Strength training is an important part of an overall fitness program. Here's what strength training can do for you — and how to get started.
Want to reduce body fat, increase lean muscle mass and burn calories more efficiently? Strength training to the rescue! Despite its reputation as a "guy" or "jock" thing, strength training is a key component of overall health and fitness for everyone.
Use it or lose it
Muscle mass naturally diminishes with age.
If you don't do anything to replace the lean muscle you lose, you'll increase the percentage of fat in your body.
But strength training can help you preserve and enhance your muscle mass at any age."
Strength training also helps you:• Develop strong bones. By stressing your bones, strength training increases bone density and reduces the risk of osteoporosis.
• Control your weight. As you gain muscle, your body begins to burn calories more efficiently. The more toned
your muscles, the easier it is to control your weight.
• Boost your stamina. As you get stronger, you won't fatigue as easily. Building muscle also contributes to
better balance, which can help you maintain independence as you age.
• Manage chronic conditions. Strength training can reduce the signs and symptoms of many chronic conditions,
including back pain, arthritis, obesity, heart disease and diabetes.
• Sharpen your focus. Some research suggests that regular strength training helps improve attention for older
adults.
Consider the options
Strength training can be done at home or in the gym. Common choices include:
• Body weight. You can do many exercises with little or no equipment. Try pushups, pull-ups, abdominal
crunches and leg squats.
• Free weights. Barbells and dumbbells are classic strength training tools.
• Weight machines. Most fitness centers offer various resistance machines.
Getting started
When you have your doctor's OK to begin a strength training program, choose a weight or resistance level heavy
enough to tire your muscles after about 12 repetitions. When you can easily do more repetitions of a certain
exercise, gradually increase the weight or resistance.
"On the 12th repetition, you should be just barely able to finish the motion," "When you're using the proper
weight or amount of resistance, you can build and tone muscle just as efficiently with a single set of 12
repetitions as you can with more sets of the same exercise."
To give your muscles time to recover, rest one full day between exercising each specific muscle group.
Also be careful to listen to your body. Although mild muscle soreness is normal, sharp pain and sore or swollen
joints are signs that you've overdone it.
When to expect results
You don't need to spend hours a day lifting weights to benefit from strength training. Two to three strength
training sessions a week lasting just 20 to 30 minutes are sufficient for most people.
Better yet, results are quick. Expect to enjoy noticeable improvements in your strength and stamina in just a few
weeks. If you keep it up, you'll continue to increase your strength — even if you're not in shape when you begin.