There’s far more to strength training than just the body composition benefits.
As we grow older we start to lose muscle mass. As well as the obvious loss of strength, muscles also help mop up some of the excess glucose so losing muscle also doesn’t help when it comes to insulin resistance either.
Strength training is any sort of training that involves equipment or body weight to build muscle mass, strength and endurance it can help improve bone density, improve joints, improve metabolism, improve flexibility and protect further loss of muscle. Improving your strength and core stability even lowers your risk of trips and falls.
Building muscles helps with metabolic rate, allowing us to burn more calories, even when resting, which can continue for up to 72 hours after a strength training session meaning you are still burning calories long after your workout has finished.
If you want to be able to carry your own shopping, pick up your grandchildren, reach for basic things in your kitchen cupboards, manage the stairs, walk without the need of a frame, get in and out of the bath unaided, or even get up from a toilet by yourself in later life then you need to start incorporating some basic strength training into your daily routine now to help with those every day occurrences that can mean the difference of continuing to live independently in old age.
Whether you choose to lift heavy or take up yoga or pilates, anything you can do to maintain and build on muscle mass (which includes eating adequate amounts of protein) will be investing in your future self.
