Resistance training.
It’s also known as strength training or weight training.
This type of training works by using your own muscle strength against resistance. Therefore it doesn’t have to be a set of dumbbells, it could just as easily be your own body weight. You do this in yoga, performing push-ups, or the plank is a great one for you and me.
Here’s a quick (2 1/2 minute plank how-to video).
When we talk about exercise, the focus is so often on cardio. However, resistance training is really important for everyone especially post-40 women.
Here are some of the top benefits of adding resistance training to your workout routine.
1. You’ll look leaner
Have you heard that muscle weighs more than fat?
It’s true.
And it’s why people who take up resistance training look leaner and wear smaller sizes in clothing even if the scale says they weigh more.
They’ve built up muscle which helps to burn more energy. As a result, they look thinner and more toned but weigh heavier. One reason we shouldn’t pay as much attention to the scales as we do to measurements, how our clothes fit and how we feel.
What’s more, weight training and working out your muscles gives you more energy during the day. Additionally, when it’s time to sleep, you also sleep better. With better sleep, you’re also burning more fat and will have a more active metabolism when you wake up.
2. You can support your bones and muscles
Nearly every part of your body benefits from weight training plus you’ll have better strength and support for your muscles, bones, and tissue.
Strength training also helps to improve bone density and will prevent bone loss as you age. Crucial for 40+ chickies because we lose muscle mass and also become vulnerable to osteopenia and osteoporosis.
In addition, your muscles and tissues get stronger, reducing potential injuries later in life.
All of this is good news when you’re trying to lose weight and want to avoid injuries that could keep you from your regular workouts.
3. It gives you a better quality of life
Overall, as you’ve read above, resistance training contributes to giving you a better quality of life.
You avoid injury, lose weight faster and more easily and will look and feel better overall.
In fact, there are a lot of reasons to take it up and not too many reasons to avoid it.
You don’t have to spend hours every day working on it either; try a circuit training session at the gym or some YouTube videos right in your living room.
Keep it simple because the general rule of exercise is:
“The best type of exercise for you is the one you’ll do.” 😊
Thanks for stopping by,
Yours in health & happiness 
Photo by Kaylee Garret on Unsplash
