When we think about losing weight and leading a healthy life, two things come to mind: diet and exercise. Both are equally important and integral to a long and healthy life. Unfortunately, when we think exercise, our minds are limited to picturing a treadmill or perhaps even an elliptical. Cardiovascular or aerobic exercise is a great way to burn calories, and weight training is the key to developing muscles that will keep you in shape for life.
Lifting weights improves the overall well-being of your entire body. It helps to sculpt where cardio leaves off as well as tighten areas dieting cannot target alone. Weight training also helps to boost your metabolism by building muscles that continue to work for you all day. It is a scientific fact that the more muscle mass you have, the more calories you burn each day. By building muscular endurance you also decrease your chances of getting hurt. Your body will be stronger and more likely to bounce back from illness and missing a day at the gym.
Training with weights also strengthens your bones. This is most important for concentrating on longevity, which should be the overall goal of exercise. Building up bone structure will decrease the chances of a break when your body ages. By reducing the chances of broken bones, you can also add years to your life.
One of the most common myths about weight lifting is that it is exclusively for men because if women lift they will bulk up. This cannot be further from the truth. In fact, women actually need to lift more than their male counterparts because they have lower levels of bone density. Women should focus on lifting smaller amounts of weight and lift for a higher volume of reps. This routine builds muscle by toning instead of bulking up like the myth goes.
All in all weight lifting is a very important aspect of hitting the gym. Even if you have never trained, it is easier to pick up than you think. So, when you start or restart your fitness routine in the New Year, remember to include weight training in your daily regimen. You might include Healthy Curb, too, which has been proven to increase muscle mass while you sculpt your body!
The food you eat is always number one when it comes to developing a healthy lifestyle. However, there is another component which we have not yet discussed that also plays a large role in our all-around fitness: exercise. When it comes to exercise, most doctors recommend at least 30 minutes of cardiovascular activity three to five days a week. Now we must determine exactly what “cardiovascular activity” entails.