Weightlifting and Fitness
| WEIGHT TRAINING Increase Muscle Size Equipment Weight Loss Squats Deadlift Weight Lifting Body Mass Index Strength Training Health Heart Health Joint Health Back Injury Kids Women 3 Best Weight Lifting Websites Senior Health and Fitness |
Weightlifting is probably the single most effective exercise you can do to improve health and general fitness. It raises your metabolism while it builds strength and self-confidence. Weightlifting can improve your game no matter what sport you are active in, and also improves cardio function and heart health when done properly. Weightlifting can even strengthen bones and lessen or prevent the symptoms associated with osteoporosis. Whether they are big or small, short or tall, anyone can benefit and benefit from a good weightlifting program. As we age our metabolism slows down and we lose lean muscle mass and bone density. Loss of lean muscle mass leads to even slower metabolism, and this becomes a vicious cycle leading to an overweight and sedentary lifestyle which brings with it a whole host of other health problems. Now, I am not saying that lifting weights and weight training can actually reverse the aging process, but it can break this cycle, and make you feel fit and keep you fit at any age. Just ask Jack LaLanne, still going "strong" at 92 as this is written NOTE: Sadly, since this was originally written, Jack LaLanne did die. He will be missed by all in the health and ftiness community. One of the hardest parts of any exercise program is maintaining the motivation to keep going. With weightlifting, it is somewhat easier for many to stay motivated than with most other exercise. With weight training, you can see and feel the results in just a short time. Try it for only a few weeks and you will start to see an almost immediate increase in your strength and stamina by as much as 20 to 40%. This can happen not only at the gym, but suddenly all those grocery bags you carry home from the store or your kids are going to feel much lighter. If I may digress for a moment and tell you about Morjorie Newlin. In her 70's, Morjorie was having trouble carrying the big bags of cat litter she needed. So, she began weight training. In only a few months, whe was competing in Masters Level bodybuilding competitions...in a bikini. Morjorie continued to compete into her 80's. At any age, however, increased strength and power will improve any sport you are into. Stronger leg muscles will allow you to run faster. A stronger upper body can help you hit a ball (golfball, baseball, whatever) harder or throw further. Weightlifting and strength training can also help improve stamina overall, and stronger muscles and bones can take more of a pounding so lifting weights can help prevent other sports related injuries. I am in my 60's and frequently recommend weight training as a good form of senior exercise on my senior health blog. It helps keep bones and muscles strong, improves balance, and helps keep seniors active, healthy, and happy. Of course weight training will help you look better as well. In fact, many people start lifting only to improve their physique and physical apperance. They do not even realize all of the other benefits one gets from sculpting a toned and defined body by weightlifting. Some fitness experts argue that good cardio (aerobic) exercise is better to improve cardio vascular health than weight training. However, some studies have proven that cardiac output increases during weightlifting. It is best to combine weight training and cardio to get the most fat burning benefits. International personal fitness trainer Fabrice Rinaldi, has created an information product, "1 Rep Fitness", which shows a really great way to use weight training to burn fat and get fit. Of course it is a physiological fact that the heart and lungs support all muscle functions, so when muscles are taxed during weightlifting their support system is also getting a workout. For this reason, most fitness experts suggest that you engage in an exercise program that includes at least some weight lifting combined with cardio, even a few days a week, for total overall good health and fitness. 
|
 |
About Weightlifting and Fitness
Page Updated 19:26 Thursday 05/19/2011
