Want To Learn Why Weight Lifting Is Important For You? Here Are A Few Reasons

weight lifting for muscle building

Since the media has turned our attention to strength training more than ever before, we’re starting to see that more and more people are taking weight lifting more seriously. We’re also starting to see that it’s no longer just the huge bulky men doing the squatting, hitting the bench press, and lifting weights above their head and doing deadlifts.

You’ve probably heard that strength training is important for building muscle and losing fat. You may also know that lifting weights can improve your balance and help prevent injuries, and that stronger muscles have more endurance. But you may not have a clear understanding of why all that is true. Here are some reasons why lifting weight bars is important for you.

It Helps You Build Muscle

When you’re trying to lose weight, it’s tempting to focus on cardio exercises such as running or cycling that burn the most calories per hour. Those activities will help you shed pounds, but what you want is to lose fat and keep the muscle you have. In fact, research shows that people who gained muscle while they lost weight showed a more significant improvement in their body composition than those who didn’t. Cardio alone won’t build muscle quickly enough to make a difference.

It Helps You Lose Fat

fit girl measuring how much fat she lost
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Strength training helps build muscle mass, but it also increases your metabolism in two ways. First, building more muscle burns more calories at rest than does add fat tissue. Second, strength training causes your muscles to become more sensitive to insulin so that your body can take up glucose from your blood and use it for energy instead of storing it as fat. Next time you’re thinking of improving your physique without paying costly gym memberships, invest in quality weight bars and accessories and lose fat at home!

It Improves Your Mobility

If you sit at a desk all day, your back, hips, and glutes are probably tight. It’s no wonder that sitting has been linked to tightness in the hip muscles and hamstrings. Weight lifting also improves flexibility in your upper body and core. Tight shoulders and back muscles can make it impossible to perform basic movements like pushing your arms overhead or twisting your torso. Weight lifting helps with mobility by loosening up these tight muscles. If you have back pain, learning how to properly lift barbells can help you overcome it.

It Helps You Sit And Stand Taller

As we get older, our posture naturally begins to deteriorate. This can be due to lots of sitting throughout the day or simply from getting less exercise than we used to. Weight lifting will help you build stronger muscles in your core and back that assist in maintaining good posture. Building this strength will not only make you look taller but will also give you the confidence to sit up straight because you know your muscles are supporting your spine.

It Boosts Your Immunity

girl working out
Source: lifestyle.livemint.com

A lot of people don’t realize that a healthy body mass index (BMI) is directly related to our immunity. That’s because obesity can trigger an inflammatory response in our bodies that can tax our immune systems and leave us more vulnerable to infections. Weight lifting boosts immunity by increasing the number of immune cells circulating in your blood. This means you are less likely to get sick and will recover faster if illness strikes.

How To Build Your Home Weight Lifting Setup

exercising from home
Source: theverge.com

Some people probably have to deal with not having access to a gym. This can be for various reasons, but the bottom line is that a gym membership is too expensive or it’s simply inconvenient to get there. Well, that’s where your home weight lifting setup comes in. If you don’t have the time or money for a gym membership or even a fancy home gym, then this is the next best thing. The four most important things to consider when setting up a home gym are:

Space

The amount of space you have available for your home gym will directly impact what types of equipment you’re able to purchase, so it’s important to consider this first. If you have a spare bedroom or basement, you’ll have more options than if you’re limited to just a tiny corner of your living room.

Budget

Your budget will also determine what types of equipment you can buy. A fully-equipped home gym can cost thousands of dollars, but it doesn’t have to. There are plenty of affordable options that still allow you to get a great workout at home.

Exercise Choice

The type of exercise program (or programs) that you want to do will help determine which pieces of equipment are right for you. If muscle gain is your objective, strength training equipment is going to be the most important part.

Weights and Bars

iron weights
Source: ryanteshima.com

The first thing you need to buy is a dumbbell set. There are many types of weights available (rubber, iron, adjustable), but I recommend iron dumbbells for their durability and longevity.

Your second purchase should be either an Olympic weight bar or a standard weight bar. If you want to deadlift using proper form, then you should invest in Olympic weight bars because they’re more stable than their standard counterpart. Some weight sets come with both bars, so make sure to check before you buy anything.

To sum up

In short, weight lifting or weight training can benefit your body in several ways. And since these benefits are very much long term, you can expect positive changes if you practice an adequate program of weight lifting.

Whether you’re trying to bulk up or slim down, strength training will help you reach the physique you want faster and in the healthiest way possible. And with all of these benefits, why wouldn’t you want to give it a try?