Surprise Benefits of Weight Lifting!
MoreBean13
Posts: 8,701 Member
So we all know the obvious benefits of strength training: sexy muscles, looking better in your clothes, accelerated fat loss, increased bone density, being strong- and yet still I see posts asking "If I can't build NEW muscle in a deficit, what's the point in strength training?". Well, I'm constantly finding new reasons why it's awesome and some have surprised me.
1) It's improved my running!
2) It's eradicated a chronic pain problem in my neck/shoulder (common for people who work at a desk).
3) I can eat more and still lose weight.
4) I can squat over a public toilet with ease!
5) My whole life, I wore racerback bras because I have sloped, weak shoulders and straps always fall down. Now, I can wear regular straps, and strappy tank tops/dresses and they stay up! It's not a huge change- probably not visible, but it might be my favorite change of all!
What surprise or shocking benefits have you found- let the naysayers know!
1) It's improved my running!
2) It's eradicated a chronic pain problem in my neck/shoulder (common for people who work at a desk).
3) I can eat more and still lose weight.
4) I can squat over a public toilet with ease!
5) My whole life, I wore racerback bras because I have sloped, weak shoulders and straps always fall down. Now, I can wear regular straps, and strappy tank tops/dresses and they stay up! It's not a huge change- probably not visible, but it might be my favorite change of all!
What surprise or shocking benefits have you found- let the naysayers know!
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Replies
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LOL to #4! I'm going to be lifting more, and Im going to try following the routines in the New Rules of Lifting for Women book. What do you routines look like?0
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Those are all AWESOME benefits of weight lifting!!!0
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I used to have knee pain that would keep me from running long distances. Yesterday I ran a 5K pain free! I attribute that to squats (which I also thought would hurt my knees... nope!).0
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Yup. I too have a lot of chronic neck pain and it has gone away since I started lifting (desk job). Everything is easier, from getting out of low cars, to picking up large appliances, to manual labor (digging, climbing, you name it). I'm also slowly improving my shoulder which has been a major problem for my entire life (could only shoulder press 20lb dumbbells 8x when I started!).0
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Yup. I too have a lot of chronic neck pain and it has gone away since I started lifting (desk job). Everything is easier, from getting out of low cars, to picking up large appliances , to manual labor (digging, climbing, you name it). I'm also slowly improving my shoulder which has been a major problem for my entire life (could only shoulder press 20lb dumbbells 8x when I started!).
Yes! I have window air conditioners, and last year bringing them up from the basement and putting them in was a real project. This year it was no big deal!0 -
I'm a faster swimmer, biker and runner because of it.
I can do more things with less help.0 -
Mine really just expands on what has already been said.
For me the main benefits, outside the body composition and weight loss aspects, are:
1) bone density: I had a DEXA scan done a couple of months ago and my bone density was off the chart good - most likely due to a combination of copiuos lattes and strength training
2) as with you, I have found it significantly helped with chronic pain. I had previously suffered with pain in my lower back which went away when I started lifting years ago. I had a serious (non lifting related) illness a few years back for which I was hospitalized for quite a while, during which I contracted a staph infection that went into my upper spine leading to osteomyelitis. This resulted in chronic pain between my shoulder blades, exacerbated by sitting in front of a computer for my job for most of the day. For a while, due to my illness, I stopped lifting and my lower back pain came back as well. Now I have restarted lifting again, both of these pains have, for the most part, gone away.
3) Being able to lift heavy *kitten*0 -
I like lifting, I agree with the benefits that have already been posted. I feel like I walk straighter taller, proud of the muscle that will be emerging soon ( ive been lifting about 6 weeks now)0
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Just chiming in on the chronic pain thing. I always had a shoulder/neck issue that would often end up sending shooting pain down my arm, sometimes my hip on that side would ache, you name it. Regular weight lifting has totally made it go away. I can't remember the last time it bothered me.0
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The public toilet part made this my fav post of the day!0
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LOL- I don't think men realize how much of a benefit this really is!The public toilet part made this my fav post of the day!0 -
I'm a faster runner.
I also have better form/posture while running/walking/sitting.
I feel stronger (mentally, physically, and emotionally).
