Why should I be doing strength training?

For as long as I’ve been in the fitness industry, there has been a stigma attached to weight training. Myths that loom over the heads of individuals.

Some things you might have heard before include, “Weight training will make me look bulky”, “I don’t want to injure myself doing weights”, “weightlifting doesn’t improve your cardiovascular health” and the best one yet “muscle will turn into fat if you stop lifting”.

All of which are absolute hogwash and we could probably write a series of blogs on all of the above, but today we’re going to focus on one simple topic…

WHY SHOULD YOU BE DOING WEIGHT TRAINING?

First and foremost, as the level of muscle mass in your body increases, so does your metabolism. What does that mean? Faster metabolism = improved fat burning rate (provided you maintain a healthy and balanced diet)t. If you’re going to continue eating in a calorie surplus and a high sugar-based diet, you’re going to struggle to lose that excess weight.

Secondly and more importantly, as we get older, we develop a syndrome called Sarcopenia. Sarcopenia is a term used to define the natural decline of skeletal muscle tissue with age and it is one of the most important causes of functional decline and loss of independence in older adults.

From the moment you are born to around the time you turn 30, your muscles grow larger and stronger. But at some point in your 30s, you start to lose muscle mass and function. It is believed that physically inactive people can lose as much as 3% to 5% of their muscle mass each decade after age 30. It’s also important to note that even active people start to lose muscle mass at around the same point in their lives.

So where am I going with this?

Considering that as we get older and we lose muscle each and every decade we are blessed to be able to enjoy life, why would anyone want to lose so much muscle that the latter part of their lives is filled with struggle and discomfort? Especially when the impact of sarcopenia can be reduced by being more active and doing weight training?

So my encouragement to you would be this…

If you can give 2.5 hours a week to exercise and doing weight training, you’re building a good foundation for your future as a physically and mentally strong adult. You’ll be able to enjoy better quality time with family and loved ones, all while feeling stronger and healthier as an individual.

If you are uncertain of where to start, there is no shame in admitting that. Feel free to reach out to us and we’ll help you start your journey. Whether it be by connecting you with a specialist instructor for 1–1 instruction or by offering some friendly advice.