When it comes to exercise, it's not uncommon to focus on cardiovascular exercise as the best means of losing weight and changing your body composition. But, it's a mistake to overlook strength training as an important piece of the weight management puzzle for several reasons.

Strength training helps you retain lean body mass and keep your metabolism revved up. As we age, there is a gradual reduction in basal metabolic rate (BMR) due to declining muscle mass (lean body mass). After the age of 30, muscle mass decreases, and later, muscle strength decreases. This leads to changes in body composition and typically, as age increases, so does the percentage of body-fat.

Muscle is metabolically very active.  Each pound of muscle on your body will burn 35-50 extra calories per day, at rest. Compare that with fat which only burns 2 calories per day, at rest.

Muscle mass is dense. A pound of muscle takes up about one-quarter the space of fat. When you begin adding muscle, you can actually lose inches. This is why you may not see the number on the scale move downward when you begin strength training, but your clothes will begin to feel roomier. 

Strength training will create body balance and symmetry.  This is what not only helps you avoid or resolve some orthopedic problems such as low back pain, but it's also what gives you fit muscle definition and attractive body proportions.

Strength training improves bone density which helps to prevent osteoporosis and it improves the strength of connective tissue with helps prevent injuries.

A well designed strength training program will provide you with improved posture.  You will breathe better, stand taller, and look better.

You will feel stronger, healthier and more confident.  Strength training gives you a huge dose of positive attitude and motivation to stay on track with your healthy lifestyle!

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