I love weight training, it’s one of those things that no matter how your day is going… it will always be there to give you the ultimate challenge… the one against yourself! Weight training is my passion.
I still feel the thrill, the excitement of walking into the gym and seeing the racks of dumbbells, rows of machines, stacks of iron weights. The satisfaction of performing each exercise, every set, every rep, with flawless execution and perfect form is still immense. Feeling the heaviness of the weight and the strain in my muscles, seeing myself pushing the entire stack, and experiencing the muscular tension liberates my body and mind. The way the weights feel in my grip, the burn on my muscles as I slowly lower and lift the weights gives me an immense sense of completion and achievement.
There is no room for mental sloppiness. I can’t get distracted, because the moment I do my form will start to falter and I will fail. There’s only room for me, clear focus, and action. My mind will blank out all distractions, keeping those random thoughts that always invade my mind far away. I achieve a state of clarity, where my mind and body are centred.
Being centred is a state in which you draw within yourself mentally. Your attention is turned and focused on your own mind, in a very calm and relaxed way. It is the point at which you enter peak state, otherwise referred to as the ‘zone or the groove’, or even’ finding one’s rhythm’. It allows your mind and body to work together to let it happen.
When at Centre the powers and capabilities of your mind are working together with the body to get you into peak state. This state can be described as ‘flowing’, free from anxiety and tension, with no competing or interfering thoughts.
Anyone seeking fast and dramatic physique transformation, greater strength, fitness, confidence, weight lost and mental exhilaration, will find weight training the perfect solution.
Part of my goal for this blog in 2011 is to spread the physical and mental benefits of Weight training. I’m truly motivated in helping others achieve the strength, health and fitness they desire, building the kind of body and strength they’ve always wanted.
I am always amazed by the fact that so many people avoid weight training. The main reason I hear are that they don’t want to be a bodybuilder and/or they don’t want get “big and bulky.” Most people mistakenly believe that if they perform weight training or strength training they will end up looking like a bodybuilder! This is a complete fallacy and in fact weight training is the best form of exercise for rapidly transforming your body.
The truth is, weight training is extremely beneficial for everyone, regardless of their individual goals in achieving a healthy lifestyle. It is a great activity for everyone, young and old.
The Benefits of Weight Training
- Individuals who undergo weight training have been seen to have increased levels of HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol) and decreased levels of LDL (bad cholesterol).
- Weight training can reverse the natural decline in metabolism, believed to begin around 30 years of age.
- It decreases the gastrointestinal transit time, in turn leading to reduced risk of colon cancer.
- It can decrease the risk of developing diabetes.
- It can lead to the lowering of the resting blood pressure of an individual.
- It will strengthen the immune system.
- Having strong and toned muscles, regardless of their size, is important in preventing injuries. For instance, back injuries are extremely common and the main reason for this is weak back muscles. Those who indulge in weight training are much less vulnerable to lower-back injuries.
- Lowers the resting heart rate, which is a sign of a more efficient heart.
- Indirectly gives a boost to the confidence levels.
- Improves posture and overall balance and coordination.
- Building muscle increases your metabolism by causing the body to burn more calories. For every pound of muscle on your body, you burn between 30 to 50 calories a day, while each pound of fat burns only 3 calories a day.
- Regular weight training helps in slowing the ageing process, thereby making a person look youthful.
- It tones your muscles and gives you a better figure/physique.
- Lose unwanted weight, but also increases your strength and stamina.
- Can help prevent disorders that affect older adults such as osteoporosis and hypertension.
- Against the general belief, weight training does not result in developing big muscles for women. Instead, it just helps in toning the muscles thereby attaining the right shape.
So as you can see there are many benefits of doing weight training. Over time I hope that I can convince many of you to give it a go. If any of you have already discovered the benefits of weight training, please share them here in comments, and help me to help others, by getting them to take up this fantastic form of exercise.
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