Strength training is designed to improve your muscular fitness by exercising specific muscles against external resistance. It is also known as weight or resistance training.
This type of training is usually performed with some kind of weight. The goal is for your muscles to adapt and get stronger to counter the load of the weight. Through the stimulation and repair process of breaking down and healing muscle fibres, your muscles grow stronger and bigger over time.
While bodybuilders might use strength training to gain muscle mass quickly, regular strength training helps prevent natural lean muscle mass loss that comes with ageing. This type of training also plays a very significant role in your overall fitness.
Besides the benefits of adding muscle strength, toning and definition to your muscles, strength training can improve your overall health.
Help keep the weight off
Strength training helps increase the rate at which your body burns calories when you’re not exercising (resting metabolism). The faster your resting metabolism rate is, the more weight you lose and the less likely it is for the weight to come back.
Better body mechanics
Strength training helps to improve your balance, coordination and posture. This is because your balance and posture depend on the strength of your muscles. The stronger that these muscles are, the better the control is that you have over your body.
Helps manage chronic diseases
Studies have shown that strength training helps people with arthritis. The stronger your muscles are, the more control you have over your body. People with arthritis who do regular strength training exercises make their muscles and joints stronger. This gives them better functionality.
Strength training also improves the lifestyles of people with these chronic diseases:
- Osteoporosis
- Parkinson’s
- Down Syndrome
- Lymphedema
- Fibromyalgia
- Clinical depression
It can also help people who have recently had a stroke or a spinal cord injury. Strength training is also effective for cancer survivors who want to regain their strength after chemotherapy.
More endorphins
Strength training elevates your level of endorphins. These are natural opiates produced by the brain which improves your energy levels and mood.
Cardiovascular health benefits
Strength training improves blood pressure. This helps to reduce hypertension and lowers the risk of heart diseases.
Controls blood sugar levels
In your muscles, there are transporters that take glucose from the blood to the muscle cells. Strength training improves their function so they can transport a lot more glucose. This decreases your blood sugar levels.
Increases bone density
Strength training improves your bone mineral density, which reflects the strength of your bones. If you have a low bone mineral density, your bones have a greater risk of being fractured or broken.
Strength training improves your life significantly! This is because it builds a stronger heart, reduces blood pressure, improves blood flow, stops muscle loss, lowers cholesterol levels and improves your balance and coordination. The immediate and long-term effects of strength training are endless!
Contact Trifocus Fitness Academy
Are you keen to learn more about the benefits of strength training, and perhaps even become a fitness professional yourself? If so, then we really recommend that you do our Gym Instructor Course. For more information, please follow this link.
