Written by Emily Copeland BSPH
Women have multiple hats to wear! From stay-at-home-mom, adventurer, chef, chauffeur, corporate life, to small business owner; we can all benefit from strength training. Don’t worry, you won’t look like ripped bodybuilder...trust us, it's a lot more challenging that you think!
Women’s hormones do not naturally support that type of muscle growth. So, why strength train if you are not aiming to be a world renown bodybuilder?
Let’s dive in to find out:
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Preserving muscle. If we aren’t building muscle, muscle mass decreases as we age. Strength training helps you preserve and build your muscle mass.
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Develop strong bones. By adding resistance (weight) to your movements it signals to your body that your bones need to be stronger. Strength training can increase bone density and reduce the risk of osteoporosis.
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Manage your weight. Strength training can help you maintain or lose weight, and it can increase your metabolism to help you burn more calories.
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Enhance your quality of life. Strength training may improve your ability to do everyday activities! Lifting weights can also protect your joints from injury and contribute to better balance. This can help you maintain your independence and favorite activities as you age.
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Manage chronic conditions. Strength training can reduce the signs and symptoms of many chronic conditions, such as arthritis, back pain, obesity, heart disease, depression and diabetes.
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Sharpen your thinking skills. Some research suggests that regular strength training and aerobic exercise may help improve thinking and learning skills for older adults.
So whether you’re chasing kids, climbing mountains, or crushing it at work; strength training will increase your ability to live and enjoy your life!