Strength training is basically weight training, resistance training, and muscular training. The general definition of strength training is any physical movement whether your body weight or equipment to build strength, muscle mass, and endurance. Strength training should be on top of your list if you could do one thing to improve your health. Strength training are of many types which can be done using body weights (pushups, pullups, squats, lunges, etc) or by using various equipments like free weights (dumbbells, barbells, kettlebells, etc), resistance bands, weight machines or suspension equipments. The aim of strength training is to put muscles under pressure to allow muscle growth and neuromuscular adaptations. Here are the 10 benefits of strength training apart from making you strong:
Burns Calories Efficiently
Building muscles increases metabolic rate which allows you to burn more calories at rest. Research shows that after strength training the metabolic rate is increased up to 72 hours.
Decreases Abdominal Fat
Research has shown that the abdominal fat and the total body fat is reduced due to strength training. Abdominal fat, especially visceral fat, is associated with an increased risk of chronic diseases, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and certain types of cancer.
Can Help You Appear Leaner
Another benefit of strength training is that you will appear leaner as you build more muscle and lose fat. Muscle takes up less space on your body pound for pound. Even if you don’t see a change in the number on the scale you will lose inches off of your waist.
Lowers Your Risk Of Injury
Another benefit of strength training is that it improves the range of motion, and mobility of your muscles, and strengthens ligaments and tendons. This can reinforce strength around major joints like your knees, hips, ankles and provide additional protection against injury. Moreover it can help correct muscular imbalances. Strength training contains involvement of more than one muscles in an exercise which takes off load from injury prone areas.
Improves Heart Health
Another benefit of strength training is that it improves the health of the heart. Regular strength training can maintain the blood pressure, lower bad cholesterol and improve blood circulation.
Helps manage your blood sugar levels
Blood sugar levels management can be a benefit of strength training. Regular strength training can lower the risk of developing diabetes. Skeletal muscle reduces blood sugar levels by removing glucose from the blood and sending it to muscle cells. As a result, blood level management can be improved by having greater muscle mass.