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Benefits
of Strength Training
The
benefits of strength training go beyond just having a stronger and
more beautiful body. If you have already read my article on Basal
Metabolic Rate, then you know that strength training helps
increase your metabolism.
This means by adding some form of strengthening exercises to your
weekly routine, you can burn more
calories and lose weight.
Increasing your BMR is just one of the many advantages to strength
training for weight loss and for your health. There are lots
of other benefits to this type of exercise.
What
Are the
Benefits of Strength Training?
Health
Benefits
One of the main benefits of strength training is the many health
benefits. These health benefits include;
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- Increase in the “good cholesterol (HDL)”
and
decreased “bad cholesterol (LDL)”
- Reduced risk of diabetes
- Minimizes risk of heart disease
- Lowers Blood Pressure
- Lowers Risk of Breast Cancer
- Decreases risk of osteoporosis
- Reduces effects and symptoms of
premenstrual
syndrome (PMS)
- Reduces the chance of getting a cold and
other
illnesses
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Increased
Bone Mineral Density
Bones are constantly remodeling, meaning the tissues break down at the
same time they build up. The peak of remodeling takes place during
puberty. However, as we age we all lose bone mass. The bones
will naturally become thinner as your existing bone breaks down faster
than new bone can be rebuilt. When this happens, you lose
important calcium and other minerals in your bones.
Getting sufficient calcium and performing strengthening exercises are
the top two
suggestions to minimize the loss of bone density. So as you
can see, this is a great benefit of strength training.
Increased
Strength
One of the more obvious benefits of strength training is increased
strength. This increase in strength and muscles means an
increase in the number of calories you burn. By building lean
muscles you are increasing your metabolism and aiding in weight loss.
Increase
the Range of Activities
With strength training, you are building not only muscles but
endurance, flexibility and balance. This increased strength
and mobility means reduced risk of injury when doing everyday normal
activities like lifting, etc.
Reduce
the Body Fat
Strengthening exercises can assist in reducing your excess body
fat. With the increased endurance you can perform more
efficiently when doing aerobic exercises. And the increased
muscles mean a higher metabolism. This in turns means you
will be burning fat and less likely to store foods as fat.
Improved
Health for Seniors
Strength training does not reverse aging, after all there is no
fountain of youth, but it can help slow down the aging
process. The benefits of strength training in seniors
includes faster healing from injuries, reduced risk of injury through
improved balance and strength and improved overall health and state of
mind.
Improve
Heart Condition
One of the benefits of strength training is a lower heart rate, meaning
your heart is working more efficiently. This helps to lower
blood pressure and reduces risk of heart disease.
Rehabilitation
Benefits
If you are injured one of the best ways to rehabilitate is through
strengthening exercises. By strengthening the muscles around
the
injured area, you are able to recover more quickly from your injury.
Better
Sleep
This is one benefit of strength training that many people don’t even
think about. But proper exercise can help you sleep more
soundly at night. And getting the proper sleep aids in weight
loss, reduces stress, helps regulate insulin levels which can help you
lose belly fat.
Looking
and Feeling Great
This of course is one of the main benefits of strength training for
many people. After all, most people start a resistance
training program for the sole purpose of getting a fit and tone
body. Strength training can give you a great look and make
you feel better about yourself.
Illustrated
Strength Training Exercises
To be effective at strength training and get all these benefits, you
must do your training on a regular schedule. You should
include at least 2 or 3 days a week to your resistance training and do
the exercises properly. To see some common resistance band
exercises or dumbbell exercises demonstrated with instructions, just
visit the free fitness
videos page for a full list of illustrated strengthening
exercises.
To get the full benefits
of strength training, be sure to learn more
about the different types of strength training exercises.
Related Articles
Abdominal
Exercises
Your strength training routine needs to include your abdominal muscles.
Check out this article on abdominal exercises to help you pick the
right ab exercises.
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