6 Reasons to Start Strength Training
Are you someone who has heard about the many benefits of strength training, but avoid it because you’re worried about “bulking up”? Keep scrolling to get the real story on strength training, why it’s good for you and the positive impacts it can provide.
Strength Training and Benefits
Bulking up is a common misconception when it comes to strength training, primarily among women. As a result, many women might shy away from weight training and focus only on cardio – missing out on the many important benefits that strength training provides. I can relate to this because at one time I had this same mentality! Once I started researching how to balance health and fitness for optimal health, I realized I needed to re-think my assumptions.
The fear of “bulking up” or increasing major muscle gain and mass requires a more intense regimen of increasing calorie intake, heavier weight training, and the incorporation of mass building supplements such as creatine. In my experience, most women who incorporate strength training as part of their fitness regimen are not looking for extreme changes in their body composition.
If you’ve wondered about the benefits you could see from adding weights to your routine, check out the below:
There are countless approaches to strength training depending on your personal goals. For example, to build endurance you may focus on lighter weight and higher reps in the 12-15 range. If you would like to challenge yourself to gradually add more weight, you may focus on lower reps in the 5-8 range. The great thing about strength training is that there are so many options which can be customized based on your personal goals – there is not a “one size fits all” approach.
If you are looking to add weight training to your routine, there are many options! Focus on body weight to start, including squats, lunges, push-ups (regular or modified) and sit ups. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Work with a personal trainer (in person or virtual)
- Check out your local gyms where you can do your own program
- Group Classes
- Research apps and online programs that you can follow at home. Check out our post for some basic equipment suggestions: Upgrade Your Arsenal – Home Gym Equipment and Total Body Workout
