Generally, when the words strength training are said we think about Olympic athletes or those individuals in gyms with bulging muscles lifting heavy weights. Without a doubt, they are strength training. You don’t need to be a superhero…or look like one to reap the benefits of strength training. Also, strength training is not only for the youngins. Everyone should be doing it!
1.
You Need Strength For Your Everyday Life Activities
I see it happen often. Individuals underestimate either how strong they are or how strong they can be. This happens in a gym setting where they may be disconnected to everyday life. Of course, it could be their unfamiliarity with weights. Yet your ability to lift luggage, a bag of groceries and shovel show all take strength. I promise you a gallon of milk weighs more than two pounds. Yet at the same time, a client will insist that she can pick up 2 or 5-pound weight. Do you travel? The maximum amount of weight carryon luggage is currently at 40 pounds. You may have wheels on it but at some point, you have to pick it up and put in the car or pick it up off of the ground. Standing up takes leg and core strength. Sometimes you may be holding something or someone. Do you want to always ask for help getting up or help to put your luggage in the overhead bin?
In everyday life what we move, pick up or carry often does not have the weight stamped on it. Nor are things exactly evenly weighted in everyday life. Even if you do not have a manual labor job – even an office job involves lifting boxes or other everyday feats of strength. Retirement is not best spent on the couch. If you are retired the world is your oyster. Chances are you are living your best life and every day is a weekend. Traveling and being as active as you want all encompass being strong enough to enjoy not having to answer to anybody.
You may have the fear or concern of hurting yourself while strength training. Perhaps you have hurt yourself in the past or want to learn about better form. Even if either or both are true then reach out to qualified professionals that are looking for people just like you to help get stronger.
Also, don’t forget that elephant in the room…BONE DENSITY.
2.
Strength Can Translate To Confidence In How You Move
Nobody likes feeling helpless. You don’t enjoy being injured or unable to do a task or movement that you see others do with ease. You don’t need a psychology degree to understand the emotional and mental value in moving throughout life knowing you can use your body the way you want.
Read this great article in Self.com about women and the benefits they have seen from strength training. Click here to read it. There is a substantial connection to the emotional benefits of strength training. It is great to see that lightbulb go off when women recognize that they are physically stronger than they thought they were!
If you do play sports the benefits of strength training may already resonate with you. Although there are other things in play like agility, balance, or flexibility…strength is an important component. Are you are a runner? You need to be doing strength training too! Being able to “dig” stronger and more efficiently can help you run better, faster and edge closer to your PRs.
Do you claim not to be an athlete or play sports? I am sure you already see the trick question here. You still have events every day. You do squats, lunges, deadlifts, walk, lift, twist, pull, push every day. Being able to perform all of those movements with ease, or with more ease is key to having the quality of life that you deserve.
There are exercises that mirror everyday life movements or help facilitate better movement in everyday life for a reason!
3.
Strength Training Has No Age Limit
You are never too old to strength train. Like anything as we get older our priorities change. You understand that to be able to move your body is what is important. There may still be some aesthetic motivation…but trying to get a 6-pack is not as important as being able to play with your grandkids on the floor or having the ability to continue working if you so desire.
If you desire you can still do some movements that not only take strength but are fun and make you feel strong…like the tire flips below.
How can she do this? Why did I have her do this? Martha’s squat form and ablity to squat well with weight translate to flipping the tire. There is some pushing involved with her hands, but when she gets down low to drive up with her legs and hips that is 80% of the work.
The main thing to impress upon you is the necessity for you to strength train and challenge your body. It can be done through bodyweight exercises at first if that is your level of strength. Then in time adding some sort of resistance is key. It does not have to be dumbbells, resistance bands can provide an often underutilized way of increasing muscular strength. Moving with resistance or weight is important to maintain or improve your quality of life. Strength training is for you!
[…] Strength training can be one of the ingredients that your body needs. It does not and probably should not be a ridiculous amount of weight. Start where you are, then move from there. There are always options for a movement. If you continue to protect and not find ways to move better or with more confidence, it can be a recipe for a re-injury. It may take time to not hesitate. It will take patience with the process. It may take a while to really believe that your knee is getting better. However, starting even in small steps can add up over time. On the other hand, I have spoken with people that claim that they can only pick up a 5lb dumbbell but they lift groceries and put items up in the plane with no issue. There it is a lack of connection between the gym and everyday life. Protecting in an environment (the gym etc.) where you have the opportunity to practice better movement that can help you move better in life can hold you back. […]