Why Strength Training and Exercising Means Better Living

Jun 14
07:40

2010

Vasiliy Fomichev

Vasiliy Fomichev

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We must understand that even with our busy schedules, our health is most important, and strength training, even in moderate amounts, is very important for our happiness, good health, and overall well being. Physical strength is very important for humans as physical beings; especially important is our upper-body strength, as it is mostly used in our daily functions as typing on a computer, driving, proper posture support...

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Upper-body strength also guards your whole body from injuries like muscle pulls,Why Strength Training and Exercising Means Better Living Articles strains, and dislocations, as well as prevents diseases such as osteoporosis, arthritis, heart diseases, and even cancer. A strong healthy body is always less prone to pains and takes less time to recover from injuries.

Human bodies are made with an intent of undergoing at least a moderate level of physical work daily. We have never had this problem until the last few years with the technological development. Now, with all the automated machinery, our jobs became more stationary, where most jobs requiring physical activity have been replaced by robots; computers are doing calculations of thousands of engineers with a single push of a button. Many office workers are finding themselves leaving their desk only for breaks and lunches, on a non-busy day. Men's Fitness, back in April 2002 states "Most denizens of corporate America could classify their forearms as vestigial muscles--tasks such as typing and surfing the Web pose serious injury risks to grossly underdeveloped flexors and extensors."

The situation at home is usually not much different. Many of us are returning home from work depressed, unhappy, annoyed, irritated, and what do we do to relax? – Watch TV, get on Facebook, lay or sit on the couch while reading a magazine, newspaper, or a book; whatever the case may be, we are still remaining inactive after work. Unfortunately, that is a best-case scenario; some of us do not have time to relax even after work.

Here is some food for thought:

  1. Stronger body helps with weight loss; muscle tissues burn 15 times more calories than fat.
  2. Strength training develops your cardiovascular system, muscles learn to consume much less oxygen, therefore, your heart does not have to work as hard to keep up with the body’s demand.
  3. Strong body prevents joint injuries, muscle strains and pulls, during even basic daily activities starting with getting off of your bed to playing with children.
  4. Strong muscles seem to fight free radicals. Strength training and weight lifting are under less damage from free radicals, tests show.
  5. Having a strong body usually causes better moods and enhances general well-being.
  6. Strong muscles, using muscle memory, learn how and when to relax, providing for better rests and good night sleep.
  7. People that strength train generally have more energy than the ones that do not exercise at all.
  8. Stronger bodies look better and promote self-confidence.

As you can see, strength training is very important even when done moderately and in short periods of time. In fact, the American Heart Association now recommends that all adults strength train their major muscle groups at least twice a week, - that’s it! Remember, you do not have to commit to hour to two-hour workouts, all it takes is a couple of sets of pushups, sit-ups, and squads, amounting to 10-15 minutes a day to be in a much better physical shape. The best thing is that results are noticed almost immediately. So stop blaming your busy schedule, take care of yourself, as 10-15 minutes a day can turn into years of healthy living and happiness!