Talk to 10 people and you’ll get 10 different opinions on the best way to get fit.
One will tell you to attend an aerobics class. Another will swear by jogging. Yet another will tell you that dance and biking worked for them.
The truth is that there’s really only one effective way to get fit and be lean.
Before I get into the details, it’s important that we agree on the definition of ‘fit’. Too often skinny is mistaken for fit, and that’s not what you should strive for. In my opinion, “fit” means that you’re lean, strong, and flexible and that your body functions well as a unit.
When someone is skinny but has very little muscle tissue, they aren’t truly fit.
Here’s why skinny doesn’t equal fit:
- A skinny person’s body fat percentage could be higher than ideal—even though you don’t see a lot of fat on them
- A skinny person’s resting metabolism will be low since little muscle is present to burn calories at rest
- A skinny person’s body won’t be functionally strong, which can lead to injuries
So how does one get truly fit? It’s this simple: Strength Training
Strength training is when resistance is used to challenge your muscles in order to gain strength and endurance. You could do this with traditional weights, exercise bands, medicine balls, cable machines, sandbags, kettle bells or even just using your own body weight.
Regular strength training has the following benefits…..
- Improved strength and muscle tone
- Improved cardiovascular capacity
- Higher resistance to injury and disease
If that’s not enough to convince you that strength training is the only way to truly become fit, read on…
Top 9 Reasons To Strength Train
1) To Build Muscle and Gain Strength: Don’t worry, ladies. This does NOT mean that you’re going to ‘bulk up’ or look too masculine. What will happen is that your arms, tummy and legs will become tighter, leaner and more defined.
2) To Lose Fat: When it comes to losing size, all that you want to see go is fat, not muscle. Strength training ensures that you maintain and grow those muscles and lose unwanted fat.
3) To Build Strong Bones: The older we get, the more important our bone density is. A good strength training program is one of your best defenses when it comes to osteoporosis.
4) To Alleviate Anxiety, Stress and Depression: Sure there are plenty of pills out there that claim to give these benefits, but you and I both know that strength training is a more wholesome and effective way. And besides, who really wants pharmaceutical side effects?
5) To Sleep Better: Here’s another pill you can stop taking once you start strength training. Study after study have proven that strength training improves sleep.
6) To Improve Chronic Back Pain: If you are one of the millions across the globe who suffer from back pain then you’ll love the benefit of decreased pain.
7) To Improve Insulin Sensitivity: Today diabetes is a huge threat. Minimize your risk by improving insulin sensitivity through regular, challenging strength training.
8) To Improve Good to Bad Cholesterol Ratio: Here is yet another pill that you could potentially stop taking while on a strength training routine. Blood pressure and heart health are of utmost concern, so why not give yourself the advantage of a strength training routine?
9) To Raise your Metabolism: This helps to reduce body fat and to keep that body fat off, even on the days that you aren’t able to exercise. Pretty awesome, right?
A solid strength training routine will tone your legs, lift your buns, strengthen your core, and will result in inches and pounds lost.
All those things I mentioned at the beginning of this post–aerobics class, jogging or biking–these are all great things to do to improve your fitness. However, to round out that fitness program and get the best results, strength training is the key, hands down!
Not sure how to safely add strength training to your current fitness routine? Contact us at lifeSport Fitness for a free consultation, or sign up for a free one-week trial at our boot camp workouts in San Jose or Campbell. We can teach you how to successfully strength train in a one-on-one session or at boot camp.
Committed to your success,
Becky