Read more about ‘Strength Training’ Category

Why Should I Lift Weights?

615225_champion_weight_lifterWeight lifting or strength training offers numerous health benefits for men, women and even children. There are a number of ways to go about it, depending on your strength level and body type and what you hope to achieve. It’s not about becoming muscle-bound or achieving a certain look. There’s so much more to it. Lifting weights can lower your BMI. It can increase your stamina. It can improve your cardiovascular function. Load-bearing exercise ... READ MORE

Weightlifting for Heart Health

505723_blood_pressureIn the past, cardio workouts were considered the best way to improve your health heart and keep your cardiovascular system strong. Cardio workouts lower the risk of heart attacks and strokes, and for this reason, are essential to heart and cardiovascular health. Weightlifting was considered non-beneficial to people with heart attack and stroke concerns. In fact, many doctors discouraged their patients from weightlifting because it was feared to be too ... READ MORE

Weightlifting for Depression and Anxiety

791362_dumbellIt was once believed that weightlifting was bad for children because it inherently damaged their bone growth plates. The elderly were considered too frail to lift weights for strength training. And it just wasn’t considered ladylike for women. We’ve come a long way from these ideas – none of which are quite true. Weightlifting can cause damage to anyone when it’s done incorrectly, and the correct way for a twenty-five-year-old man ... READ MORE

Weight Lifting and Back Injuries

669278_lifting_weights___1While the benefits of weightlifting outweigh the risks, and getting instruction from a competent trainer should enable you to avoid injury or strain, weightlifting is not without risk. It is possible to hurt muscles by overworking them or working them incorrectly. The area of great concern is the back, because back injuries are difficult to heal, and problems in the back can affect many other areas of the body. Fortunately, ... READ MORE

Weight Lifting for Joint Health

1183623_knee_replacement_-_front_viewCan weightlifting help with arthritis and other joint problems? Knee and hip replacements are becoming more and more healthy, but who wants surgery if there’s an easier way? An exercise routine that includes weightlifting can help prevent the need for surgery by strengthening your joints now. In 2006, the periodical Arthritis Care and Research released a study which traced the progress of two groups of knee arthritis patients. One group performed ... READ MORE

5 Weightlifting Accessories

184379_work_gloves_2Whether you’re just doing strength training or are a professional body builder, there are accessories designed to make your lifting safer and more effective. Not everyone uses every accessory available, but it’s a good idea to be familiar with what’s out there so you can choose what you need. Weight gloves. One of the most common weightlifting accessories is a pair of gloves that allow you to grip the weights securely ... READ MORE

Weight Lifting for Kids

915277_muscle_manCan weightlifting harm children? If not, is there any benefit for kids in strength training? These questions have been debated for years because of concerns that certain physical activities can interfere with a child’s epiphyseal plates – more commonly called “growth plates.” It was believed weightlifting could cause these plates to close prematurely, stunting growth. The most recent studies, however, do not confirm this, and the American Society of Pediatrics (see ... READ MORE

Use strength training to lower your BMI

1195629_fitness_1If you’re looking to lower your BMI, a strength training (weight lifting) regimen is probably at least as helpful as diet and cardio. While simply not taking in as much fat from your food obviously helps to lower your overall body fat, weight lifting gives you an added advantage because it helps create lean muscle that actually burns more calories, even when you’re at rest. The problem with dieting alone is ... READ MORE

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