Do you want to be stronger, more confident, look and feel younger? Lifting weights can do that for you, and more. We hear a lot about the benefits of cardio. Sure, cardio is important, but in many ways, lifting weights is better than cardio.
When you lift weights and become stronger, you’ll feel more energetic and your every day activities and sports will become easier.
Because muscle burns more calories than body fat, when you increase your percentage of muscle through weight lifting, you’ll burn more calories, making it easier to shed any excess fat.
You might think it’s natural that your strength declines as you get older. Well, maybe it is, but with a solid weight training program, that decline will happen much more slowly. Even older guys can get stronger and reduce their chance of falls with weight training.
Weight training can trigger a natural increase in your body’s production of human growth hormone. Upping these levels safely is just one more way weight training helps you look and feel younger.
So, now that you’re convinced a weight training program is for you, here are just a few things to consider:
- A few sessions with a personal trainer helping you develop a weight training program and checking your form can be money well-spent. You won’t get the results you’re looking for if your program and form are wrong.
- Get enough protein. Some experts suggest 1 to 2 grams of protein per day for each pound you weigh. So, if you weight 180 pounds, you’ll want to eat 180 grams of protein. It might be hard to get that much protein from food. Check out some high quality protein supplements. Avoid supplements with added sugar. Added sugar can undo all your hard work.
- Remember, weight training causes micro-tears in your muscle tissue. Your body needs rest time to repair that tissue, and it’s the rest time that lets your muscles grow. Don’t work out the same group of muscles two days in a row. Have at least one rest day in between.
So, keep some cardio in your fitness routine, but add weight training about 3 times a week to get stronger, look better, and feel more energized.