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As women age, a well-rounded
fitness program may serve as ammunition against the middle-aged
spread. Over the last five years, significant debate has focused
on the benefits and drawbacks of strength training in the female
gender. Certain physical therapists tout cardiovascular exercise
as the appropriate method for loosing a burgeoning belly. Nonetheless,
strength training and bodybuilding are good for the body. Primarily
it strengthens the muscles and bones. It builds the body’s ability
to burn calories and exert improved balance. Contrary to popular
belief, muscle does not weigh more than fat. Moreover, bodybuilding
is not counter-productive to weight loss; particularly, when
the strength training program is appropriate.
In reality, muscle
occupies less space than fat does. Additionally, when people
lift weight, the results are not immediately noticeable. Alternatively,
the loss of inches will become evident with time around the
waist, thighs, hips, and arms. A vast majority of certified
personal trainers stress the importance of including a strength
training program part of an overall fitness regimen.
Increasing muscle
is a fundamental aspect of increasing the metabolism so that
calories can be burned more efficiently. In fact, more muscle
represents streamlined calorie efficiency. As a result, weight
loss is inevitable and maintaining weight is easier.
Despite
the weight loss benefits of bodybuilding or strength training,
lifting weights is vital to the prevention of osteoporosis in
women. Substantial evidence has shown the role of strength training
and how it improves bone density. Fragile bones can lead to
frequent fractures and compromise many life safety health issues.
Another critical
role of bodybuilding (strength training) is how it can defeat
cortisol a hormone the body produces while under duress. During
moments of stress, cortisol increases the appetite and has a
propensity for converting calories into abdominal fat.
As with
any fitness program, the professional advice of a medical practitioner
is the first aspect of starting a program. Even when older patients
are given physician approval to perform strength training, the
increase in muscle mass has been shown to enable the elder person
to defer the functional declines linked to aging.
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