06/05/2024
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Here are five reasons why you should do strength training as you age/become older.
1. Less Injury Prone
Strength training helps build muscle, which supports and stabilizes your joints. This can reduce the likelihood of injuries and help alleviate back pain or knee pain. According to the Mayo Clinic, stronger muscles can help manage chronic conditions like arthritis and back pain​.
2. Improved Overall Health
Having stronger muscles can improve your overall health. Strength training enhances your body's metabolism and helps in maintaining a healthy weight. The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health states that muscle-strengthening exercises improve glucose metabolism and cardiovascular health, which lowers the risks of diseases such as diabetes and heart disease​.
3. Better Mental Health
Regular strength training can boost your mood and mental health. It reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety, according to Mayo Clinic. Exercise releases endorphins, which are natural mood lifters, and can also improve sleep quality, which is crucial for mental health​.
4. Enhanced Athleticism
Strength training makes you more athletic and capable of keeping up with daily activities, like playing with your kids. Improved muscle strength enhances your balance, coordination, and flexibility, which helps in performing everyday tasks more easily and reduces the risk of falls and injuries.
5. Longevity
Engaging in strength training can help you live longer. Harvard Health reports that just 30 to 60 minutes of strength training per week can reduce the risk of premature death from all causes, including cancer and heart disease​.
If you are still with me after all that let me just say that doing cardio is NOT strength training. Strength training involves lifting weights and is a entirely different energy system (anaerobic vs aerobic.)
You need to lift weights not just do cardio.
Let me know if you found this helpful!
