5 Reasons to start Weight Training now

Still not convinced about weight training? Here are some reasons why you should pick up the weights now!

Strength training is an important aspect of exercise that helps to improve overall health and fitness, regardless of age or fitness level. At first it might seem a bit daunting while probing into the weights area at the gym, the benefits of lifting weights are too great to ignore.

Not only impacts on physique but also on productivity

First thing that springs to mind when talking about weight loss and overall health has been cardio for decades, and a prevalent allegiance to cardio was an undeniable fact for weight loss industry. However, strength training not only builds muscle but can prevent disease, improve mood and actually help you lose weight better.

Here are 5 big reasons why you should lift the weights in your workout session.

1. You will live longer

Researchers from the UCLA found that the more muscle we have, the less likely we are to die prematurely. Here, the scientists discovered that all-cause mortality was significantly lower among people who had a bigger muscle mass. Of course, lifting weights is the best way to increase the amount of muscles you have and, thereby, prolongs your life.

Not only do we want to live longer, but we also want to live longer healthy.

As we all know, high blood pressure increases the risk of negative health outcomes including heart attack and stroke. The growing body of evidence shows that strength training has similar effects as aerobic exercise in lowering a person’s blood pressure. In fact, this type of training resulted in about 20% decrease in blood pressure, which is as good as or even better than taking anti-hypertensive medications.

As we are getting older, we start losing bone density, which is why they are vulnerable to various conditions, injuries, even fractures. Various studies show that weight training has a beneficial effect on bone density, particularly in menopausal women.

2. You will burn more fat (eliminate your belly fat!!)

As you can imagine, weight loss is the most common reason for common people to start physical activities. One of the important factors of losing fat is metabolism that is the process responsible for burning calories in the body and processing nutrients. A few weight training sessions are enough to speed up your metabolism, which is why combining weightlifting with cardio generates even better results.

Despite the fact you can lose fat on other parts of the body effectively, it can be hard to get rid of fat in the abdominal area. Researchers from Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) found that 20 minutes of weight training a day is more effective to reduce the level of abdominal fat than the same amount of time of cardio.

3. Your cardio will improve

Incorporating a fast-paced weight training into your workout routine can also prove to be beneficial for your cardio. This is because it can keep your heart rate up and you will be cultivating stronger, more powerful muscles which will be able to endure strenuous cardio activities like running. It is no need to mention the risk of injuries will significantly decrease.

4. You will sleep better

The modern society is chronically sleep deprived even though we are all aware of getting enough sleep is essential for overall health and well-being. People who do regular exercise, particularly those who truly push themselves, report the best sleep and weightlifting isn’t an exception. One research, in 2012, found that strength training decreased the number of times the participants woke up during the night, compared to the controlled group that perform no exercise.

5. Your productivity will increase

It turns out that books might not be the only way to give your brain a boost. Any form of exercise will help keep your brain healthy, and researchers found that both moderate and high-intensity strength training resulted in beneficial cognitive functioning.

Your focus, concentration, memory, problem-solving skills, and many others will improve with better cognitive abilities. What's more, an all-around stronger body can boost stamina and the level of testosterone which gives you extra energy when you need it. Hence, your productivity at work or school will be at different level if you consistently invest your time on physical training.

Conclusion

These 5 reasons are only the fraction of benefits of weight training. The choice is yours and it remains as your quest to find out its true impact on your life. Let's go for it!