Strength Training

Strength training is an essential component of achieving truly good fitness.  All too often people who are looking to lose weight or simply to stay in shape overlook the importance of strength training.  There are several reasons why strength training offers benefits that other types of exercise cannot match.   

First, strength training builds muscle.  This fact is often overlooked, and some people, particularly women, are worried that building muscle will make them look too muscular or masculine.  This couldn’t be further from the truth.  Building muscle through strength training does not entail increasing in bulk, it just means increasing the body’s percentage of muscle while decreasing fat.  By increasing this lean muscle mass you become stronger, fitter, and healthier without necessarily becoming larger.  Also, strength training can actually change the meta bolism of your body.  By building lean muscle mass through strength training you are increasing the number of calories your body will burn.  This means that strength training can help you lose weight without cutting down your caloric intake.   

If you are interested in starting strength training, be sure to outline specific fitness and health goals.  With these in mind, patent your strength training regimen to best achieve these goals.  If you are looking to lose weight, doing many repetitions with lower weight is most effective.  If you are looking to bulk up and build maximum muscle, use as much weight as you can possibly can without fatiguing the muscle too quickly.  Adapting your strength training regimen to fit your goals is the best way to get what you want out of your workout.