Great Reasons to Weight Train

Maybe you think weight training is only for people want to gain muscle mass, get stronger, and get cut. While weight training DOES do those things, there are many more reasons for why it's good for your health too. Here's a few:

• Increases your metabolism (each pound of lean muscle mass burns 35-50 calories/day)
• Improved balance and restoring bone density (which are 2 reasons why weight training actually becomes more important as you get older and falling / osteoporosis is of more of a concern)
• Decreased risk of Cardiovascular Disease by reducing blood pressure and cholesterol (Did you know that for every 10mm hg increase in blood pressure, your CVD risk DOUBLES? That's of course in my ACSM book).
• Better performance in sports, exercise, and life. Weight training makes climbing stairs and carrying heavy objects around easier.
• Helps you look and feel better since weight training reduces overall body fat.
  

There are obviously many more reasons but those are some good ones. I also just read an article off the MSNBC website about a study where they linked decreased blood flow in elderly to loss of strength (which can be reversed with strength training). Here it is. There's also another interesting article on the same site about how weight training may help breast cancer survivors which is really interesting. Here it is.

And on that note, I'm going to cut this off and go do some weight training in my living room before I get in the car and drive the 7 hours to visit my brother in New Hampshire :). Have a great weekend!