Strength Training – Why We Need It – How to Get It

Strength training is not just about physical exercise or building large, visible muscles. Working out against resistance benefits our everyday living in areas of physical strength and vitality, internal health, and emotional wellbeing.  There are several options to achieve this.  First, the benefits:

Physical Strength and Vitality: Increased lean muscle mass and strength allows us to work harder and longer without fatigue, and improves balance, flexibility, mobility, and stability. It helps reduce the risk of injury, both in our normal day to day activities and when we are performing aerobic and sports activities. Strong seniors fall down less. If they do fall down, their stronger bodies are less likely to be injured and tend to heal more quickly after an injury.

Internal health: Increased metabolic rate results in higher calorie burn which helps control our body weight. Bone density is increased/restored helping to prevent brittleness and resulting injury. Consistent strength training has a wide variety of affiliated health benefits including decreasing cholesterol and lowering blood pressure, which can be essential in avoiding heart disease.

Emotional wellbeing: A good solid work-out can provide an emotional uplift. Stronger muscles and joints improve posture and leaner toned muscles tend to make everyone feel better about their appearance. Hence, improved self-esteem and increased self-confidence. Physical activity, including strength training, makes us feel alive and strong.  This is what keeps me working out on a regular basis.

What are your options? Once you decide to work out physically in a way that pits your muscles against resistance, there are several options. Lowest cost is the use of stretch bands and inexpensive dumbbells. Advantage, besides cost, is very little space requirement.  Disadvantage is some lack of versatility, i.e. it is hard to workout a wide range of muscles with just bands and small weights.

Next is the purchase of gym equipment. Now you have more versatility and range of exercise. Plus you can work out in the comfort of your home. This entails a one-time cost and commits you to that piece of equipment.

Finally, there is paid gym membership. This can have the advantage of professional guidance, sometimes with the aid of health professionals and physical therapists. Variety of equipment types is typical. The downside is usually a recurring cost and the need to travel to get to your workout. Lack of privacy may also be an issue.

Choose your option wisely. The advantages of regular physical strength training will become an important and positive part of your life.

The key is to start physical training, and once you've started, the emotional high will probably keep you coming back and sticking to it. I have an appreciation of the technology that has made keeping fit very attainable. The BodyCraft Xpress Pro Home Gym is a great example of equipment you can buy that can take you to that next level of fitness.

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This entry was posted on Friday, November 13th, 2009 at 9:31 pm and is filed under Exercise Equipment. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.