While
the language in this article might seem definitive, it reflects
personal experiences and opinions, not medical advice, and you should
always consult a healthcare provider before making any changes to your
diet or lifestyle; note that AI tools were used to help create this content.
Strength training isn't just about looking better or building muscles. It offers a wide range of positive effects, from boosting your mood to preventing diseases and supporting efficient weight loss. With so many benefits, it’s hard to find a reason not to include it in your routine.
The best part? It doesn’t take much time or effort to start reaping the rewards.
Read on to discover 28 reasons why lifting weights and training your muscles can make a big difference in your life.
Fat Loss
Increases muscle mass, which means you have a higher metabolism, leading to extra fat-burning even while you sleep.Reduced Chance of Osteoporosis
Women are especially at risk for osteoporosis. This might not be a concern for you now, but it may become one someday.Better Posture
Improving your overall strength will help keep you upright for longer. In a world where many of us are sedentary, we can develop bad habits.Reduced Pain, Especially Back Pain
Strength training can alleviate neck, back, shoulder, and knee pain, as well as pain associated with arthritis, osteoporosis, and fibromyalgia.Reduced Chance of Injury
Strength training can greatly reduce the risk of injury among runners, who commonly experience training-related injuries. With better posture and less pain, your ability to maintain proper form and avoid bad habits will also help prevent injuries.Reduced Risk of Heart Disease
Exercise in general helps reduce the risk of heart disease, regardless of your genetic risk. However, weight training for just one hour a week was shown to reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke by up to 70% in a recent study.Strength for Everyday Tasks
You can lift more, move more, and push more. Strength is extremely practical.Improved Brain Function
Any kind of exercise does wonders for mental focus, memory, clarity, cognitive function, and self-esteem, as well as warding off dementia and Alzheimer's. Strength training, in particular, was found in a recent Italian study to boost these benefits even more for practical tasks.Higher Energy Throughout the Day
Exercising and spending time strength training gives you more energy throughout the day.Improved Mood
We have known for a long time that exercise does loads—I mean LOADS—to improve your mood. Part of it is the wonderful brain chemicals, but also the sense of productivity, calmness, and confidence that shifts your emotional and mental state, significantly reducing depression.Less Anxiety
Studies have shown that strength training reduces anxiety both in the short and long term. It also makes you better able to confront stress and helps you fall asleep.Improved Sleep
Strength training helps you sleep better and faster. Sleep makes you more attentive, present, energetic, happy, peaceful, objective, and less anxious, irritable, overwhelmed, and even disease-prone.Reduced Risk of Diabetes
Again, exercise of any type reduces diabetes risk, but as most of the past studies included only aerobic exercise, a 2012 study suggests weight training has similar effects.Improved Diabetes Management
For those living with diabetes, proper strength training can help improve insulin sensitivity and even lead to a reduction in medications.Look Better
Strength training shines through your skin, giving you a healthy glow. It makes your mood better, so you'll smile more. It probably leads to better eating habits, which will show up in healthier hair, eyes, nails, and skin, and you'll have a physique you're proud of.Look Younger
We naturally tend to add pounds as we age, so the added metabolism and fat loss that strength training provides is a good start to reducing your apparent age. It's important to keep your body strong and healthy, which shaves off years. Strength training can reverse aging as well.Better Confidence
Working out with weights will make you look better, which immediately makes you feel better. You worked for it, and that's enough to make your confidence shoot through the roof.Feel Like a Superhero
You can take the body you were given, with all its flaws, and transform it into something that can lift weight, jump high, and do amazing things.You Become Productive and Better at Setting Goals
Building up that goal-accomplishing muscle (if you will) will also build your confidence and give you a blueprint for accomplishing more of those outside-of-the-gym goals, even if they are slightly terrifying.Reduce Dangerous Belly Fat
Even if you're not overweight, abdominal fat comes with loads of health risks. Strength training, particularly at a high intensity like High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), targets this fat best.Reduced Risk of Cancer
A 2017 study showed that those who participate in strength training have a 30% lower chance of getting cancer.Reduced Risk of Death
The same 2017 study also showed that strength training reduces the chance of premature death by 23%. Having stronger muscles, especially later in life, has been linked to longer living, according to new research coming from the University of Michigan.Improved Flexibility
Strength training, even without flexibility training, can improve flexibility.Improved Balance
Having better balance means more agility, grace, and less injury, along with a more defined core.Better Sex
Strength training increases sex drive in both men and women.Improved Mind-Body Connection
Strength training will help you understand how your body responds to various types of training, how some movements feel, and how your body tells you it needs rest, either from exertion or poor form. It will also help you perform movements more safely, efficiently, and effectively. You can track your progress and mark how well you're doing to stay on track.Better Efficiency of Movement
You may not realize it, but the way you pick things up or sit at a desk matters. Bad habits that continually put stress on your body could lead to injuries in the long run. Strength training helps you put less stress on your body, giving you more energy for the important things.Increased Collagen and Growth Hormone Production
Strength training stimulates your body to produce more collagen and growth hormones, helping you look younger and feel and move like a young person as well.
What are you waiting for?
With strength training, you'll see huge strides in your looks, your health, and your happiness.
