Strength training has a wide array of benefits other than just simply improving your ability to move and lift things. Strength training helps with weight management because lean muscle tissue gained with weight training actually helps burn calories at rest! It helps raise something called your basal metabolic rate (BMR) so you are able to burn more calories when you are sleeping!

Strength training also helps with bone density. This is great for those currently battling or at risk for osteoporosis and osteopenia. There is a law called Wolfe’s Law whereby the stress muscles place on your bones during weight lifting actually helps in your body producing more bone matrixes! Essentially, it helps make your bones thicker and more tolerant to stress. This response from your body to repetitive stress on your bones is why you are able to see people lift such high amounts of weight in weightlifting competitions without breaking their bones.

Strength training has also been shown to reduce abdominal fat, or visceral fat. Aside from the aesthetic benefit, reducing visceral fat has been shown to help reduce the risk of heart disease, type II diabetes, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and certain types of cancer.

Finally, there have been studies that show strength training helps your brain health! That’s right! Strength training has been shown to improve memory, processing speed, learning, and decision-making.