TWELVE GOOD REASONS WHY ALL ADULTS SHOULD LIFT WEIGHTS
by Francesca Fisher
If you are thinking about starting a new fitness program in 2011, consider strength training. Besides looking better and feeling better, your body will also function better. Here are 12 reasons why every adult should consider adding weight lifting to their exercise regimen.
1. Avoid muscle loss. Adults who do not lift weights can expect to lose between five and seven pounds of muscle every 10 years.
2. Avoid a reduction in your metabolic rate. The average adult experiences a two to five percent reduction in his metabolic rate every decade.
3. Increase your muscle mass. Most adults do not strength train. That means they first have to replace the muscle tissue that has been lost due to inactivity. Those who do lift weights will not experience muscle loss in the first place.
4. Increase your metabolic rate. Adding three pounds of muscle increases your resting metabolic rate. That means you can burn calories even when you are not exercising.
5. Reduce your body fat. Increase your metabolism and you will increase your fat loss; it is that simple.
6. Increase your bone mineral density. Besides increasing your muscle mass, you will alo be increasing your bone mass. This is because strength training increases bone osteoproteins and mineral content.
7. Improve your glucose metabolism. After four months of adding strength training to your fitness routine, your glucose metabolism may increase up to 23 percent, cutting your risk for Type II diabetes.
8. Decrease your risk of colon cancer. Strength training helps everything function more efficiently, even increasing your gastrointestinal transit time.
9. Reduce your resting blood pressure. By combining aerobic activity and strength training (which is what Body Sculpting‘ does in its classes), you can more effectively improve your blood pressure readings.
10. Improve your blood lipid levels. After just a few weeks of strength training you should see an improvement in your lipid levels.
11. Prevent lower back pain. Strengthening the muscles of the lower back can prevent or at least reduce most back pain, an ailment that affects 80 percent of Americans.
12. Reduce or prevent arthritic pain. Strength training done properly can ease the pain of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. It also helps build stronger muscles, bones, and connective tissues.
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Francesca Fisher is the owner of Geri-Fit Co. Ltd. She is a published author and has produced 13 exercise dvd’s which she sells on her website, gerifit.com. She is an Advisory Board Member for the International Weightlifting Association, a CEU provider for physical therapists, occupational therapists and athletic trainers throughout the United States.
