Resistance Training - How It Can Make You Stronger And More Healthy

There are many benefits to resistance training including improving your health dramatically and building strength at the same time. Research has shown, in fact, that just about everyone can improve their health by engaging in at least a moderate amount of resistance training on a regular basis. By doing resistance training, as you will see in this article, it can help you become more healthy and stronger even in your later years.

Most people that do not lift weights on a regular basis claim that they do not have enough time to follow through. Typically they have heard a strange rumor about weightlifters and bodybuilders but spend hours and hours at the gym. However, the fact is that you can gain many of the most important advantages of resistance training even if you only work out twice a week. The recommended number of workouts is usually between two and four, with at least one day of rest for working the same muscle groups. Anyone can vary the length of their workouts by doing two or three longer sessions, or doing for shorter sessions depending upon their schedule. To begin building muscle strength, burning fat, and improving your overall appearance, you only need to spend 2 to 3 hours a week at the gym.

If you don't want to go to a gym, you can still engage in effective resistance training exercises. You could, for example, get resistance bands, which are convenient and reasonably priced bands or cables that allow you to exercise all of your muscle groups. Chin-ups and pull-ups are also effective resistance training exercises that quickly build strength. You can even do exercises such as push-ups that require no equipment at all. 50 years ago fitness expert Charles Atlas devised the famous Dynamic Tension exercises that use only your body weight. Regardless of where you would prefer to work out, you can still do resistance training at the gym or at home.

While both aerobic exercise and resistance training can be effective for burning fat, the latter has an important benefit that the former doesn't. This involves what is known as the post workout calorie burn. What this entails is doing a vigorous anaerobic exercise that works your muscles enough to require recovery time. When this occurs, as it does when you lift weights or do other strength training exercises, your body burns calories more efficiently for up to 48 hours after the workout. Doing cardio exercises will also provide a similar effect for a shorter amount of time.

While some people have always been drawn to weight lifting and other strength building exercises, it's only in recent years that health experts have really understood the universal benefits of this type of exercise. Resistance training is good for increasing strength, losing weight, lowering your blood pressure and cholesterol and giving you a more youthful appearance. Although this may motivate you to join your local gym, you can start doing this type of training at home right away.

About the author: Barbara Jennings is a trainer and expert in home staging. Her home staging business training will teach you every aspect of staging homes plus you get listed in highly visible directories and have access to exceptional tools to help you succeed.