Everyone Benefits from Strength Training
When beginning their pursuit to get in shape, many people will lace up their running shoes and hit the treadmill in an effort to lose weight and get fit. While cardiovascular health is essential - and has been the focus of most public fitness messaging for decades - strength training can provide more robust and longer-lasting health benefits than cardiovascular training alone.
At Center Circle Health & Fitness, we have trained clients of all ages and goals. (Click here for testimonials) Every single person has benefited from becoming physically stronger. Regardless of your current age or health status, it’s never too late to increase your resiliency and improve your vitality with strength training.
Strength training is the closest thing we have to a fountain of youth. Along with a whole foods nutrition strategy, strength training on a regular basis can help deliver the following physical and mental health benefits:
Increase your insulin sensitivity and normalize blood sugar level (crucial for individuals with type II Diabetes)
Boost your basal metabolic rate through the development of lean muscle tissue
Boost daily energy levels
Promote deeper, more restful sleep
Build bone mineral density
Lower bad cholesterol while increasing good cholesterol
Decrease visceral fat (the fat surrounding your organs)
Lower triglycerides
Increase dopamine and serotonin
Improve libido
Improve body image
Help reduce anxiety and depression
Maintain independence as you age
Many clients find that strength training gives their bodies the shape that they desire. It also gives them a sense of accomplishment when they can perform exercises in the gym that they never thought possible for themselves. Life becomes easier to manage when your body can meet and exceed your day's physical demands.
Building a strength training habit does not mean you need to become a bodybuilder or competitive powerlifter. You can reap the majority of these health benefits by strength training 2-3 days per week for 45-60 minutes per session. Your body is highly adaptable, and it craves movement. Our brain and nervous system are wired for movement. We want our clients to make strength training a part of the normal care and upkeep of their bodies.
If you’re looking for a place to start, we recommend 2-3 days of total body strength training, with 1-2 days of active rest or general movement in between gym sessions.
Click here to download our free 3-day Sample Total Body Gym Program.
*Disclaimer* This sample program is intended for individuals without preexisting health conditions, who have been cleared by their physician to engage in a self-guided exercise program. Please consult with your physician to determine if you’re healthy enough to begin a self-guided exercise program.