30/07/2024
Who should strength train?
Everyone! You a making a HUGE mistake not lifting weights.
And if you’re thinking “why would I lift weights when I don’t even want to build muscle” then you have the WRONG idea about strength training.
Here are some other benefits to lifting weights besides building muscle:
✅ Get stronger. Not just in the gym, but in real life. Travelling with heavy luggage gets easier. Carrying groceries gets easier.
✅ Lose fat. Lift weights while eating at a calorie deficit and you’ll keep your muscle while getting lean, which will give you that toned look. Not lifting weights can lead to muscle loss and that “skinny-fat” look.
✅ Reduce pain. In my experience, lower back pain is often due to weak glutes and a weak core. Strengthen those areas, and your back will have less work to do.
✅ Improve flexibility. Stretching and mobility work is almost a waste of time without subsequently lifting weights through the increased range of motion the stretching gave you - it’s like hitting “save progress” in a video game.
✅ Get smarter. Plenty of studies have shown a causal relationship between resistance training and improved cognition. Here’s one: https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/weight-training-may-boost-brain-power
✅ Increase bone density. Strong bones become important as we age. You can keep your bones dense by exposing them to heavy strength training.
✅ Live independently for longer. While strength training won’t increase your life expectancy, it will almost certainly increase your quality of life in old age.
