Muscle building does a whole lot more than make you look "buff" or "toned". So, take a moment to consider why you should start! In the upcoming blogs, I will discuss with more detail each benefit listed here!
1) Builds bone density. According to the National Institutes of health, performing progressive strength building exercises improves bone density through stressing the bone little by little. With the proper nutrition and the proper progression; your body has the tools it needs to build and rebuild. Bone loss occurs as early as 30 years old and continues. Start early; your future self with thank you!
2) Improves balance. Our body systems and senses communicate with each other. This impacts the way we perceive ourselves in space. Our muscles are connected to our brains through our nervous system. Strength also plays a role in the foundational aspect of balance. So strength and networking are improved through progressive muscle building exercise.
3) Weight and metabolism. An increase in muscle mass boosts resting metabolism. There is more mass and the movement of such requires more energy. According to an article from the National Institutes of Health and Members of the Florey Adelaide Male Ageing Study Inverse associations between muscle mass, strength, and the metabolic syndrome "fast glycolytic muscle fibers also has metabolic benefits. In humans, lean mass is positively associated with reduced incidence of insulin resistance or the metabolic syndrome." Insulin resistance occurs over time as cells are less likely to respond to insulin. And insulin helps direct glucose from the blood to the cells where energy is needed. Increasing physical activity may help reduce insulin resistance.
4) Cognition and Mood. In Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain, Dr. John Ratey discusses various studies and case studies in which exercise has improved certain areas: learning, stress, depression, attention deficit, addition, and hormonal changes. These complicated and overlapping features of our experience are influenced by exercise such as cardio and strength training.
Want to join the new troop!
