Want to reduce body fat, increase lean muscle mass and burn calories more efficiently? Strength training to the rescue!
What is strength training?
If you want to kick your health and fitness routine up a notch, consider giving the cardio a break and showing the loaded barbells some love. You’ll still sweat those calories off with the added benefit of toning your body and getting stronger.
To put it simply, strength training (a.k.a. resistance training) involves using your own bodyweight or tools, like dumbbells or resistance bands, to build muscle mass, strength, and endurance.
No, you won't end up looking 'bulky' or like a bodybuilder (unless you want to).
Results don’t happen overnight. As with all exercise, you need consistency with your fitness regime and following a fitness program is the best way to get started and to stick to it. But, rest assured, strength training is a sure way to build rock-solid abs, load up on your booty gains, or seriously sculpt that part of your body you’ve been determined to tone up. It also keeps your system burning calories even long after you’ve left the gym, a benefit that makes strength training worth it for those with weight loss goals.
RELATED ARTICLE: Full Body Dumbbell Workout
There are SO many benefits of training with weights, sis. Here are just a few:⠀⠀⠀⠀
⚡ Builds strength & maintains muscle mass
Lean muscle mass naturally diminishes with age.Your body fat percentage will increase over time if you don't do anything to replace the lean muscle you lose over time. Strength training can build strength and help you preserve and enhance your muscle mass.
⚡ Increases bone density
By stressing your bones, strength training can increase bone density and reduce the risk of osteoporosis.
⚡ Burns calories efficiently
All exercise helps boost your metabolism (the rate your resting body burns calories throughout the day). But when you do strength, weight, or resistance training, your body demands more energy based on how much energy you’re exerting (meaning the tougher you’re working, the more energy is demanded). That means more calories burned during the workout, and more calories burned after the workout, too, while your body is recovering to a resting state.
⚡ Effective weight management
One of the perks of building muscle with strength training? Lifting weights helps you to burn calories and stored energy (i.e. fat) more efficiently. Strength training can help you manage or lose weight, and it can increase your metabolism to help you burn more calories.
⚡ Improves shape and body confidence
Whether you want to lose weight, tone up, or build muscle and strength, consistent exercise is how you’re going to smash those goals. When you hit your target weight, or get those sculpted arms you’ve always wanted, that feeling of achievement makes all the hard work worthwhile. If you’re consistent with your training, you will get results.
⚡ Boosts mood and energy levels
Fitness can work wonders for your mindset. It can help with everything from relieving stress to boosting mental clarity. When you exercise, your body releases feel-good endorphins, allowing your body to relieve tension, relax muscles, and boost your mood.
⚡ Reduces stress & improves sleep
Engaging in 30 minutes of moderate exercise a day, such as strength training, can help improve the quality of your sleep. As well as tiring your body out so it craves a restful night of sleep to replenish and restore, exercise can help to relieve your body of any stress that may be keeping you awake at night. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
RELATED ARTICLE: How To Lift Heavier Weights
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