When I sit down with a private training client for the first time, the goal they have is usually some form of weight loss. I usually ask if they have tried any existing exercises or programs to help them achieve their goal. For most of those who have tried anything at all, the majority I would say had to do with some form of cardio-often on the elliptical.
Now, I’m not trying to bash on cardio. Cardio is amazing for long term cardiovascular health, as well as a whole bunch of other things. But for the sake of weight loss, I like to help build a foundation of strength to start. Let’s go over a couple things I like to teach all my clients about strength training that will change your fitness life for the better.
Weight Loss Miracle
I hate using the term miracle when it comes to weight loss, because there really is not miracle or shortcut. It all comes down to putting in time to improve your activity levels and nutrition habits. But if there were one thing that would be a game changer, it would be weight lifting.
The benefits of weight lifting for weight loss last longer after your hard pump at the gym. With cardio, your calories burned are about set in stone once you hop off that treadmill, but after a weight lifting session, your body continues to burn calories in the following hours to help your body recover and rebuild.
Curves
Let’s be real, looks matter. People come up to me for a reason, they usually want to start out by changing their appearance. Weight training for women often receives a bad reputation. Women see all they guys in these photos that look absolutely jacked and vein popping left and right, so they think “weight lifting is definitely not for me”.
Although men might get that insanely muscle packed body from weight lifting, it’s primarily due to the hormone testosterone. Biologically speaking, men typically naturally produce over 1000 times the amount of testosterone that women do, so you really don’t have to worry about look like the hulk after 3 weeks of weight lifting. Plus, it’s not even that easy for guys to put on that much muscle, trust me I know firsthand…
Additionally, have muscle is what gives your body those good looking natural curves. It’s what gives definition to your legs and your waist. If you dropped all your body fat and ended up with little to no muscle, you would literally become a stick. Whether or not that’s what you’re going for, is up to you.
Bone & Muscle Health
I know we all hate thinking about this, but one day we’ll all be old and our bodies will start weakening. When working with older clients, I see a pretty common pattern. Those who used it, kept it. Those who didn’t, lost it. What I mean by that is people who stayed active and put their bodies to work regularly seemed to be able to carry on that activity level into their elder years.
My grandma is almost 90 and continues to walk about a mile to the market multiple times a week to get groceries. I’ve trained a woman in her mid-70’s who is in great shape. She’s able to move efficiently with little to no issue, and I can say it was most likely due to her habit of walking for almost an hour, twice a day, as a regular habit.
So the point is, weight lifting not only helps produce more muscle and bone density, but also helps you retain it for a longer period of time. The longer you continue to push your body to work for you, the longer your body will continue to do so.
So,
I hope that was enough to convince you to get up and start weight training today. Now, you don’t need to be hitting the gym 5 days a week, but maybe start adding 1-2 days of strength training into your regular fitness routine and prepare to reap the benefits of it.
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