Get Fit With Resistance Training: 8 Reasons Why You Should Start Now!

Are you trying to get fit but aren’t sure how or where to start? It can be hard to know where to begin when you first start looking into different ways of getting fitter. There are so many options out there, which can be overwhelming. But with the right kind of guidance and information, you can make smarter choices and begin your journey toward a fitter you, in no time at all. It doesn’t matter what kind of exercise you love – running, cycling, swimming, yoga, or dance classes: whatever it is that gives you that happy feeling inside. If you want to get fit with resistance training and build lean muscle mass, then read on for reasons why resistance training is just what you need.
1. It’s the easiest and fastest way to lose weight and body fat.
Weight training is a great way to lose body fat quickly. You can burn more calories lifting weights than you can by doing cardio. Lifting weights, especially heavy weights, will cause your body to release a hormone called growth hormone (GH) that increases your metabolism and burns more calories for up to 48 hours after your workout ends. Research shows that lifting weights is the best way to lose weight and keep it off. With weight training, the more you lift and the heavier the weights you use, the more calories you’ll burn. When you lose fat, you’ll also likely see an increase in muscle mass which is a key factor when you are trying to get fit, as having a higher proportion of lean muscle mass can help you lose more fat.
2. It makes other activities easier and more effective.
Weight training isn’t just good for losing weight and body fat, while building lean muscle mass. It also helps make other activities that you love easier and more effective. If you love swimming and want to improve your stroke, or if you love hiking and want to climb steeper trails with ease, or if you love dancing and want to have better posture and balance, weight training can help with that. If you want to excel at your favourite sport and be able to push yourself to the next level, then resistance training is a great way to do that.
3. You’ll build lean muscle mass – which is what you want!
Weight training is the best way to build lean muscle mass. It’s what we’re designed to do! It’s when our bodies are under physical stress and demand, that’s when they naturally produce more of a protein called human growth hormone (HGH). When we’re younger, the release of HGH is what triggers our bodies to build more lean muscle mass. As we get older, this release is reduced and our bodies produce less HGH, so it’s no surprise that as we get older, we are likely to lose some muscle mass and are more at risk of developing weak, fragile bones. When your muscles are under consistent enough stress, they trigger a process called hypertrophy. This is when the muscles break down, creating micro-tears in the process. It’s when the muscles repair these micro-tears that they grow bigger and stronger as they’re stimulated by your body to produce more HGH.
4. It helps you burn more calories even while resting.
We’ve already mentioned how lifting weights increases your metabolism and helps you burn more calories while lifting, but did you know that this increased calorie burn can continue even after you’ve finished your workout? When you exercise, your body needs to burn through energy stores to make that happen. When you are lifting weights, you are triggering your body to release cortisol – a hormone that helps you break down energy stores and use them as energy. When you stop exercising, your cortisol levels remain elevated for a period of time. This means that you are burning extra calories as your body continues to use energy stores.
5. It’s the safest way to build strength, bone density, and mobility.
We’ve already talked about how weight training helps you build lean muscle mass, but it also helps you to build strength and bone density. When you lift weights, you are putting strain on your muscles. This triggers your body to release growth hormone (GH), which makes your muscles grow. As we grow older, our bodies produce less GH, which can lead to age-related muscle loss, known as sarcopenia. This is when our bodies tend to lose muscle mass and bone density. When you lift weights, it also helps to strengthen your bones, which is great news for people who are at risk of developing osteoporosis.
6. It can help with flexibility too!
When you lift weights, your muscles are under constant stress. This is what triggers your muscles to grow, but what many people don’t know is that it also triggers your muscles to increase their range of motion and flexibility. There are different types of stretching exercises you can do before and after your workouts to get the most out of your sessions and increase your flexibility gradually over time. When you strength train, your muscles are contracting and working as they do when performing any other kind of exercise, but you’re also pulling on them. This gentle pulling motion encourages your muscles to stretch and grow more flexible.
7. Resistance training can be fun!
Weight training can be fun! You can design a program that you enjoy doing, and as long as you stay within your limits and push yourself to progress and push your boundaries, you can make it really fun. There are tons of different types of exercises and programs you can do with weights. You can do body-weight exercises, like squats, lunges, push-ups, and sit-ups. You can also use resistance bands and even choose to use machines at the gym. You can even lift household items as weights, as long as you have the right technique and intensity!
8. You can do it anywhere and anytime, regardless of your current fitness level.
If your schedule is packed with work, family commitments, and social engagements, then fitting in a 60-minute exercise session each day may be next to impossible. But resistance training doesn’t take long at all. You can get a full-body workout, including your core, in just 15-30 minutes a few times a week. And the best thing is, regardless of your current fitness level, you can start resistance training right away. It doesn’t matter if you’re new to exercise or have been exercising for years – you can still benefit from weight training.
As you can see, resistance training is the best way to get fit. It’s the quickest way to lose weight and body fat, you’re likely to build more lean muscle mass, which will make other activities easier and more effective. You can also help increase your bone density, flexibility, and strength, and thanks to the release of hormones, you can even continue to burn calories even after you’ve finished working out. With resistance training, you can do it anywhere and anytime, regardless of your current fitness level. All you need to do is find the type of resistance training that you enjoy doing and get to it.