Exercise and going to the gym are generally thought to have numerous health benefits. Many different types of gains are talked about when it comes to weight lifting, but does it actually improve your health? If you're getting into weightlifting, we have good news for you! It does actually improve your physical as well as mental well-being, and today we're going to show you how exactly that happens.
Your bones get stronger
If you've ever heard of osteoporosis, you know that bone health is no joke. After we turn about 30 years old, we start to lose our bone density bit by bit due to aging. Eventually, if we don't take care of our bones, this leads to the development of osteoporosis; a disease where your bones become so weak they break with stress as little as coughing or sneezing. Osteoporosis can't be detected either as it happens "silently," and weight lifting is one of your best weapons to protect against it!
Better metabolism, more fat loss
When you lift weights, you build fat and replace it with muscle. Muscle is an active tissue and, as opposed to fat, requires more energy to function even when you’re at rest. This means you may be burning fat despite not exercising. Another advantage of replacing fat with muscle is that muscle weighs more but takes up less space than fat. This means you’ll see yourself getting fitter despite your weight staying the same or even increasing a bit!
Better mood
It's been long established that exercise improves our mood, and it's no different when it comes to weight lifting. When you go to the gym, you establish a routine that makes you feel good about yourself physically and creates a mindset where you start enjoying going there and exercising. Weight lifting also improves our posture, which is particularly important for the spine when sitting down. With improvements in mood and posture, you'll also see yourself getting better quality sleep, leading to higher energy levels throughout your day!
More strength
Weight lifting is often synonymous with strength training; you’re building your muscles to get stronger and lift heavier weights for more and more reps. The result of this is, well, your muscles get stronger! You’re able to perform regular physical activities with ease that your peers might struggle to do, such as helping a friend move or picking up all the grocery bags in one trip (we’ve all tried it… And failed). More strength usually translates to more endurance as well since you'll need to use a smaller amount of strength to get the same amount of effort.
Protects against diseases
Cardio and exercise have always been associated with lowered heart disease risk, as it ensures your organs are performing at their best. In doing so, they get stronger and can better fend off diseases that plague so many people in the later stages of life. And the protection isn't only against physical diseases; your mental health improves significantly as well!