It’s amazing to walk into gyms and fitness centers these days. There are so many new types of machines and gadgets that people can use to stay healthy. However, what is truly amazing about these places is not the machines and technology, but the people who use them. People of all ages and lifestyles enjoy the benefits that can be derived from resistance training. Strength training programs are no longer just for the heavyweight bodybuilder or football player. People young and old, fat and thin, are learning to lift weights in an effort to live healthier and more enjoyable lives.
The demographics of an average gym member today are vastly different than they were 20 or 30 years ago. Gyms used to be the abode of the fitness elite. Only big, strong, full-time athletes made the trip to the weight rooms in those days. It was a good bet that people who were on a strength training program back then were very tough on their strength training exercise and took their training very seriously. Over time, however, word got out that strength-training exercise wasn’t just for bodybuilders. In fact, if you go into the average weight room today, you’ll see just as many beginners as there are experienced athletes. We simply know more about the general health benefits of exercise now than we did a generation ago.
Strength Training Workouts for the Rest of Us
One of the great things you see in gyms these days is the number of women who are embracing strength training into their fitness plans. There have always been women who lift weights, but there was a myth that women who followed strength training exercise programs would become ‘masculine’ and ‘muscular’. For many years this myth continued to circulate and some women avoided touching weights for fear of becoming manly or getting too fat. Fortunately, it has been proven that doing just one strength training workout will not make women big and muscular. Even female professional bodybuilders probably won’t get very big or overly muscular without intense resistance exercise programs, the right genetics, and other variables present. Simply put, women now know that they can and should include resistance training in their exercise programs.
Women can enjoy some fantastic benefits from incorporating strength training exercises into their fitness routines. The first benefit is increased lean body mass, resulting in greater fat loss. Women can also fight degenerative bone loss later in life by becoming stronger and more fit. Strength training is a real health benefit for women of all ages.
Strength Training Exercise Routines for Seniors
One thing that might surprise you, if you haven’t been to a gym in a while, is the number of older people who are lifting weights. Doctors recommend that older people engage in strength-training exercise routines as a way to combat the effects of aging. One of the first things that happens as we get older is that we naturally start to lose muscle mass. As lean body mass decreases, our bodies become weaker. Over time, this weakness contributes to many other health risks that can be easily avoided simply by maintaining muscle mass. Doctors have seen the myriad of benefits people get from strength training and are prescribing them to more and more patients each year.
Strength training exercise acts as a preventative health measure for the elderly. Many middle-aged and older people aren’t so concerned with getting huge, muscular, or muscular, they simply want to stay strong and active well into their golden years. Adding muscle mass, through strength training exercise, is one of the most potent ways for these individuals to stay strong, healthy, and vibrant for years to come. It is likely that even more seniors will begin to adopt strength training exercise regimens, as clinicians continue to see the massive improvements in health that these types of exercise programs provide.
Strength Training Exercise and Nutrition
Even the best strength training routine in the world won’t increase lean muscle mass without proper nutrition. People who are trying to add muscle mass, whether they are professional athletes, stay-at-home moms, or the elderly, need higher levels of protein intake to maintain and increase lean body mass. The only nutrient the body can use to build muscle tissue is protein. It is important that people pay close attention to their diets when adopting a strength training exercise program. If you don’t eat enough protein, you won’t make any gains and may increase your chances of injury when lifting weights. In order for your body to get the most out of a strength training routine, you must give it the raw materials it needs to increase muscle mass. Protein is that raw ingredient your body needs, so make sure you’re getting enough protein to support muscle growth.
There are nutritional supplements available that can help people get optimal levels of protein to fuel their workouts. Profect is one of the most popular protein drinks. It provides a whopping 25 grams of high-quality protein to help your muscles recover from any strength-training workout. Adding a protein supplement, such as Profect, to your diet can help ensure you are getting adequate levels of protein to reap the full possible health benefits from your diet and exercise program. Resistance exercise is for everyone and goes hand in hand with good nutritional practices. Make sure you’re getting the right amount of protein to get the most out of your workouts.
