3 Good Reasons for Strength Training

The three best reasons for strength training are to have (1) huge, bulging muscles, (2) large, visible veins, and (3) no neck.

Wait, wait... I’m just kidding! Unfortunately, when we talk about strength training, that’s exactly what most people imagine. Luckily, that’s not really what happens when you add strength training to your weekly exercise routine.

Another common misconception is that lifting weights is only for bodybuilders, athletes, and other meatheads. The reality, though, is much different. Strength training can be beneficial for anyone, no matter their age or gender. It is a great way to help you reach almost any of your fitness goals, and here are three reasons why:

Strength Training Helps You Lose Fat. Two cars are idling at an intersection. One has a big V-8 engine and the other has a little 4-cylinder. Sitting still, which burns more gas? The same is true with your body. A pound of muscle burns 10 to 20 calories more than a pound of fat. Ergo, the more muscle you’re sporting, the more calories you'll burn throughout the day. (Remember that muscle is dense, so a pound of muscle doesn’t take up anywhere near as much space as a pound of fat!)

Strength Training Helps Burn Calories. Muscle burns more calories than fat while in a resting state, and muscle also burns more calories during a workout. Additionally, strength training will cause the muscle tissue to continue to burn more calories up to 38 hours after the workout session. (With long, steady cardio, your body settles back into its resting state almost immediately following a workout.)

Strength Training Helps Improve Strength and Stamina. Given a proper strength training program, your muscles will become significantly stronger and will be able to endure more work for longer periods of time. This increase in strength and stamina will make it much easier for you to handle your everyday activities, and not just those activities related to exercise. (Regular strength training actually increases your energy level, which is closely related to strength and stamina.)

If you’re not incorporating strength training into your weekly exercise plan, then please consider doing so. And stay tuned for future posts where I’ll offer up sample workouts and other ways to make strength training an integral part of reaching your health and fitness goals!

Train hard and pray harder,
Brandon Jubar