by Ken Bendor
The benefits of a good strength training program are almost endless. Less disease, happiness and most importantly, showing off your muscles at the beach.
Strength training should be part of everyone’s routine. Even if you are low on time, strength training, according to the ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine), only needs to be done 2-3 times per week with each session lasting no more than one hour. For 2-3 hours per week, huge benefits can be realized.
Regular strength training will:
%2A%2Ahelp you in day to day activities around the house and in your yard. It will keep you independent which is especially important in the older population. Imagine not being able to lift a 5 pound bag of flour or take the garbage out by yourself.
%2A%2Alower the risk of osteoporosis, hypertension and diabetes.
%2A%2Ahelp you avoid lower back pain.
%2A%2Aincrease bone density which is important for post menopausal women.
%2A%2Aincrease muscle mass which burns more calories throughout the day than an equal amount of fat.
Even with all these benefits, many people are reluctant to start training with weights. Concerns include injury, incorrect form and for women; not wanting to grow muscles and look like a man.
When beginning your strength training program, the risk of getting hurt can be greatly reduced by starting out with machines rather than free weights. As you become more comfortable with the machines, slowly learn to use free weights. If you want to stick with the machines, know that they will give you the same benifits as free weights. As for the concern that women will look like men, it won’t happen without the help of steroids, which you shouldn’t even consider using.
Sometimes when we think ofbeing healthy, we think of eating and running. While these are important, strength training should never be left out. Strength training provides benefits to your health that cannot be found with any other mode of exercise and shouldn’t be forgotten.
About the Author :
Ken Bendor is a Senior at Florida State University studying Exercise Science and Dietetics. He started http://StraightHealth.com to try and spread easy to understand and accurate information on health and fitness. http://straighthealth.com
Article Source: www.iSnare.com
