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Why resistance training?

Published: 17 Oct 2004

All exercise is beneficial. However, in order to enjoy the greatest benefits in terms of health and vitality, improvement in appearance and the best return on time invested, a well-balanced programme of resistance training, or weight training as it is commonly known is essential. Used in conjunction with cardiovascular exercise and proper nutrition it should be a part of everyone's exercise routine.

Lean muscle: the fat burner.
By adding lean muscle mass through resistance training you will significantly increase your body's metabolic rate. As you add muscle your body requires more energy to maintain itself, causing your body to burn fat for fuel, even while resting. Cardiovascular exercise alone will not achieve this and, in fact, may cause your body to break down muscle to use as energy. This reduces your body's daily caloric needs and results in a loss of muscle tone and strength along with a slowing of the metabolic rate.

If you wish to change your body shape, resistance training is absolutely essential. Cardio, while it may help you burn fat and lose weight, will not change your overall shape but rather, create a smaller version of the shape you were. Only resistance training will create a lean, sculpted and athletic body shape as well as building functional and useful real world strength. You will have increased flexibility and stronger joints and ligaments.

Weights for women
Many women avoid weight training in the belief that it will make them bulky and create an 'unfeminine' body shape. This is a myth; women simply do not have the body chemistry to add muscle mass in way men do. Resistance training helps women create slim, toned bodies by replacing bulky, unsightly fat with dense, calorie burning muscle. Weight for weight, muscle can take up as much as five times less space than fat. Even if your weight remains the same, by increasing lean muscle mass you will appear slimmer while dramatically increasing your body's fat burning ability. You will also enjoy the benefits of increased 'everyday' strength and the feeling of empowerment that this brings.

Resistance training is fun, satisfying and gets results fast.
It is possible, with a well-designed weight training programme and a little dedication, to achieve dramatic changes in strength and body shape in just a few months. People of all ages and abilities find weight training a gratifying and enjoyable pastime with significant health benefits. It's also a great stress reliever. Combined with cardiovascular exercise and proper nutrition it will have you looking and feeling great in no time.