Strength Training, it’s not just for athletes!

There is no doubt that when it comes to building muscle and targeting specific muscle groups, working out with strength training equipment is the way to go.  We all know that athletes hit the gym to get themselves conditioned for their season and workout on strength training equipment during the off season but what about the rest of us?  What if you are not an athlete?  Should you be visiting this area of the gym?

The answer is yes.  Strength training is not just for athletes, it is for everyone.  The benefits are wide ranging for people of all ages and in all stages of physical fitness.  If you are someone who spends most of your workout time doing cardio or in a group fitness class, this blog is for you!

Here is our list of 8 reasons why YOU should hit the strength training side of the gym floor today:

1 – Strength Training Burns Calories.  Obviously any type of physical activity will burn calories, but would you be surprised to know that working out with these machines burn calories more efficiently than your typical cardio work out?  It’s true.  Plus, it increases your heart rate which is what you are looking for when your feet hit the treadmill.

2 – Strength Training Helps You To Target Specific Muscle Groups.  This may seem like a simple statement but it’s true.  If you are looking to strengthen a specific area of your body, the quickest route would be to utilize OCSC’s wide variety of fitness equipment.

3 – Strength Training Helps To Manage Weight Gain. Another simple truth, working out with strength training equipment just 2 – 3 times a week will help you to maintain a healthier lifestyle and manage weight gain.

4 – Strength Training Will Make You Happier.  No, it’s not a magic pill but the simple science is that exercising releases endorphins.  Endorphins are neurotransmitters, chemicals our body releases that pass along signals from one neuron to the next. When you workout, your body releases endorphins that tell every part of you that working out is good for you and so you end up feeling pleasure!

5 – Strength Training Will Help You To Sleep Better.  According to the Better Sleep Council, 60% of people who lift weights 2 – 3 times per week sleep on average more than 7 hours a night.

6 – Strength Training Will Increase Your Bone Strength.  This is good news especially for women between the ages of 50 – 70.  Studies from Tufts University have shown that menopausal women who added strength training as part of their workout regimen saw an increase in hip and spine bone density, a 75% increase in strength and a 13% increase in balance!

7– Strength Training Will Decrease Signs & Symptoms of Disease.  The CDC reports that adding regular strength training to your workout can decrease pain by as much as 43%.  Plus, it has been shown to reduce the symptoms of arthritis, diabetes and osteoporosis.

8– Strength Training Will Help To Ease Aging.  As you age you lose muscle mass which makes you more prone to injury.  Aging also decreases your metabolism making it more difficult to maintain your ideal body weight.  Adding strength training as part of your regular workout routine will help with both issues.  You will maintain if not increase muscle mass, gain strength as well as balance so there is a decreased likelihood of a fall that leads to an injury.  Plus as we have already discussed, working out with strength training equipment burns calories which helps to increase your metabolism, that will only serve to help with your weight loss and/or weight management goals.