anti aging secret - MUSCLE!
Our society is obsessed with anti aging. We spend a lot of time, energy, and money trying to retain our youth. And no shame from me, I have a very regimented skincare routine myself!
But did you know that in addition to regular facials and $$$$ skincare products, muscle mass can also help you look and feel younger?! Here’s how:
Better Skin
Building muscle improves skin elasticity, structure, and dermal thickness (1), reducing the appearance of those fine lines and wrinkles we spend so much time worrying about. Building muscle mass reduces oxidative stress in the body, which causes physical signs of aging (2). More muscle = younger looking skin.
Body Composition (aka: look better naked)
Muscle mass gives us the strong, defined, “toned” look that many of us are after. Increased skeletal muscle mass improves insulin sensitivity and glucose uptake (3) as well, reducing risk of diabetes, inflammation, pain, and many other health issues that can cause people to look and feel older.
Mood and Energy Booster
There are many ways lifting weights will improve your mood, but I’ll leave you with two today:
Better sleep! Resistance training has been proven to improve sleep quality and reduce anxiety and depression (4).
This is a fun one: increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) (5).
WTF is BDNF and why does it matter? When BDF levels are high, learning new information is easier, memories are easily accessed, pain sensitivity is decreased, and anxiety and depression are massively reduced. The higher the better my friend!
There are so many benefits to strength training, many of which you’ve heard me talk about here before. And now we get to add anti aging to the list? If you haven’t gotten in the weight room yet, maybe this will be just the kick in the butt you need :)
Ready to start lifting? Join us! Grab our New Member Special - 2 Weeks of Classes for just $25!
WHY SORE MUSCLES AREN’T ALWAYS INDICATIVE OF A GOOD WORKOUT
Sore muscles don’t always mean you had a great workout. There are so many other important factors to take into account.
Ever found yourself so sore the day after a workout that you wince at the mere thought of stairs or sitting down on the toilet?! Many of us have experienced this and thought - yes! that must have been a great workout! It's a common belief that muscle soreness is an indicator of a productive workout, but let's explore why that might not always be the case.
Soreness isn't always a reliable indicator of progress.
Soreness is more often a result of doing something your muscles aren't accustomed to rather than a clear measure of strength gains. That's why you get super sore after starting a new training program or getting back in the gym after a vacation. Your muscles just aren't used to it!
Too much soreness can lead to injury.
Pushing your body to the point of extreme soreness too frequently can actually be counterproductive. If your body feels like crap going into every workout, the likelihood of getting hurt goes way up. Overtraining can lead to injuries and burnout, hindering your long-term fitness success.
Recovery and consistency matter more!
Instead of focusing solely on soreness, consider your overall progress and recovery. Have you been able to increase your weights over time? Has your form improved? Are you sleeping better? Do you have more energy throughout your day?
These are the indicators of improvement in the gym. Consistency in your workouts, proper nutrition, and sufficient rest play a more substantial role in achieving your fitness goals than how sore you get.
While that feeling of soreness can feel rewarding and even addictive at times, remember it's not all that matters. Not even close!
WHY WOMEN SHOULD LIFT WEIGHTS
A few of the many reasons why women should lift weights.
You've probably heard that the benefits of strength training in women are: to boost your metabolism and to loose weight . . . . . . . .
While there is definitely some truth behind both of these, there are so many more benefits to women lifting weights.
More Energy
The stronger we get, the better we feel - mentally and physically. When we feel good, we're able to accomplish so much more. Our society is a demanding place. We're all so incredibly busy with work, family, social activities, and lord knows what else - we really can't afford to feel like crap.
Age More Gracefully
With the cosmetic industry as successful as it is today, we KNOW this is something y'all care about :) And so do we! Building strong muscles and bones will allow you to continue doing the things you love without aches and pains, helping you feel younger for longer. Who doesn't want that?!
Be Better at Life
Being strong makes everyday activities so much easier! Things like: carrying your groceries, playing with your kids, lifting your suitcase into the overhead bin on an airplane, the list goes on. Being able to accomplish these activities on your own is super empowering.
Take Care of Your Mental Health
There are so many more benefits to strength training, but these are a few to get your wheels turning. Dedicating time for yourself to workout is so important. Seeing and feeling yourself improve in the gym is one of the absolute best self esteem boosters on the planet.
The more strong, capable, happy women we have in this world - the better! New Member Special - 2 Weeks for $25!!
Happy Lifting!