The general opinion when the general public here the word "Weight Training" is of oiled up, macho, muscular men flexing and showing off there muscles. This view often shies a lot of people away from lifting weights….especially women.

However, some form of strength training can benefit anyone male or female at any age. It provides amazing health benefits that cannot be ignored. They are…

1. INCREASE METABOLISM/MUSCLE MASS Strength training builds muscle. I know that’s probably the most obvious benefit, but it is extremely important. As we age, we lose approximately a pound of muscle every year after the age of twenty. Even people who exercise regularly, but neglect strength training will still lose ½ a pound of muscle a year. This will cause us to get weak and make us more vulnerable to fat gain as we get older because the metabolism is slowing down. You may notice people who eat whatever they want and not gain anything, but as they approach 30-40 their metabolism has slowed and they are starting to gain weight. Strength training is the only way to maintain or add muscle mass as we age, keeping our metabolism running high.

2. IMPROVE BONE MINERAL DENSITY Not only does strength training stimulate muscle growth; it also stimulates the growth of bone tissue. The stress of strength training on the bones stimulates the bones to lay down more minerals, improving bone mineral density. Similar to muscle mass, bone mineral density is at its peak at around the age of twenty and from there is on a gradual decline for the rest of our lives. This makes us susceptible to injuries and diseases such as osteoporosis as we age. Strength training can help prevent or even reverse these conditions. This is one of the main reasons why women should do some form of strength training, as 1 in 2 women or there about now develop osteoporosis.

3. IMPROVE JOINT STRENGTH AND STABILITY Increasing the strength of muscles, also greatly enhances the strength and stability of the joints these muscles surround. This is extremely beneficial to prevent injuries as we get older.

4. DECREASE ATHRITIS Strength training improves our bodies control of our joints, which decreases the stress put on them in day to day activities. This helps reduce the chance of our joints degenerating. Therefore strength training can help prevent or reduce the severity of arthritis, and recent studies are showing it can help reduce the symptoms.

5. IMPROVE VITALITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE The condition of our muscles is responsible for our ability to perform everyday activities. Muscles are like an engine, if they are well looked after, you can drive it regularly without fear of it breaking down. Strength training keeps our muscles in top condition, making daily activities much easier and enables us to participate in more vigorous activities without fear of injuries or lack of energy.

6. INCREASE FAT LOSS Muscle is metabolically active, meaning it burns calories. Every extra pound of muscle we add burns approximately an extra 50-100 calories a day. Therefore, the more muscle we have the more calories we burn while we are sleeping, doing daily activities and through exercise. For example, the metabolism can be like a car, the more muscle you have, the larger the engine and the more calories you burn, much like the way a V8 chews through fuel. If we neglect strength training, our metabolism might be closer to that of a scooter or a lawn mower!

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