7 Health Benefits of Lifting Weights
For many people, there is still a stigma that only bodybuilders or health nuts do weight lifting. However, no matter what age you are, incorporating weights into an exercise routine has many health benefits. Of course, before beginning any new exercise or weight training program, you must speak to your physician first.
Here are seven health benefits of lifting weights:
- You will build muscle
Did you know that you begin to lose 1% of your muscle mass every year after the age of thirty-five? It’s true! Unfortunately, this muscle mass becomes outnumbered by fat cells. So, although you may see a thin person on the exterior, they might really have some “fat” in some not so noticeable areas if they are not doing any sort of weight training or resistance program at the gym or home.
- Muscle burns more calories
When you lift weights, the muscle you build is more effective at burning calories than the fat in your body. Muscle is effective at burning calories even as you sleep. Whereas, fat in your body does not help you burn calories. Of course, we need some fat in our bodies for insulation, but too many people have much more than needed.
- Lifting weights increases your metabolism
Related to the previous topic, your metabolism refers to how much energy you use up at rest. When you lift weights, you increase the amount of energy your body uses at rest, and the effects of this stay with you for many hours after you end your workout routine.
- Lifting weights creates stronger bones
As people age, the chances of developing osteoporosis (brittle, porous bones) increases. This is especially true of women who are past childbearing age.
By adding weights to an exercise regime, it works to keep bones healthy. This is because the muscles and tendons cause good stress on the bones, causing the body’s bone cells to produce more bone.
- Improved heart health
It is widely accepted that cardio exercise is beneficial for your heart. However, new studies are showing that weight lifting also helps your heart by resulting in healthy reductions in blood pressure for longer times than doing cardio alone.
- Improved joint health
When you strengthen your muscles, you are increasing support to your joints. This can aid with lessening pain and stiffness in joints.
- Improved mood
Exercise and weightlifting both result in increased levels of dopamine and serotonin “the feel-good chemicals” in your brain. These are the same chemicals that antidepressant medications cause to increase in your brain.
You can also experience improved mood with the stress release that comes with having a good workout and weightlifting session.
To summarize, seven health benefits of weight lifting have been identified. There are also many other health benefits of weight lifting, so it is something definitely worth doing!