Hidden benefits of lifting weights
Alongside being social, lengthening your life, helping fight obesity, strengthening your heart, lowering blood sugar levels and making you look better and more confident here are a few benefits of spending as much time lifting as you do on cardio. here are 6 benefits, i could go and probably will at some point!
1: Muscles fight fat.
Wanna eat more pizza? Then lift weights. Lifting weights builds type II muscle fibres and these improve metabolism - making the whole-body more efficient at burning fat.
2: Reduce depression.
When it all goes wrong, go lift! I honestly have NEVER known a client or indeed myself to leave a workout feeling worse than when they first shuffled in with the weight of the world on their shoulders. Its always a tonic and definitely worth pushing yourself to train when you least want to. they also tend to be the best sessions.
3 fights osteoporosis
As you age, you naturally lose muscle and bone mass, especially women, Hence the need to lift weights as by doing so the body adapts to the stress this causes on the body by making both the muscles and bones bigger and stronger. But don't worry as you won't become a female body builder, just stronger and leaner.
4. Move better with ease.
Body awareness, or being able to recruit the proper muscles in the right sequence, is key for moving in a way that is both efficient and safe in daily life. In layman terms, learning how to perform squats & deadlifts correctly alongside increased flexibility teaches your body to use the correct muscles in the right way and order so you no longer have to groan when you get off the sofa or drop your car keys on the pub floor again!
5. Prevent back pain.
Prehab is better than rehab! If you are sedentary at home or work you will no doubt have experienced lower back pain. Weightlifting (think lifting weights in its simplest form. not bodybuilding) will help to strengthen the core and postural chain, support your spine, encourage better posture and undo some of the damage that sitting down too much is doing to us all. Deadlifts, squats and hip extensions are awesome and essential.
6. Stronger inside and out.
When you push yourself out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself you will feel stronger physically and also mentally.
