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Sometimes it seems like only two kinds of people go to the gym. There are those who just want to lose some weight, get fitter and in shape want to stay. And you have the people who take it all a little too seriously and make it seem like they’re never going home.
The last group can be found at the dumbbells and barbells, in a tight tank top where sometimes a nipple slips, while they look at themselves unabashedly in the mirror. That can make the idea of ”lifting” seem stupid and narcissistic.
That’s why a lot of guys stick to the treadmill, grab a few machines here and there and finish with some bicep curls and crunches before rushing to the shower.
In reality, of course, we shouldn’t be bullied by this weightlifting stereotype. For the gym goer, there are plenty of other reasons to lift heavy weights regularly and every now and then. Especially for the man who has a sedentary job, but wants to be healthy and look good.
Why strength training is good for you
It burns belly fat better than cardio
Most of us exercise to look good. Simple as that. That beer belly that forms around your waist is why you make the effort to hit the gym every now and then. It is therefore good to hear that it is much better to lift a few weights to lose those belly fats, instead of standing steadily on the treadmill or sitting on the bike for hours.
A 12-year study from Harvard shows that men who lift weights for at least 20 minutes every day have 50 percent less fat on their stomachs than men who only do cardio. The study also found that 48 hours after lifting, you still burned more calories than those who didn’t grab weights but opted for cardio.
It boosts your testosterone levels
The bad news? Your testosterone levels drop after you’ve passed your thirties, which affects your energy levels and bone density, as well as your sexdrive and sperm production.
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The good news? Regular weight lifting can help with that. Not only by giving you a testosterone boost after your workout, but also by growing your muscles and stimulating fat loss in the long term. Both help you maintain healthy testosterone levels, research shows.
It’s surprisingly good for your brain
The stereotype that men with muscles are not always intelligent is steadfast and often supported by the conversations you have with the buff nightclub guards. Yet research shows that training with weights improves your cognitive functions (such as your memory) in the long term. Lifting weights has also been linked to improvements in feelings of depression, sleep problems and self-esteem.
It makes you better at other sports
Whether it’s running or 18-hole golf, you don’t need to be a sports scientist to understand that regular weightlifting can help improve your performance in your favorite sport, compared to just cardio. It is therefore no coincidence that the young generation of top golfers spend as much time in the gym as they practice on the putting green.
It lowers the risk of an early death
Your chance of dying early from a whole list of deadly diseases is significantly lower when you train with weights. Pretty good reason to start, right? There is an abundance of evidence that lifting weights lowers the risk of serious diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and even reduces the risk of cancer by 40 percent. Well, the guys in tank tops must be up to something.
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