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Maybe, like so many women, you sometimes wonder why you should bother with strength training exercise. Or maybe it is one of those things you know you should be doing to help you stay strong and healthy but you never get around to getting started.
Well, if you are serious about ditching the flab and reshaping your body into a lean, strong and healthy one you need to understand that strength training is the only way. That's right, the only way to truly get into better shape. Through the 1980's and 90's, however, women were sold the same bill of goods. If you want to burn body fat, improve fitness and achieve a firm, trim body, aerobic activity is the answer. But instead of ending up with a body like the babes in the health club ads millions of women came out of these classes with bodies that looked startlingly similar (or in worse shape) than the ones they started with. Back then we were only concerned about burning calories during the exercise session whereas today thanks to research into our metabolic health we are more focused on the fuel (calories) burnt long after the exercise session is over. What's more, strength training exercise done with the correct level of intensity (degree of difficulty) gives you great curves, super posture, better bones, and provides the same benefits as aerobic exercise. Strength training works because increasing muscle tone fires up your metabolism (your body's engine) and keeps your body running at its fat-burning best. Women often blame their excess weight problems on sluggish metabolisms when what is really to blame is their lack of muscle tissue. Unless you start strength training exercise the problem will only get worse especially as one gets older. This is when we naturally lose some of our muscle mass sometime after the mid 20's. This loss is around one half pound per year and by age 50 this loss can accelerate up to one pound per year. This is why women in their late 30's and 40's often find that although they are not eating or exercising any differently that they did when they were younger they are continuing to gain weight. But what is actually happening is that they are losing their fat burning metabolism boosting muscle tissue. The good news is that you can stop early midlife body fat gain dead in its tracks just by rebuilding some of the lost muscle tissue. Over a period of time these muscle/metabolism gains can add up to major body fat losses. In fact this is the difference between becoming overweight or staying slim throughout your adult years. Remember though not to measure your progress on the bathroom scales. You may step on the scales and find you have not lost any weight. But you may be having fabulous success with your fitness program and the scales will not show it. Your best bet is to pay attention to your measurements. Is your waistline getting trimmer or do your clothes fit better? Are your legs firmer along with the backs of your upper arms? Strength training will work for you making your clothes fit better and have you feeling better. So don't sweat the numbers on the scales you will be tighter, more toned and leaner overall. And that is what you really want isn't it?
Do you want to discover the secret to rejuvenating your body and improving the quality of your life? Download my free ebook "Ive Found the Fountain of Youth- Let Me Show You Too!" here: Physical Wellness For Free Fitness Report here Fitness Weight Loss Carolyn Hansen is a certified fitness expert and fitness center owner who coaches clients to look and feel younger.
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