Why You Must Lift Weights and Build Muscle

AllanMisner

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24561114
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2015-01-14/ignoring-exercise-may-be-twice-as-lethal-as-obesity.html

Every day there is a constant stream of concerns about muscle mass and advice to avoid lifting weights and focus on steady-state cardio. When the reality is, you should be doing both. What you eat determines whether you’re going to lose or gain fat. But muscle mass is a critical component of health that seems to be forgotten.

If you’re young, you should be working to get a good base strength and mass that you can carry forward. If you’re older, you should be aggressively working to increase muscle mass.

If you’re in this for good health, pay less attention to the scale or your BMI, and pay more attention to your overall body composition. That requires both a good eating plan and a good fitness regime. Don’t let vanity blind you.

MmmDrop

I lift heavy because I AM vain. No one wants a saggy bum.

jesiann2014

I wonder if anyone ever started a lifting program, stayed at it earnestly and really just didn't like it at all... I can't imagine. I think it's probably the 'sticking with it earnestly' part that turns folks away. Maybe...

jacksonpt

I've got a stack of magazine covers 5' high that say different.

Sam_I_Am77

AllanMisner wrote: »

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24561114
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2015-01-14/ignoring-exercise-may-be-twice-as-lethal-as-obesity.html

Every day there is a constant stream of concerns about muscle mass and advice to avoid lifting weights and focus on steady-state cardio. When the reality is, you should be doing both. What you eat determines whether you’re going to lose or gain fat. But muscle mass is a critical component of health that seems to be forgotten.

If you’re young, you should be working to get a good base strength and mass that you can carry forward. If you’re older, you should be aggressively working to increase muscle mass.

If you’re in this for good health, pay less attention to the scale or your BMI, and pay more attention to your overall body composition. That requires both a good eating plan and a good fitness regime. Don’t let vanity blind you.

Building strength is definitely important but the focus on building muscle mass can be misleading in seniors. It is true they need to be strong for function and quality of life they do not need muscle mass in the sense of being big but rather to be functional. There are good studies out there that discuss the improvement in quality of life and health of seniors from things like water aerobics and Tai Chi. Somebody that is 65 years old doesn't necessarily need to go out and start squatting & deadlifting to be maintain health and function, they really just need some form of activity.

jesiann2014

Sam_I_Am77 wrote: »

AllanMisner wrote: »

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24561114
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2015-01-14/ignoring-exercise-may-be-twice-as-lethal-as-obesity.html

Every day there is a constant stream of concerns about muscle mass and advice to avoid lifting weights and focus on steady-state cardio. When the reality is, you should be doing both. What you eat determines whether you’re going to lose or gain fat. But muscle mass is a critical component of health that seems to be forgotten.

If you’re young, you should be working to get a good base strength and mass that you can carry forward. If you’re older, you should be aggressively working to increase muscle mass.

If you’re in this for good health, pay less attention to the scale or your BMI, and pay more attention to your overall body composition. That requires both a good eating plan and a good fitness regime. Don’t let vanity blind you.

Building strength is definitely important but the focus on building muscle mass can be misleading in seniors. It is true they need to be strong for function and quality of life they do not need muscle mass in the sense of being big but rather to be functional. There are good studies out there that discuss the improvement in quality of life and health of seniors from things like water aerobics and Tai Chi. Somebody that is 65 years old doesn't necessarily need to go out and start squatting & deadlifting to be maintain health and function, they really just need some form of activity.

Agree. Good point.

ninerbuff

Sam_I_Am77 wrote: »

AllanMisner wrote: »

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24561114
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2015-01-14/ignoring-exercise-may-be-twice-as-lethal-as-obesity.html

Every day there is a constant stream of concerns about muscle mass and advice to avoid lifting weights and focus on steady-state cardio. When the reality is, you should be doing both. What you eat determines whether you’re going to lose or gain fat. But muscle mass is a critical component of health that seems to be forgotten.

If you’re young, you should be working to get a good base strength and mass that you can carry forward. If you’re older, you should be aggressively working to increase muscle mass.

If you’re in this for good health, pay less attention to the scale or your BMI, and pay more attention to your overall body composition. That requires both a good eating plan and a good fitness regime. Don’t let vanity blind you.

Building strength is definitely important but the focus on building muscle mass can be misleading in seniors. It is true they need to be strong for function and quality of life they do not need muscle mass in the sense of being big but rather to be functional. There are good studies out there that discuss the improvement in quality of life and health of seniors from things like water aerobics and Tai Chi. Somebody that is 65 years old doesn't necessarily need to go out and start squatting & deadlifting to be maintain health and function, they really just need some form of activity.

This. Whether we want to believe it or not, as we age our joints and cartilage decrease on how much load it can handle COMFORTABLY.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

ajwall3

I have recently come to this conclusion as cardio got my weight down but it's not going to get me the results I want. I'm going to begin a lifting regimen and crank up my protein. I'm hoping to gain muscle and just get strong. Very intimidating for this 5'4" 115 pound gal but I can't let it intimidate me!

DymonNdaRgh40

I enjoy both weight lifting and running so I'll continue to do both. I'm lifting more now and keeping my protein high in the hopes of gaining a bit more muscle in the few months I have before I start racing again. Both cardio and lifting weights have done wonders for my body.