When I was in my twenties, I only needed cardio workouts to stay fit. I’d walk, run, bike, or climb stairs for 45 minutes and my body stayed lean and defined.
But, something changed as I approached my thirties. I kept up with my regular cardio workouts, but in spite of all that effort, I started to notice a little giggle in my upper arms. And some junk in the trunk.
I finally realized that I needed to do start doing that other thing that health experts recommend as part of a healthy fitness program.
Weight lifting.
Problem solved, right? Wrong.
I hated weight lifting. I dreaded it with every fiber of my being. It was boring. I didn’t see results. There was no sweat, no endorphin rush, no glory.
But as time passed, I could see how my lack of strength was affecting me. I got a sore back from sitting too long… I couldn’t lift that heavy box to the storage unit… A 20 lb. daschund took ME for a walk.
Something had to change. And, now that I’ve found the right weight lifting routine, it has!
Before I give you the skinny, let’s look at the benefits of pumping iron.
Become a lean, mean, burning machine
Now that’s what I’m talking about. You see, lean muscle tissue is a heck of a lot more efficient at burning excess calories than our fatty tissue. What’s even better, the more muscle your body has, the higher your overall metabolism will be. Translated: Lift weights, lose fat, and eat more.
NOTE: When you start weight training you may notice that your bodyweight stays the same. That’s okay. You’re burning fat and developing muscle.
Turn into Wonder Woman
The stronger we are, the easier other activities are. When I am regular with weight training, my yoga classes are easier, walking up flights of stairs is breezy, and moving that 25 pound water jug ain’t so bad. Weight lifting also strengthens our bones and ligaments, protecting us against osteoporosis and arthritis.
Don’t hurt yourself
I was really humbled last year. What began with throwing trash into a dumpster ended with a strained neck muscle that hurt for over a week. What?! How did that happen? Sure, I threw the bag in an awkward manner. But I believe the real culprit was my overall lack of body strength. Regular weight lifting protects us from these types of injuries because our bodies are more resilient in the face of stress.
Bend it like Beckman
As we engage and strengthen our joints with every weight we lift, we keep our bodies supple. Healthy joints are the key to maintaining our ability to stretch and stay nimble in the face of aging. As we lose muscle with age, this makes us more susceptible to loosing our balance and falling, a common accident in the elderly. Sure, you may be decades away from your golden years, but it’s never too early to build a strong foundation.
Spice up that tired routine
I’m pretty predicable when it comes to cardio. My biggest decision is if I power walk indoors or outdoors, but that’s where the variety ends. But with weight lifting, the options are endless. There are machines, resistance bands, medicine balls, free weights, kinetic training, and the list goes on. We can always shake up our weight routines… focus on glutes and triceps one day, biceps and abs the next.
Get that eye of the tiger
You’ve seen the look. Linda Hamilton had it in T2. Madonna has had it for the past two decades. Gabrielle Reece has it even when she’s rolling around on a beach. It’s the look of confidence and empowerment that weight training can bring. Now that I’ve been weight training, I can sense it too. I feel like I’ve joined this new club that I didn’t even know existed before! It is the club of strength, power, and confidence. Bring it!
Next time, I’ll share the new technique that is making all the difference in the way I approach weight lifting.
Until then, pump it up!
http://exercise.about.com/od/exerciseworkouts/tp/liftweights.htm
This is a blog about triumph.
