Bicep curl Photo: From Reader's Digest

The benefits

● You won’t need to go on a diet. Toned muscles increase kilojoule burn, so even when you’re resting, your body is using about 7 per cent more energy and reducing the possibility of weight gain.

● Strength training helps to prevent osteoporosis by increasing bone density and reversing bone loss, just as weight-bearing exercise such as walking or jogging does.

● It is also great for lower-back health.Toned abdominal muscles support the lower back, reducing the risk of spinal injury.

● You’ll notice the improvement in your capacity for aerobic exercise. Strengthening the muscles you use for walking, for example, will allow you to up the ante and improve your pace or take on more challenging terrain.
 
● Excess body fat will be reduced. However, don’t be disappointed if the scales don’t reflect this loss. Your weight may not
change because the muscle you’re building is heavier than the fat you’re shedding.
 
● Your internal health will improve. Strength training helps to lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels (the forms in which most fat exists in the body), lessening the risk of heart attack. This type of training also helps the body to process blood sugar more efficiently, lessening the risk of diabetes and benefiting people with insulin resistance.

● With greater strength and increased flexibility, you’ll find you suffer from fewer muscle and joint aches and pains.

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