Top 5 Benefits of Lifting Weights

January 28 2014

Top 5 Benefits of Lifting Weights

Is your exercise regimen centered around cardiovascular workouts? Whether it’s jogging around the neighborhood, walking on a treadmill or using the elliptical, cardio ill only take you so far. Sure, it’s great for shedding some of those unwanted pounds, but you really need to incorporate weightlifting into your routine if you truly want to reach your goals. In this blog post, we’re going to reveal the top 5 benefits of lifting weights.

Benefit #1) Burn More Fat

One notable benefit of lifting weights is the ability to lose more fat. Penn State recently performed a study comparing two sets of participants: one group that strictly did cardio workouts and another group that did cardio and weightlifting workouts.

Researchers found that the group which incorporated weightlifting into their workouts lost an average of 40% more fat. This is due to the fact that weightlifting encourages muscles to grow while burning fat at the same time.

Benefit #2) Build Self-Confidence

Lifting weights is also a natural way to boost your self-confidence. When you lift weights on a regular basis, your body produces and releases a greater amount of chemicals known as endorphins. These chemicals are commonly associated with a general ‘happy’ feeling, so it’s always good to have them running through your body!

Benefit #3) More Energy

A third benefit of lifting weights is the increased energy levels it yields. If you find yourself crashing around mid-afternoon, perhaps the solution is to lift weights. Doing so gets your body’s blood pumping while raising your metabolism levels, both of which have a direct impact on energy levels.

You can always mask your lack of energy with coffee, sodas or other temporary fixes, but the bottom line is that nothing beats weightlifting. Picking up a pair of dumbbells and pushing yourself to the limit offers an instant boost of safe and effective energy.

Benefit #4) Reduce Your Risk of Heart Disease

According to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heart disease is the country’s number one killer, taking the lives of nearly 600,000 Americans each year. However, you can reduce your risk of heart disease by lifting weights.

Dr. Mark Williams stated the following:

“Just as we once learned that people with heart disease benefited from aerobic exercise, we are now learning that guided, moderate weight training also has significant benefits.”

Benefit #5) Build Stronger Bones

If you still need another reason to lift weights, here’s one: it builds stronger bones. Each time you pick up a weight, your bones are being stressed. This constant stress and pressure encourages them to grow stronger, which in turn reduces the chance of fractures and arthritis.