Why Strength Training Is One Of The Best Things You Can Do For Your Health

When most people decide they want to get healthier, they usually think about eating better, walking more, running, or trying to lose a bit of weight.

These are all useful tools. But the biggest area I consistently see people neglect - either through a lack of confidence or not being aware of the benefits – is good, progressive strength training. It’s not just for bodybuilders, competitive athletes or people already really confident in the gym - it’s for everybody, regardless of age, background or anything else.

To put it simply - by consistently doing some resistance training, you reduce your risk of premature death by around 13% - and will likely improve the quality of that time. As more research is undertaken, we’re seeing a longer and longer list of benefits, including:

·        Builds and maintains muscle mass

·        Improves bone density and bone strength

·        Supports healthy ageing and long-term independence

·        Makes everyday tasks easier

·        Improves balance, coordination and body awareness

·        Reduces risk of falls, especially as we age

·        Supports joint health and injury resilience

·        Improves posture and movement confidence

·        Helps manage blood sugar and insulin sensitivity

·        Supports heart and metabolic health

·        Can improve blood pressure

·        Helps with weight management and body composition

·        Improves confidence and self-efficacy

·        Supports mood, stress management and mental wellbeing

·        Improves sleep quality for many people

Whether you’re using primarily machines, free weights, bodyweight exercises or a mixture of the above doesn’t hugely matter – as long as you’re consistent and progress what you’re doing over time.

If you're not sure where to start and interested in help with getting stronger, improving your health, and building habits that last, feel free to get in touch for a chat!

The Missing Piece in Most People’sTraining

I get almost all of my clients doing some kind of jumping and some kind of medicine ball throw. Why?

Because for a pretty small investment at the beginning of a session - which also doubles as part of the warm-up - we can work on qualities that often get missed in regular gym training: coordination, power, confidence, and the ability to move well at speed.

As we get older, our ability to produce force quickly tends to drop off. Even if we’re strength training consistently, there are still a few bases that slower, heavier lifting doesn’t fully cover. I like to think of strength as building the engine. Athletic work helps you use that engine in real-world situations. Think slipping on mud and having to catch yourself, sprinting for a bus with a rucksack on, reacting quickly during a game of five-a-side, or playing with your kids without feeling stiff, slow or fragile.

This doesn’t mean everyone needs to be doing ultra strenuous plyometrics - although there’s absolutely nothing wrong with pushing them if built up sensibly! It might just mean low-level jumps, hops and throws which are progressed over time. Done well, this kind of work helps you become a better, more confident mover - not just stronger in the gym, but more capable outside of it.