You already know that an intense cardio sesh can burn crazy amounts of calories, but did you know that weightlifting can also increase your calorie burn? Lean muscle increases metabolism, meaning that it can help burn calories after you finish your workout. Any kind of strength training, from lifting weights to using body weight, is beneficial to your fitness goals. Here are five reasons to incorporate lifting into your workout routine:
Boost your self-esteem
Exercise, including strength training, helps increase endorphins. These mood-boosting neurotransmitters can improve self-esteem with regular exercise. Exercise also allows you to see improvements in your fitness journey. You may find that you’re able to lift heavier and heavier weights over time, which can in turn improve your confidence.
Decrease your risk of injuries
As your muscle strength increases, the strength of your ligaments and connective tissues will also increase. This can help prevent injuries from workout out our day-to-day life. It can also prevent pain from medical conditions, such as osteoporosis.
Improve mood and decrease stress
As a collegiate, almost anything that can improve stress levels is a plus. Just like cardio, weightlifting also produces endorphins. Endorphins not only reduce stress, but they can also improve sleep and ward off symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Help burn fat
As an active tissue, muscle burns more energy at rest than fat tissue does. The more muscle you have on your body, the more fat you can burn when your body is resting — even after you’ve binged hours of Netflix.
Increase your endurance
Is your biggest fear encountering a giant hill while jogging? Improving your strength can help you power through. You may notice that as you build muscle and lose fat, cardio can get easier. Weightlifting improves endurance, meaning you can bike, run or swim further or longer than before. It will give your muscles the extra boost you need to make it through your next cardio sesh.
Weightlifting not only builds muscle, but it can improve other aspects of your life. Hit the gym and see how lifting can benefit you.