The magic pill for a better life: Strength training.
Have you heard of a pill that drastically improves your life?
If there was a little pill that advertised significantly increased quality of life (especially as we get older), decreased bouts of anxiety, depression and could even help in the prevention of some well known health issues like diabetes and cardiovascular disease... we'd almost certainly take it no questions asked.
That pill is strength training.
Thankfully the benefits of strength training nowadays are preached far and wide, particularly when it comes to changing how our body looks, gaining muscle, losing fat ("toning up") etc and that's great!
But what about all the benefits of regular strength training that are absolutely INDEPENDENT of weight loss? What about all the hugely positive stuff that happens to us beneath the surface of our skin that affects our quality of life both now and as we age?
Like the stronger bones, the increase in lean body mass, the injury prevention, the enhanced performance (regardless if that's in an organised sport or simply finding errands easier or running around after your kids/grandkids), the mental health benefits, the stress reducing benefits (shown to decrease risk of things like cardiovascular disease, heart attacks and strokes), the increased confidence that comes with becoming strong and competent....
All of these benefits which have absolutely nothing to do with weight loss, these are the reasons we want the whole world to strength train.
That's not to say we don't have some fantastic body composition transformations too and if fat loss is the goal then of course strength training should be an integral piece of the puzzle.
But please know that there are a whole host of unbelievable benefits to strength training that go WAY beyond how you look.
And none of it involves having to scrape yourself off of the floor every time you work out.