4 Reasons to Lift Weights

The main and perhaps only reason why you lift weights is to build muscle. In fact, unsurprisingly, the leading motivation that people hit the gym is to put on mass, or to look ripped. However, there are many other reasons you should be lifting weights, arguably more important ones. That is why I always recommend everyone to lift weights. Truth be told, focusing on the other multitude of reasons instead may actually be more motivating for you.

Personally, lifting weights changed my life for the better. Check out some of reasons how it can do the same for you!

Seriously, try lifting weights. You won’t regret it.

1. Lose Fat Sustainably

Although a lifting (or some call it resistance training) session in itself may not burn as many calories as an intensive cardio session, lifting will cause you to burn more calories in the long run. This is because the more you lift, the more muscle you build, and muscles are metabolically more active than fats. This means that you burn more calories per gram of muscle on your body than fat. In other words, a muscular person will burn more calories than a less muscular person of the same weight, when doing absolutely nothing, 24/7!

More muscles means you can eat more without gaining weight! That’s the dream, isn’t it?

Furthermore, as your body recovers from a day of hard resistance training, your muscles need energy to repair the damaged muscle fibres. This means calories are burnt post-training. The American Council of Exercise states and a study showed that there is an average of 8% increase in Resting Metabolic Rate post 72 hours of strength training, due to micro-trauma repairs and muscle re-modelling. That is actually quite significant!

2. Enhanced Quality of Life

Increased Self-Confidence

Studies have also shown that men and women feel better about themselves when they lift weights. It is extremely rewarding when you set a strength or fitness goal and achieve it. It is also rewarding to be able to move yourself through a physical space with control and competence.

Gaining muscle and losing fat, which is a result of lifting weights, also helps you feel good. For the girls, you will be able to wear what you want without worrying about your bulging belly or flabby arms. For the guys, you don’t have to worry about loose sleeves anymore. Lifting will definitely boost your self-esteem and self-confidence.

Studies have also shown that strength training has been linked to reduced anxiety and depression, resulting in improvements in mental health. This may be due to the release of endorphins when your exercise. So if you feel stress at work or any aspects of your life, try lifting weights!

Lifting weights can be an escape from stresses in life.

Improved posture, balance, sleep, mood and energy levels

As you age, you lose muscle mass. This will lead to a loss of balance and flexibility. Strength training helps provide better balance by strengthening your legs and core. This will help in everyday activities, for example, carrying heavy groceries from the car, doing housework, or climbing up a flight of stairs while carrying your kid. This is also especially useful for the elderly, where falls are a major risk factor. Studies have shown that having increased muscle mass will better equip them to regain equilibrium which will reduce fall risks. This can help the elderly to maintain their independence.

Lifting weights has also shown to improve a person’s quality of sleep, and shown to improve mood and energy levels. These will certainly help one’s quality of life.

3. Improved Physical Health

Lifting weights allow you enjoy life as you get older. If you’re stricken with diseases, injuries and pains, what is the point of wealth if you can’t get to enjoy it?

Reduced Diseases

Many studies have been done to show that lifting weights help reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, Type 2 diabetes, and other chronic illnesses.

Reduced Injuries

Lifting weights not only strengthens your muscles, but your ligaments and tendons at your bones and joints too. Muscles also act as shock absorbers. These have shown to protect your body from injuries, fractures, sprains and strains.

Stronger Bones

As you start to age, you lose bone density. However, lifting weights creates force on your bones, and research has shown that your bones will get stronger in order to adapt to these forces. This is especially important for the elderly.

Many studies show how resistance training can help reduce risk of diseases.

4. Getting Stronger

One major reason why people give up on lifting weights is because they do not know what they are doing and/or have no system. They show up at the gym, try out different machines, see some results but see no further signs of improvement after. This can be discouraging. However, if you focus on getting stronger and lifting heavier weights instead, there will be a system to ensure progress, and muscle gains will come as a result.

Unlike how much muscle mass you have gained which can be hard to measure accurately, there is no lying to yourself about what you can lift. The numbers on the weight plates forces you to be self-aware and honest with yourself. It will give an indication if you’re not improving, and remind you to push yourself harder. Therefore, focusing on getting stronger can ensure progress.

Lifting weights can be fun too - challenging yourself to hit your Personal Records, or to beat your friend’s workout. This will give you a sense of a achievement. Also, when you just started to lift weights, you will progress incredibly fast. This can also be very motivating. And of course, it gives you bragging rights, which can also boost your confidence.

As you get stronger, you also learn more about your body. You learn what’s best for yourself, and what’s not. Also, as you push yourself physically, you reveal what you’re made of mentally. This will be helpful for your personal growth, which I have elaborated in this article.

How much you can deadlift can give you bragging rights too!

Conclusion

All of us know that lifting weights build muscle. But there are actually many more benefits than that. This is why lifting weights is so important. If you haven’t been lifting weights, I highly recommend you to. Trust me, it will be life-changing.

Need help with lifting weights in the most effective and efficient way possible? Drop me a message!