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There are so many benefits to using resistance training. If you keep generally active as much as you can, and have time to fit in one kind of structured workout, then resistance training has to be it – it has the most broad spectrum benefits… In fact, when we lay out the benefits of resistance work, it really shows how true this is.
Mental Health
This is a big deal these days, and resistance training helps in a big way. Research has shown that including resistance training in your life can help to reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Think on the surface level of this – have you ever done a workout and found your head in a worse place than when you started?
I often say that a resistance workout feels almost meditative – you have to focus on what you’re doing in a way that you don’t when you’re doing cardio, and the effect of that really does clear mental fatigue and bring you back into that stronger mindset, able to see the bigger picture.
Bones
We imagine that challenging our bodies to get stronger is mostly about muscle strength, but the challenge also increases our bone density too. This means we’re stronger and at less risk of injury.
Hormones
Resistance work has an overall balancing effect on hormones. It stimulates the release of growth hormone, which helps build muscle and burn body fat, as well as improving insulin sensitivity and so managing blood sugar levels.
Resistance work has also been shown to rebalance sex hormones in both men and women. When you get the dose right, resistance training can also balance cortisol levels across the day.
Injury
The gain in strength of our muscles, tendons and ligaments as well as the associated improvements in mobility mean we are less likely to get hurt.
Balance
Improving your strength in the muscles which come to mind also comes with improved strength in the smaller stabilising muscles which you haven’t considered. These muscles help to stabilise our joints, especially when our resistance training program allows for movement in different directions, and this all means better balance which means you’re less likely to get injured.
Metabolism
Resistance training has this metabolism boosting effect and in fact, the boost to your metabolism you achieve through resistance training lasts for about THREE DAYS after your workout. This is not true for cardio!
Muscle is expensive for our bodies to maintain, and so more muscle means more energy used even while we’re resting.
Sleep
Creating sleep pressure through exercise is not exclusive to resistance training, although there is some research to suggest that the improvement to sleep quality is better when you’re practicing resistance exercise.
Health
One of the best preventative things you can do to improve the health of your immune system and your body as a whole is resistance training.
Nutrition also plays a huge part here, but people who lift weights have better blood sugar control which means a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes as well as other chronic illnesses. It can also help to reduce cholesterol levels.
Do you already include resistance training in your exercise routine? If not, it looks like a good thing to start learning, don’t you think? I’d love to chat to you about how you might build resistance work into your routine. Get in touch and we’ll arrange to have a chat over a cup of tea.