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As women age, a well-rounded fitness program
may serve as ammunition against the middle-aged spread. Over
the last five years, significant debate has focused on the benefits
and drawbacks of strength training in the female gender. Certain
physical therapists tout cardiovascular exercise as the appropriate
method for loosing a burgeoning belly.
Nonetheless,
strength training and bodybuilding are good for the body. Primarily
it strengthens the muscles and bones. It builds the body’s ability
to burn calories and exert improved balance. Contrary to popular
belief, muscle does not weigh more than fat. Moreover, bodybuilding
is not counter-productive to weight loss; particularly, when
the strength training program is appropriate.
In reality,
muscle occupies less space than fat does. Additionally, when
people lift weight, the results are not immediately noticeable.
Alternatively, the loss of inches will become evident with time
around the waist, thighs, hips, and arms. A vast majority of
certified personal trainers stress the importance of including
a strength training program part of an overall fitness regimen.
Increasing
muscle is a fundamental aspect of increasing the metabolism
so that calories can be burned more efficiently. In fact, more
muscle represents streamlined calorie efficiency. As a result,
weight loss is inevitable and maintaining weight is easier.
Despite
the weight loss benefits of bodybuilding or strength training,
lifting weights is vital to the prevention of osteoporosis in
women. Substantial evidence has shown the role of strength training
and how it improves bone density. Fragile bones can lead to
frequent fractures and compromise many life safety health issues.
Another
critical role of bodybuilding (strength training) is how it
can defeat cortisol a hormone the body produces while under
duress. During moments of stress, cortisol increases the appetite
and has a propensity for converting calories into abdominal
fat.
As with
any fitness program, the professional advice of a medical practitioner
is the first aspect of starting a program. Even when older patients
are given physician approval to perform strength training, the
increase in muscle mass has been shown to enable the elder person
to defer the functional declines linked to aging. |
