Fitness Friday- Benefits to strength training

I hope some of you have done some jumping jacks this past week! I did! I thought they were going to be alright, but they soon get tiring, great all over body workout! I'm definitely keeping it up, as feeling my legs are a bit more toned.

This week my concentration is on strength training. I know far too may girls that are scared of strength workouts and think they are going to end up big and bulky, when in fact this is wrong. All that will happen if you incorporate strength training into your workouts is you will lose inches and weight quicker and you will look better naked... more toned! Now who doesn't want that! 

Studies show that women don't build bulk, and gain size from strength training like a man does. You instead develop muscle tone and definition.

Even if you don't have weights, use tins of beans or soup, or use your own body weight by doing lunges, push-ups and crunches. 

All images from Tumblr

I'm not going to preach to you , I will only list the benefits; 

1. You will obviously become stronger- With this your confidence will grow!
2. You will lose body fat- For every 3 pounds of muscle you gain, you will burn an extra 120 calories a day, thus causing your body to burn fat without even trying!
3. You burn calories for longer- After lifting weights you body continues to burn calories for an hours after the workout!
4. You will more likely have a flat stomach- Studies found that lifting weights just twice a week can prevent you from gains abdominal fat!
5. You will reduce your risk or osteoporosis, heart diseases, diabetes, and depression!
6. You will reduce your risk of injury- This means you can work out harder for longer when you are at the gym without risking damage to yourself. 

The best thing you can do is both... do strength and cardio. 

Think of it this way- Cardio sculpts the body from the outside in (Because you are burning away your fat), and strength training sculpts your body from the inside out (Because you are building your muscles underneath your fat).

I hope this article helps a few people, and opens a few peoples eyes to what they are missing.