When we work out, most of us are looking at the short to medium term benefits – staying healthy, looking good, feeling more energetic. But research shows that maintaining a regular program of resistance training has health benefits which reach into the long term, potentially even into later adulthood and old age.
Incorporating resistance training into your daily workout can set you up for a lifetime of better mental and physical health.
The best part is, there’s no great expense. All you need is a resistance band like the ones available at VICTOREMGEAR.COM plus some space to work out. Let’s take a look at the key benefits that can be gained through resistance band training.
Physical and mental health benefits that can be achieved through resistance training include:
Improved Muscle Tone
Okay, so this first one might seem obvious. We all know that resistance training is good for the muscles, that’s why we do it. But the benefits aren’t only limited to the short term.
Training your muscles regularly builds and tones them over time, and the effects of that will still be apparent even in later life, reducing the effects of muscle loss as you age and maintaining better overall strength while protecting your joints.
Increased Bone Density
One of the highest risk factors for seniors is breaking major bones such as the femur or pelvis in a fall – it can be extremely serious. Bone density decreases over time, in part due to conditions such as osteoporosis.
But regular resistance training (alongside a healthy and nutritious) can combat this by increasing and maintaining bone density even as we age. You don’t have to worry about being fragile as an older person if you put the work in now!
Greater Flexibility And Balance
Again, as anyone who has tried advanced resistance training will know, flexibility is a key part of any program. But what does this mean in the long term? Well, greater flexibility, spatial awareness and balance in your later years can mean you are able to maintain your independence.
You’re less likely to injure yourself in a fall, and less likely to suffer aches, pains and stiffness in your joints, enabling you to stay active and healthy.
Better Weight Management
For many people, managing their ideal weight is something that becomes more challenging as they enter middle age (and beyond). The pounds seem to pile on more easily than they did in their younger days.
This can be mitigated by starting a regular resistance training program early. Building a better muscle to fat ratio in your twenties and thirties gives you an advantage when it comes to maintaining your physique, as muscle cells burn more calories, even at rest, than fat cells. So get into the habit now, and see the rewards later!
Healthier Posture
One of the biggest causes of health problems as people age is poor posture. Our increasing desk or sofa based lifestyle takes its toll on our muscles and joints as we age and can lead to chronic back pain, repetitive strain injuries, swollen joints, and more.
Resistance training actively combats this decline, providing a workout regime which supports and corrects posture naturally through the variations in position which are part of each exercise.
Control Of Chronic Conditions
There is a lot of evidence to suggest that regular exercise such as resistance band training has an important part to play in the prevention or control of a wide range of chronic conditions which can affect us as we age.
Conditions such as heart disease, arthritis, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and even depression and anxiety can be mitigated, or in some cases completely avoided by adopting a regular training program earlier in life.
Emotional Wellbeing
The effects of resistance training aren’t limited to the physical side of health. Many practitioners find that regular exercise helps balance their emotional and mental health too. Maintaining good mental health is an extremely important part of life, and as we age, the foundations of emotional and mental stability learning through training will support us in the future.
Better Quality Sleep
Along the same lines, resistance training has been proven to help with regulating and improving the quality of sleep. Sleep problems aren’t just irritating at the time, there’s significant evidence to suggest that consistent poor sleep can negatively affect life expectancy.
Training helps by reducing stress levels, tiring the body out naturally, and raising the core temperature, which promotes the release of sleep hormones.
Less Cognitive Decline
Regular resistance training has also been linked to positive outcomes in terms of cognitive function. It’s not just about keeping mentally active. Physical activity also lowers your risk of impaired memory or mental faculties as you age. It’s no surprise really – it’s just like the old saying: “A healthy mind in a healthy body”.
So the humble resistance band, when used regularly as part of a well-planned workout routine, can deliver a whole range of benefits which will improve your life now and into the future. So what are you waiting for? Grab that resistance band and let’s get training!
