Strength training is one tip many beauty gurus forget to mention. While anti-aging serums, toning lotions and supplements can be effective for achieving desirable skin, strength training is beneficial for both retaining a youthful appearance and physical mobility.
Women can lose up to 20 percent of bone mass following menopause. If you’re lactose intolerant, like 70 percent of African Americans, you may not be consuming enough calcium. Poor bone health can put you at a higher risk of osteoporosis. A depletion of skin elasticity is another natural cause of aging. Building muscle is a great way to tighten your skin and maintain healthy bones.
Still not sold on strength training? Consider the following benefits and tips for your beginner’s guide to strength training:
1. If you limit your training, you limit your results.
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Women are known to avoid strength training because they mostly see men doing it. But, strength training isn’t exclusive to men. It benefits everyone. A common mistake many women make is limiting their workouts to cardio because they believe strength training is equivalent to bodybuilding. While cardio is heart healthy and great for building endurance, it can lead to having excess skin if you’re looking to lose more than a few pounds.
Strength training will allow you to build muscle, burn fat and create (or keep) a curvy physique.
MUST READ: Fit Or Fiction: Does Lifting Heavy Weights Really Make Women Bulky?
2. Everybody starts somewhere.
Not everyone in the gym is an expert. They may have started before you, but everyone has experienced their first day in the gym. No one walks into a gym knowing exactly what to do on the first day, not even the guys.
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3. Do your research.
Get familiar with the “dumbbell row” and “stiff-legged deadlift”. The more you learn, the more confident you will become. There are several articles, videos, tutorials and apps on strength training. If you’re worried about looking like you don’t know what you’re doing, wandering aimlessly in the gym is a dead giveaway. So, try your best to go in prepared.
