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You don’t have to be a pro wrestler, body builder, or action movie star to put on some muscle mass. Strength training to get “swole” isn’t just about giving you something impressive to flex; it can also burn calories and bolster your overall health. While doing cardio and other forms of exercise are important, don’t neglect the health value of picking up barbells and feeling the burn.
Speed Up Metabolism
A big reason weightlifting is great for burning fat is because increasing your muscle mass also increases your metabolic rate. Your metabolism plays a huge role in making your body burn calories efficiently. The faster the metabolism, the more calories your body burns (both at rest and during physical activity). The reverse is true: a slow metabolism means less calories burned, which can lead to weight gain if your calorie intake exceeds your metabolic energy expenditure.
Muscles are more metabolically active than fat, so you’ll also burn calories while you’re resting. That metabolic rate is also increased after doing strength-training exercises, so by making exercise a habit you’ll also be bolstering and speeding up your metabolism!
Counter Bone Density Loss
As we get older, we lose bone density. Our bodies start to reabsorb bones faster than it can create new bone tissue, making our bones more prone to fractures. Hormone levels in our bodies decrease, which also accelerates bone loss. Weightlifting helps counteract this decline because it places significant stress on our bones. That added pressure stimulates the bones to grow stronger and denser.
Improve Balance
One of the benefits of weightlifting is that it can strengthen and reinforce muscles in your back, shoulder, and lower regions that promote good posture. Better posture and stronger muscles (especially in the legs) leads to better balance, which is very important for long-term health. A strong sense of balance matters as you get older as it will make you less prone to falls that could lead to serious injuries and broken bones. Good balance also improves your coordination, which in turn can improve the overall quality of your workouts.
Good for Heart Health
Building muscles produces a few effects that can improve your heart health and decrease your risk for heart disease. Lifting weights decreases blood pressure and can also lower both total and bad cholesterol levels. Studies have found that people who strength train on a weekly basis exhibit lower rates of premature death from heart disease.
Boosts Your Brain
The benefits of strength training aren’t just physical. Weight lifting can also have a positive impact on your brain! Lifting improves blood flow, which in turn helps your brain run more efficiently. The neurochemicals released from exercising with weights have been linked to improved memory, reduced anxiety, and a heightened state of pleasure and relaxation (thanks to the release of endorphins).
Article by Austin Brietta
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