Top 7 benefits of strength training & building muscle!

When people start strength training, they often imagine a lot of cardio. But, building muscle – building strength – is actually more important!

Simply put, adding muscle is great for your health and it’s a huge component of what we do at Right Fit.

Keep in mind that we aren’t talking about huge, bulky amounts of muscle…we aren’t talking about body building. We’re referring to leaner amounts of muscle added to people who want to be generally healthy and active.

A lot has been said about the “obesity epidemic,” but you don’t often hear about “sarcopenia”—a gradual loss of muscle mass and strength over time.

This condition is more common in the elderly, but many people start losing muscle in their 30s. In fact, Webmd.com states that inactive people can lose between three and five percent of their muscle mass in every decade after they turn 30.

This might not seem like a big deal, but if you lose muscle, you’ll lose the ability to perform tasks that matter in your every day routines, and you’ll be more prone to injury. Eventually, if you stay along this track, you might not be able to live independently.

But, here’s the great news: Strength training works at any age!

When you’re younger, you can use it to build muscle. When you’re in your 30s, you can still add muscle if you train properly, and you can definitely slow the inevitable loss of muscle as you age. People in their 70s can add muscle and gain strength, too, even if they won’t do it as quickly as they did when they were younger.

Here are seven benefits to adding muscle and strength training:

1. Muscle increases your ability to do everyday tasks: If you’re strong, you won’t struggle to pick up the kids/grandkids, move that box, or even just stand up. If you feel strong, you’ll also feel a sense of confidence because you know you’re physically capable of doing lots of things.

• Muscle prevents injuries: If your muscles and bones are weak, it’s much easier to damage them. And weak, unbalanced muscles leave your joints unprotected. If you have a good amount of muscle, you’ll avoid a host of injuries.

• Muscle helps preserve a healthy body weight: If you have more muscle, you’ll burn more calories at rest, which makes it harder to gain excess weight. People with strong muscles also tend to be active because they like to use them in fun activities, which makes it even harder to add body fat.

• Muscle improves posture and prevents aches and pains: As you lose muscle, your body can start to “sag,” and that causes all kinds of problems. Think about someone whose rounded shoulders cause a lot of back pain. If you build some muscle, you’ll add a ton of “support structure,” and your body will feel much more capable.

• Muscles helps you perform better in sports: If you enjoy playing any sport, muscle will help you get better results (and avoid injuries, too). You’ll be stronger, faster and more powerful.

• Muscle has aesthetic benefits: Some people don’t care about this at all. But others really appreciate the way they look when they carry some muscle.

• Muscle building has mental-health benefits: Studies have suggested that strength training can boost self-esteem and help people deal with depression, anxiety and stress. Strength training has no negative side effects, and you can even train with a partner or in a group to make it a super-fun social experience.

Building muscle goes a long way to your overall health!

And, even if you have current injuries or chronic pain, you can still work on strength training, with individualized modifications. We will give you a plan to do this safely and in a way that will have you feeling great.

If you’d like to learn how we can help you add muscle so you can do the things you want to do, book a free consultation here!