3 MORE Good Reasons for Strength Training

In a previous post I shared 3 good reasons for strength training, but I know a lot of people who swear by their treadmills and elliptical machines and are afraid that pushing some iron will turn them into muscle-bound, uni-ab meatheads. So with that in mind, I’ve decided to offer up three more good reasons for strength training:


Strength Training Improves Muscle Control, Coordination, and Balance. Nobody wants to be a klutz, and strength training goes a long way toward accomplishing that goal. Especially when you focus on compound exercises that call upon many different muscles and muscle groups, your muscles get stronger AND learn how to work together better. Your muscle control will improve, which in turn will help your over-all coordination and balance.

Strength Training Protects Your Joints from Injuries. As we get older, our tendons and ligaments (connective tissue) gets weaker and less flexible, which is often a contributing factor in joint pain we experience. Strength training increases muscle strength and improves the strength and flexibility of your connective tissue, which in turn helps protect your joints from harm.

Strength Training Helps Strengthen Bones. Let’s face it: none of us is getting any younger, and studies show that our bones lose mass and can become more brittle as we age. Studies also show that strength training not only strengthens muscles, but also strengthens bones. Exercising with weights helps your body to conserve its existing bone mass and stimulates new bone growth.

And finally, one “bonus” reason for strength training is that it increases your self-confidence and self-esteem. As you lose body fat, increase strength and stamina, and your body really begins to feel stronger and healthier, your confidence will increase and you’ll feel better about yourself.

What’s really great is that you don’t need an exclusive gym membership or expensive home equipment. I do strength training at least three days a week using body weight exercises, a stability ball, a few dumbbells, and a simple weight bench. (Check CraigsList for local deals on a weight bench.) You’re never too old to begin, and you don’t need to do anything overly complicated. Stay tuned for future posts where I’ll offer up some free sample workouts that you can do at home with minimal equipment!

Train hard and pray harder,
Brandon T Jubar