout routine, alongside cardiovascular exercises. As long as you do it safely and consistently, lifting weights can significantly improve your health and well-being.
Increased Muscle Mass And Strength
This is perhaps the most well-known effect of pumping weights. Weight training puts stress on the muscles, and they grow to accommodate this increased demand being placed on them. The end result is stronger, more toned and sculpted muscles.
These muscles not only make you look better but also increase your resting metabolic rate. This means your body will burn more energy while at rest, making it easier for you to shed calories and keep them off.
Stronger, Healthier Bones Through Strength Training
It turns out that lifting weights is beneficial for your skeletal system. As you do your bicep curls or deadlifts, small protein molecules are deposited in the space between your bones cells. These are later calcified on the bone surface, increasing bone density and strength, which in turn lowers your risk of osteoporosis.
Additionally, the muscles you develop can reduce the weight placed on your bones and joints so that you can move around more freely.
Weight Lifting Improves Cardiovascular Health
Researchers from the Appalachian State University studied the effect of 45-minute moderate intensity weight training on the cardiovascular system. Their study revealed that resistance exercises such as lifting weights help to improve blood flow to the limbs.
It also resulted in a longer-lasting drop in blood pressure afterward. These changes show that long-term weight training plays a role in keeping cardiovascular diseases like hypertension at bay.
Experience Better Coordination With Lifting
Long-term weight training will also improve your coordination, posture, and balance. This improvement is especially crucial for older folks who are more prone to losing their balance due to declining physical function. The muscles developed as a result of weight lifting allow for more fluid and less stiff body movement.
Train Properly And Consistently
Even though weight training does have incredible health benefits, going about it in the wrong way can result in injuries. The most common mistake people make is having poor breathing form.
Holding your breath while lifting increases your blood pressure and eventually enlarges your heart muscles as they strain to pump blood against this greater pressure. This can lead to health complications later in life. So, learning how to breathe, i.e., exhaling while lifting the weight and inhaling while lowering it, is crucial.
If you want to look better, feel better and live a healthier life, get started on a workout regimen that includes weight training.
