Stay Healthy with Soosan

Let’s begin by understanding what strength training really is. Strength training is a form of exercise that uses resistance to stimulate muscle growth. It involves using body weight or equipment, such as; dumbbells, resistance bands, barbells, etc. to build muscle mass.

You are probably asking yourself, why do I need to build muscle mass? I used to ask myself that question, but I didn’t find out until I was in my late 30’s. Cardio was my go-to exercise! I used to spend most of my gym time doing cardiovascular exercises. I wanted to lose weight, so in my head cardio was the way to reach that goal. It was after I became a personal trainer and became exposed to a gym environment, that I started to learn about the benefits of
building muscle, specifically for women. The vast majority of people lift weights for their physical appearance. Aside from that, let me share with you some of the most important benefits of strength training:

1- Strength
We need more strength in order to perform our daily activities and not depend on the assistance of others. Chores will be easier, lifting kids or grandkids, going up and down the stairs, groceries, laundry will no longer be so strenuous. Strength training is essential to build muscles and building muscles prevent us from injuries.

2- Better Mood
Strength training (and exercise in general) can help decrease depression and anxiety. Many studies have shown that any kind of physical activity produces mood-improving neurotransmitters, such as endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin. When we engage in regular exercise, we feel more confident, have more energy and we are capable of achieving more, which in turn helps improve our mood.

3- Balance
As we get older, we start to lose our strength, especially in the muscles that help us stay upright. This can lead to falls and of course sometimes fractures. Strength training exercises that focus specifically in the lower body, such us leg press, leg curls, leg extensions and so on, can be very beneficial to help us strengthen the muscles in the legs, which is essential in the improvement of our balance and stability.

4- Lose Body Fat
Believe it or not, when we build muscle we burn fat. Muscle actually burns more calories than fat. So, it is very important to build muscle all over our bodies in order to control our weight. When we strength train, we also improve our resting metabolism, which will also help our body burn more calories.

5- Bone Health
Strength training not only helps to build muscle, but it also helps our bones by making them stronger. We know how important it is to keep our bones strong when we are young, but it is even more important to maintain bone health when we are older. After certain age our bones become thinner and weaker, putting us at a higher risk of breaking. When we exercise regularly our bones adapt by building more bone and becoming denser. The combination of resistance training and good nutrition can be very beneficial in the improvement of our
bones. When I started my journey as a personal trainer, I got the opportunity to train clients of all ages, abilities and limitations. It is very rewarding to hear your clients talk about how strength training has given them more confidence, but most of all more strength, flexibility, and balance. We have so many options when it comes to choosing how and where to exercise, but no matter if you choose light or heavy dumbbells, resistance bands, barbells, workout machines, or if you decide to exercise at home or at a gym, the key is to find what motivates you to stay healthy and happy.