Why Training Your Muscles is Absolutely Critical!

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As we get older, we tend to lose muscle – approximately 7 pounds of lean tissue per decade with this loss accelerating after the age of 40.

As a result, our strength and endurance is reduced, our metabolism drops resulting in weight gain, our bone density is lowered, our posture and alignment deteriorates, our balance falters, and we experience an increase in general aches and pains. So it is ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL that we do whatever we can to maintain our muscle tissue by participating in muscle conditioning exercise at least 2 to 3 days per week.

Many physiologists and researchers are deeming Muscle Conditioning to be the true Fountain of Youth – the magic “pill” to reverse or prevent a significant portion of the aging process.  Many of the changes people experience as they age are due to a loss in muscle mass due to inactivity…not just aging itself!  So if we can maintain a significant amount of muscle tissue as we age, we can expect to age much more slowly.

Here’s a list of some of the research and benefits of strength training:

1. Increased strength between 7.5-226.7% – that’s a huge increase!
2. Increase lean tissue weight by 3 pounds after 8 weeks of strength exercise.  Now remember that each pound of muscle you have on your body will burn an additional 30-40 calories every day. This definitely raises your metabolic rate – in fact, by 7%. So if you gain 3-4 pounds of muscle this equates to 90-160 extra calories you’ll be burning every day just by having more muscle on your body. This makes it so much easier to maintain your body weight and keep your body fat levels at a minimum.
3. Lose 4 pounds of fat weight after 3 months of strength exercise, while eating 15% more calories.
4. Increase bone mineral density after 4 months of strength exercise (important for reducing risk for Osteoporosis). In one study, it was found that women over the age of 40 who strength trained not only didn’t lose bone mass but they experienced a 1% gain in bone mass.
5. Improved posture – most postural problems can be treated by following a structured muscle conditioning program that strengthens weak muscles
6. Increase glucose uptake 23% after 4 months of strength exercise (important for reducing risk for developing diabetes).
7. Increase gastro-intestinal transit time 56% after 3 months of strength exercise (important for reducing risks for colon cancer).
8. Reduce blood pressure after 2 months of strength exercise.
9. Improve blood lipid levels after strength training (Important for those with high cholesterol).
10. Reduce low back pain after 10 weeks of specific strength exercise.
11. Reduce arthritic pain after strength training. One study reported a 59% decrease in joint pain.
12. Increased walking speed by 48%
13. Increased climbing power by 28%
14. Decreased risk of falling. One study of women over the age of 40 found that sedentary subjects experienced an 8% decline in balance while those women who strength trained, demonstrated a 14% improvement in balance scores.

On top of all these benefits, muscle looks good and it improves your posture so that you hold yourself better and with more confidence. You’ll move with better strength, balance, coordination and agility and your performance in your recreational pursuits will be enhanced significantly. Remember, strong is the new SEXY!

Yours in health & wellness,
Sherri McMillan

Note:  As an avid Columbian reader, you can redeem a 2 week pass at her world-class training studio to help get you started.  Contact 360.574.7292 for more details

Join us for the….
10TH ANNUAL GIRLFRIENDS RUN FOR A CURE HALF & QUARTER MARATHON October 16th
The 10th Annual Girlfriends Run for a Cure is a Quarter Marathon (6.55 miles) and a Half Marathon (13.1 miles) designed specifically for women to get together to do something good for themselves and to help support a very important women’s cause.