It's the New Year and if you haven't already started on a strength training program, now would be the time to get going. There are so many benefits to adding strength training to your workout week and the pay-offs will be long-term, so it's one of the best investments of your time that you can make. Some women are slightly intimidated by strength training. However, if you take the time to learn how to do it properly by either hiring a personal trainer or reading up on the principles of this form of exercise, you can gradually ease into it at your own comfortable pace. Here are the main benefits you'll see with strength training: Increased Metabolic Rate The first benefit you'll get when you begin strength training is an enhanced metabolic rate. Your metabolic rate, which is the rate at which you burn off calories throughout the day, is primarily influenced by your current lean muscle mass. What's more is after a hard resistance training workout session, your metabolism will stay elevated for up to 48 hours, making it much easier to lose or maintain bodyweight. Stronger Bones and Ligaments Another large benefit of regular strength training workouts for women is that it helps to promote stronger bones and ligaments. As we age we are going to be at an increased risk for osteoporosis, so the more we can do to strengthen these tissues, the lower our risk. Weight bearing exercise is one of the top ways to strengthen the bones, and weight training provides this benefit without the high-impact nature that running would. Greater Muscle Tone and Definition Third up on the list of why you should start strength training is because of the increased muscle tone and definition you'll experience. Cardio exercise is effective at burning calories for the time you're doing the activity; however it doesn't do much to help reshape the muscles of the body. What often happens to some women is that they will do their cardio training to burn off the fat and lose weight, but after what they are left with is a soft look that lacks true muscle form. Lower Levels of Stress Stress is something that almost every one of us encounters on a regular basis - for some, daily. As this stress continues to grow, we increase our risk for a number of health issues such as diabetes, stroke, depression, and high blood pressure. Weight training has been endorsed by many as one of the greatest stress relief treatments available as it allows you to work out your tension in a forceful manner, draining the stress from the system. In addition to this, a heavy strength training workout will help to release a number of 'feel good' endorphins in the body, all which will also help to reduce overall stress levels and enable you to feel much better about your day. Increased Posture After sitting in your desk all day at work there's a very good chance that you've begun to assume a hunched over posture - one that promotes rounded shoulders and back or neck pain. As an added plus, those women who are using proper posture instantly look thinner, so this is something you do want to work on. Enhanced Confidence Levels Finally, women will often find that strength training does more for their confidence levels than anything else they've ever done. It gives a feeling of empowerment, knowing that you are increasing your physical strength and capable of doing everyday tasks on your own. As some women are starting to get a growing concern for their own personal safety as well, taking a variety of self-defense classes for assurance purposes, strength training will also give you the piece of mind knowing that you are much more capable of protecting yourself. So, don't wait any longer - start on your own strength training program today. It's simply one of the best forms of exercise for women and while it may seem scary getting started initially, after a week or two, chances are you'll be hooked for good.
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