If you think weight training won't do you any good, here are seven good reasons to… find out.
Written by Nikolas Georgiakidis Personal Trainer & Fitness Editor
Exercise with weights is misunderstood and quite often neglected compared to other forms of exercise such as e.g. aerobics, Yoga and Pilates. But the benefits of weights are multiple both for our appearance and for the way our body works.
So if you think that weight training won't do you anything, see below seven good reasons to... discover it.
You will lose 40% more fat
If you thought that only with aerobics you will burn the unwanted fat, then you should probably reconsider. Research has shown that those who lift weights lose more pounds of fat than those who only do aerobic exercise. The latter may even lose muscle mass.
You will burn more calories
Weights increase the number of calories you "burn" while... sitting on your sofa at home. This is because after each of your weight training sessions, your muscles need energy to "repair" the muscle fibers that were damaged, thus burning calories. Weights also burn more calories during exercise (about 231 calories for an eight-minute circuit with six exercises). To burn the same calories as aerobics, you would have to run at 10 mph for the same amount of time.
You will improve your figure faster
The term "cardio-respiratory exercise" or "cardio" does not only refer to aerobic exercise. Research has shown that circuit training with weights increases the heart rate by 15 beats per minute more compared to running at 60-70% maximum heart rate. This circuit training strengthens muscles and provides cardiorespiratory benefits similar to those of aerobic exercise. Therefore you save time without falling behind in results.
You will be happier
Yoga isn't the only way to get into a state of… zen. Research has shown that those who exercised with weights three times a week, for six months, significantly improved their mood and reduced their anger levels.
You will have stronger bones
As we age, bone density decreases – particularly in the female population – dramatically increasing the risk of fracture. But there's good news, too: Weight-bearing exercise lowers women's risk of osteoporosis and significantly helps maintain healthy levels of bone density.
Your heart will be healthier
University of Michigan researchers found that those who exercised with full-body weights three times a week for two months lowered their diastolic (the "small") blood pressure by an average of eight points. This is enough to reduce the risk of heart attack by 40%.
You will become smarter
Muscles strengthen our bodies – but also our minds. Brazilian researchers discovered that six months of resistance training (weights, machines, etc.) significantly improved the exercisers' cognitive functions. Specifically, there was an increase in their long-term and short-term memory and their verbal reasoning.
No Comments