Lifting weights is a non-negotiable for women

The world of health and fitness can be so confusing and overwhelming. With trendy fads popping up all the time, it can be hard to determine which piece of advice to listen to. Hot yoga, body sculpt classes, high intensity interval training, and the list goes on. Where does one start? Beginning weight training is the best place for you to start. Now I want to be clear, I am not knocking the other modalities that exist. But in terms of getting the biggest return on your investment, lifting weights is that modality that will guarantee that for you tenfold.

Lifting weights has so many health benefits including…

1- Building muscle mass - muscle is a longevity organ and can help with the prevention of many lifestyle diseases today (such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, cardiovascular disease)

2- Improving body composition - this is how much muscle you have on your frame versus fat tissue. This is what most women are after, which is lowering the amount of bodyfat they carry and increasing the skeletal muscle mass they have on their frame to arrive at a more desirable aesthetic.

3- Improving insulin sensitivity - this is your bodies ability to use sugar in the blood stream which is vital for preventing insulin resistance and diabetes

4- Building bone density- placing stress on the bones through resistance training helps your bones get stronger overtime

5- Improving cognitive health by sending blood flow to your brain and also reducing inflammation

6- Improving postural health - strong posture can help with back pain and neck pain

7- Improving mental resiliency and confidence

8- Improving stress management- weight bearing exercise can help you exert pent up emotional and mental energy

9- Improved energy levels

10- Improved sleep - helping you to feel more restored the next day and have the energy to power up and feel more productive

As you can see, there are so many tremendous health benefits to lifting weights which is why I am such a huge advocate of women starting here. I want you to see lifting weights as a big rock, which is an action that holds a tremendous amount of weight and leverage. The next step is to start with what you have. Bodyweight and bands, thats totally okay. A pair of dumbbells, that’s fine too. Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good, the most important thing you do is just get started.