Lifting weights has the ability to enhance your life in so many ways aside from the obvious benefits of getting fit, strong, and losing fat.
Many join the gym, start lifting weights and feel good with the muscle pump. But then something magical happens, the more you get into the strength sessions, the more you notice there is so much more to strength training than just squats and great biceps. The beauty of lifting weights starts to change the focus of simply workout for aesthetics, health and/or performance to so much more.
Here are 10 ways that strength training will enhance your life.
1. Boost Confidence
When lifting weights there is something incredibly glorious about the actual movement of lifting the weight. It feels good, it feels powerful and it makes you feel almost indestructible. Ok, that’s a bit extreme, but it gives an amazing boost of confidence knowing you can lift a particular weight, that your body can move that weight and perform a movement such as a heavy barbell squat. When you first start strength training you will be weaker but as time goes on and you exercise consistently each week you will notice an improvement in the movement pattern and the weight being used. There’s a feeling of inner strength from knowing that you are getting stronger, developing definition and feeling fitter. This is a huge boost of confidence!
2. Be More Positive
Exercise is well known for being good for the mood. It has a super way of boosting endorphins and helping you to feel good and think clearly. When strength training your mind will be focused on the movements and weights, when seeing and feeling the improvements it helps you to become more positive about the session. This positive vibe seems to stem into life outside of the gym.
3. Learn Discipline
When following a structured strength programme, there will be a goal and solid plan. Goal setting, planning, organisation and prioritisation are a huge aspect of strength training. As you will be following a plan each week for a set period of time to work on a specific goal, you will become accustomed to the discipline of a plan. When you start to notice the benefits of having a set plan to achieve a goal, you will be more willing to try this in other aspects of your life. It will help to teach discipline and by having that focus you can achieve the things you desire.
4. Become Organised
The set training plan will be thorough and organised to help you achieve your fitness goals. Each time you step into the gym, you will know exactly what you are doing and can get on with the workout. It will help you to be organised and avoid wasting time. This is something that will really help in other areas, such as organising meals for the week.
5. Push Outside of Comfort Zone
There will be times in a strength session when you are tested, both physically and mentally. You may think you simply can’t pick up that weight. It can be too easy to get stuck in the same programme for a long period of time which usually leads to a plateau. By following a solid plan it will help you to push through rather than easily doing something else that is too easy and comforting. To continue seeing results from your workouts you must challenge your body. The more you do this, the more you will challenge yourself with other goals in life.
6. Mind over Matter
It is great to challenge the mind as it will help you to learn, adapt, develop and be open minded to new things in life. Lifting weights can develop the habit of pushing through fear. If you are doing a heavier set of squats it can be too easy to let the mind get in the way saying “it’s too heavy” and “you can’t do this”, when most of the time (if following a good programme that has prepared you properly) you will be able to squat the weight. Fear is a terrible state of the mind for adults as it can stop so many amazing things from happening. When you develop the art of telling yourself you can do it, you will become stronger in the mind, as well as the body. This will easily transfer into other areas of your life, helping to push through fear and saying YES you can!
7. Improve other Activities
Strength training will make you stronger, fitter and build endurance which will benefit other activities. Walking, running, lifting the children, climbing the stairs, playing sports, having balance and co-ordination; all of this will greatly improve.
8. Boost Sex Hormones
Lifting weights can be great for the hormones. By following a strength plan that takes your lifestyle, stress, and nutrition into consideration, it will help to keep hormones healthy. This includes sex hormones! Your positivity, confidence and general mood will help to boost the sex hormones helping the sexual desire boost.
9. Eat Better
One thing you will start to learn is the importance of food for workouts and goals. If you start to make changes in nutrition when applied with the workouts and feel good it will urge you to eat better more consistently. Strength training, nutrition and results all go hand in hand.
10. Feel Better
Overall, you will simply feel better. Lifting weights has a wonderful way of boosting endorphins (the feel good vibes). The feeling you get during and after a fantastic workout is incredible, you feel on top of the world and more motivated to do the next session. Your desire to strength train will increase, you will feel great and all of this will pass over to the rest of your life outside of the gym.
Would you like to see any of these changes in your life? To get started go HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE.
Rebecca is a personal trainer and health & wellness coach who is passionate about helping women to feel healthy, happy and LOVE life. As a coach with a huge passion for vegan nutrition, holistic health, enjoying exercise and self care, Rebecca is on a mission to help women thrive!
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