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5 Reasons Why Lifting Should Always be Part of Your WorkoutThere’s more to weight lifting than just bulking up. If you’re intimidated by the “free weights” zone at the gym, or just keeping it chill in your cardio routine, you may be surprised with the benefits the dumbbells bring to the table. And if you don’t want to bulk up, this is for you too. You can control how much you grow while still enjoying the results weightlifting brings to your health. And before we push some buttons on the treadmill lovers (we respect you), let’s recognize that cardio also has a very important place in your workouts. In fact, the benefits of cardio exercise are usually under emphasized with the masses. The issue is when those who truly enjoy cardio end up committing to just this type of exercise. Creating a balanced workout that combines cardio and strength training will substantially boost your physical and mental health. In fact, adding weight lifting to your workout routine will improve your cardio performance, but we’ll get to that soon. Lifting weights is key for building muscle, cutting fat, helping protect joint tissue, and many other benefits. FitArchon is committed to helping people engage in effective workouts that bring these results. Whether you’re new or experienced in resistance training, FitArchon is equipped to provide you with the solution and knowledge on the topic. So here are 5 great reasons why you should lift weights:
 Makes You StrongerYou may think “Duh… that’s obvious”. But it’s not just about adding more plates to your bar. Weightlifting opens the door for many different training approaches. Meaning a training routine may be crafted according to your needs and desired results.
With the correct routine, the demand that free weights have on your body resembles movements you perform in your everyday actions. It also prepares athletes for their activities when the training is geared toward their sport. So the strength you gain with weight lifting benefits your daily physical tasks beyond the gym turf. When you consistently weight lift, it will soon be easier for you to unload the car full of groceries, take out the trash, hold the dog on the leash, and carry the kids. Whether you’re an athlete, a construction worker or an office employee, weight lifting improves your daily life. It contributes to longevity in your work and reduces risk of injury.
 Strengthens More Tissue and Prevents InjuriesMuscles don’t work isolated from each other. Of course, every muscle group has a primary function, but there are many participants in an entire movement. For example, when squatting, your quads enable leg extension, but abductors and adductors also control and stabilize the action throughout the range of motion. Weight training engages synergistic muscles working to stabilize the targeted area in movement. So by training a specific muscle, you’re activating an entire group and improving overall strength. Not only that, studies show that when weight lifting you also strengthen bones and connective tissue like tendons and ligaments (1,2). All the stress and tension applied to these areas when exercising causes them to respond by increasing density and strength. Weight lifting leads to more overall strength, protects the joints involved in the movements, and ultimately prevents injuries (3).
Strength training builds lean muscle mass, which is great to increase metabolism. We’ll explain. You burn many calories during your workout but also continue to burn them during the hours following the exercise. Your muscles need the energy for recovery and remodeling processes4. So caloric burn occurs during rest periods as well. In other words, more muscle tissue demands more energy – and burns more calories – throughout the day even without exercise (4). So when weight lifting correctly, you’re helping your body cut the fat even when you’re not in the gym. This doesn’t underplay the importance of cardio exercise – turning our attention back to the treadmill lovers. But the effects of strength training on fat loss can’t be overlooked – you’re not just adding muscle tissue, but cutting off the fat too. Amazing!.
Boosts Confidence When training correctly, it won’t take long for you to notice differences in your body and your mental health. And though many agree that when you look better you feel better, the results go beyond aesthetics. Studies show that strength training helps with self-esteem, reduces anxiety, and improves sleep quality (5). You notice the positive effects trickling into other daily activities, and these results motivate you and improve your mental health. Lifting weights creates a challenge. When you progressively increase the weights – overcome pain and fatigue – and achieve your goals, the confidence boost is a natural consequence. And strength training provides many different ways to work out. So you can always change your exercises, revamp your routine, and spice things up. There’s infinite room to set new goals, keep challenging yourself and gain more confidence.
Benefits Cardio Performance Back to the metabolism thought, let’s highlight another benefit. With increased and improved metabolism, your body manages better the energy and effort it takes to accomplish a physical task like running (6). Plus, you support your body weight better with stronger core muscles during a jog or a swim for example. And during these activities, stronger arms and legs also provide better propelling force to push yourself forward. And finally, it’s easier and metabolically more economical to carry around your body weight when it’s mostly lean muscle mass rather than fatty tissue. This is why you don’t have to choose one type of exercise over the other – cardio is necessary, and weight lifting will make you better at it. So do both! How to Get StartedNow that you’re all studied up and know what to look forward to with strength training, let’s hit the gym – or basement, or garage. Wherever the lifting and sweating happens, that’s where you want to be! If you’re a newbie don’t sweat it – actually, you will sweat if you’re doing it right. The point is it doesn’t have to be intimidating. You can start with the basics. You don’t need to be a gym member or have a full gym set at home. With basic equipment like a barbell and some elastic bands, you have plenty to get started. No shame or judgment in doing what’s simple. Many times simple is best. FitArchon helps you find the best equipment and learn its functions to support you in your fitness goals no matter your level. If you’re in the gym routine already and want to up the challenge, FitArchon has your solution. Check out our inventory with all types of fitness equipment to fit your needs. At FitArchon, your health matters to us. We provide the equipment, the knowledge on how to operate it, and how to get the best workouts out of them. So let’s get lifting and see those benefits kick in! SOURCES:
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