By Susan Megge

If you’re a woman considering the possibility of exercising regularly, you may be wondering which type of fitness program is the most effective. I highly suggest that you give some serious thought to weight training. There are so many benefits to strength training regularly, particularly as you grow older. By training with weights or weight resistance, you will reduce signs and symptoms of numerous diseases and chronic conditions, such as arthritis, diabetes, osteoporosis, obesity, back pain and depression.

Many women shy away from weight training because they fear that they’ll end up looking like a muscular bodybuilder. This is physiologically impossible, since women lack the high levels of testosterone needed to “bulk up.” Rather than looking too muscular, you will become lean and toned. The muscle that you’ll build will burn far more calories than the fat you’re currently carrying around, which will result in your body becoming a calorie burning machine – even at rest.

As mentioned earlier, the benefits of weight training go beyond physical beauty. Studies have shown that strength training can decrease pain associated with moderate to severe knee osteoarthritis by up to 43%, and will most definitely increase your muscle strength and physical performance. The effectiveness of weight training in reducing the pain of osteoarthritis is just as significant (if not more so) as some medications used to treat this condition.

Additionally, post-menopausal women can lose bone mass at a rate of 1%-2% annually. Not to worry; strength training actually increases bone density and reduces the risk of fractures in women.

If you’re concerned with your weight, strength training plays a significant role in managing women’s weight. As stated earlier, the muscle you build will burn more of the calories you consume. This is due to the fact that muscle is actually an active tissue, which consumes calories; stored fat, however, uses very little energy and doesn’t help to burn your caloric consumption. If you commit to a regular exercise routine, incorporating strength training, your metabolic rate can be increased by up to 15%, which will be tremendously helpful for weight loss, as well as long-term weight control. Yes, the reduction in weight is fantastic when it comes time to try on a dress for that special occasion, but with a leaner body, you’re also reducing your risk of heart disease, which is the number one killer of middle aged women.

While the benefits of strength training are quite obvious with regard to your overall health, physical appearance and weight control, did you know that weight training can actually help your state of mind, as well? Researchers believe this is because in general, women feel better when they’re stronger, and weight training also may produce a biochemical change in the brain. By regularly training with weights, your self confidence and self-esteem will be greatly improved, which will likely lead to a tremendous improvement in your overall quality of life.

Perhaps you’re asking yourself, “Whatever happened to the importance of aerobic exercise?” Well, aerobic and cardio exercises most definitely have a positive impact on your overall health; after all, these types of exercises help to maintain your heart and lungs and increase your cardiovascular fitness and endurance – but, walking, running and swimming simply do not strengthen your muscles; only strength training will do this. If you want a lean, toned body with excellent bone density and muscle mass, it’s highly recommended that you strength train at least two to three times per week.

Go ahead and get started; a lean, toned and beautiful body can be yours if you’re willing to invest even a small amount of time and effort.

About the Author: Susan Megge is the founder of http://www.40isbeautiful.com, a website designed to assist women as they approach and experience menopause. Susan, a health and fitness expert started experiencing symptoms of menopause several years ago and researched various avenues to deal with these symptoms naturally.

Source: www.isnare.com

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