I am a STRONG believer in strength training. So many women I workout with or train seem to be afraid of lifting heavy weights.
I think they have a belief that they will get bulky. It simply isn’t true. Women do not have the testosterone that men do that grows muscle mass. Not that women can’t bulk up and grow muscle mass but it would take great intention and diet change.
Strength training for women and men middle age and beyond is so critical. Our body loses muscle mass and tone as we age and we need to fight to maintain it.
5 benefits of strength training:
1. Burns Calories ALL Day Long. Research shows that muscle mass burns more calories in a sedentary state. It's really a great way to burn fat.
2. Lowers Your Risk of Injury. Having strong muscles around your joints in connective tissues protects injury.
3. Reduce the Risk of Heart Disease and Diabetes
Weight training can help to improve cardiovascular health by lowering bad cholesterol and increasing good cholesterol, and in turn this will help to lower blood pressure.
Using weight training as part of your routine will also improve the way the body processes sugar, which may reduce the risk of diabetes. (source bhliveactive.org)
4. Builds Strong Bones It is well documented that weigh bearing exercise increases bone density. Your bones actually get stronger and bigger when you lift weights. "Stronger bones and increased muscle mass also lead to better flexibility and balance, which is especially important for women as they age." Whitney Provost in OpenFit
5. Stress Relief Exercise is one of the top recommendations for releasing stress. It releases happy hormones. "In addition, resistance-training studies on older adults show that moderate intensity weightlifting improves memory and cognitive function.", says Kellie Davis with bodybuilding.com
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