Strength training for every body.

Where once only getting "bigger muscles" was the goal of strength training and mostly men participated in the routine; today, women and men alike, young and old, thin and overweight, healthy and not so healthy are finding their way into weight training areas at gyms and discovering the "magic" of strength training--beyond simply achieving a beautiful body.

Why strength training? It's really quite simple. Fitness experts have realized that there is more to being "fit" than just cardiovascular strength. Muscle strength is an equally important component to overall health and fitness. As people live longer lives, strength training helps them function more capably and independently.

Although physical appearance is a definite plus that comes from strength training and is a motivational factor for a large part of the population, there are additional reasons every body can benefit from strength training, regardless of age.

Maintain or enhance lean muscle weight

It's a fact. You will lose 1/2 pound of muscle for every year you age past 20, if you do not incorporate some type of resistance training into your exercise routine. Think about that for a moment. That means if you weighed 120 pounds at the age of 20 and you weigh 120 pounds now at the age of 40, you've replaced 10 pounds of muscle with 10 pounds of fat, even though your weight is exactly the same. Pretty shocking, isn't it?

There is much talk in today's media about the health risks associated with excess body fat, but did you know that muscle actually burns more calories than fat? One extra pound of muscle will burn 50 more calories a clay, just at rest. On the other hand, every pound of muscle you lose will burn 50 less calories a day. This may explain why you were able to eat more when you were younger. Since muscle is denser than fat and takes up less space, your body doesn't look quite the same, and that size 8 is now a size 12.

Aerobic exercise helps burn the excess fat but cannot delay the natural diminishing in overall body muscle tissue associated with the aging process. There are no magic pills or treatments ... strength training is the answer.

Injury Prevention and increased capacity

Skeletal muscles are the shock absorbers in your body. Some of these muscles work 24 hours a day, like the ones that help you stand or sit. Muscles help protect your bones and joints. It's easy to see how strengthening your major muscle groups will diminish the stress on your bones and lessen the risk of exercise or even daily-related activities. Strong muscles make all activities easier to perform.

Prevention of Osteoporosis 

Although strength training cannot turn back the clock on osteoporosis once you have it, research indicates that strength training can help reduce a woman's risk of developing osteoporosis.

If you are unsure about how to get started on a strength training program, consult with a fitness expert or Personal Trainer. Mid Valley Athletic Club has recently taken aggressive steps to elevate the knowledge of their Personal Training staff by forming an alliance with the National Academy of Sports Medicine, the international leaders in fitness education and the creators of the Optimum Performance Training Method.

Information for this article was provided by Mid Valley Athletic Club. For more information call 818-705-6500.