That public toilet comment was hilarious though.0 -
I like lifting, I agree with the benefits that have already been posted. I feel like I walk straighter taller, proud of the muscle that will be emerging soon ( ive been lifting about 6 weeks now)
Actually, this is one I missed - but I think it helps with posture. Now wheher that is confidence or something more physical, I am not sure, but feeling like a bada$$ can help with posture definately!0 -
Yup. I too have a lot of chronic neck pain and it has gone away since I started lifting (desk job). Everything is easier, from getting out of low cars, to picking up large appliances , to manual labor (digging, climbing, you name it). I'm also slowly improving my shoulder which has been a major problem for my entire life (could only shoulder press 20lb dumbbells 8x when I started!).
Yes! I have window air conditioners, and last year bringing them up from the basement and putting them in was a real project. This year it was no big deal!
Yup. I have a monster window AC unit (75-80lbs) and last year it took two of us to put it in. This year I could have picked it up one-handed if it had a handle on it. Ridiculous the difference just one year makes.
I've also noticed my lower back doesn't get sore from leaning over a lot (picking things up, cleaning, etc).. It would be sore for days sometimes.0 -
I like lifting, I agree with the benefits that have already been posted. I feel like I walk straighter taller, proud of the muscle that will be emerging soon ( ive been lifting about 6 weeks now)
Actually, this is one I missed - but I think it helps with posture. Now wheher that is confidence or something more physical, I am not sure, but feeling like a bada$$ can help with posture definately!
I agree, I haven't thought of posture, but I'm sure walking taller (and for a shortie like me, that's important!). Improved posture also makes you look thinner- so double whammy benefit!0 -
LOL to #4! I'm going to be lifting more, and Im going to try following the routines in the New Rules of Lifting for Women book. What do you routines look like?
I lift ~2x per week, using varying combinations of:
Squats
Deadlifts
Rows
Overhead Press
Lunges
Chin Ups (assisted)
Dips (assisted)
Wide Grip Lat Pull-Down
And a few other assistance lifts here and there.
I'm currently doing a 5x5 format, which I like a lot. Takes me about an hour usually.0 -
Bone density too
dont know if someone mentioned that before.. I'm trying soo hard to get the girls at my gym to come to the dark side of the gym with me!! They are missing out! 0 -
I had surgery a month ago and haven't been able to lift since. I'm starting to wake up with lower back pain again. Can't wait for 3 more weeks to be up so I can lift again.0
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LOL @ the dark side of the gym- get the girls and take it over! The guys won't mind, they get sick of looking at each other, I thinkBone density too dont know if someone mentioned that before.. I'm trying soo hard to get the girls at my gym to come to the dark side of the gym with me!! They are missing out!
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The other night my kids were in a parade and *I* had to walk the length of the street twice AND stand still for nearly 2 hrs but didn't need to sit down. I wanted to, but didn't need to. Thank you squats.0
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-I spend a lot of time sitting in front of computer, and I'm large-chested, so I used to have lots of neck, back, and shoulder pain. Since I started lifting seriously, the pain is completely gone.
- I second (more like fifth) that being able to lift and carry things is awesome. Yesterday I carried a large TV down to my basement without any problems.
DH and I rebuilt our garden couple weeks ago. We carried more than 400 lbs of wood planks, and what seemed like an infinite number of bags of fertilizer. I spent the entire day carrying and lifting things, and I was completely fine the next day. No pain whatsoever. It also takes me a lot less effort to clean and unload groceries, because I have much more upper body strength. Now I can clean my oven in half the time, and it's just as clean.
- Improved libido. If I lift regularly for 2-3 weeks, my libido goes through the roof.0 -
I think my funniest lifting surprise happened on Tuesday when I was shopping. I was trying to put back a sweater that I pulled off a rack and I wound up snapping the hanger in two.. I was like whoops.. sorry.
It's also nice to only make one trip when bringing in groceries!0 -
All great additional benefits to weight training! I love being able to go into the store and pick up and carry out a 15 pound bag of dog food like its nothing!0
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Smaller bat wings (less flabby back of my arms)! I didn't even notice but other people have!0
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I love being able to bring in all the groceries in one trip!
The negative side effect is that my city has a 30 pound weight limit on garbage bags. As a guideline, they suggest if you can lift it with one arm, it should be ok. I've had the garbagemen refuse to take my trash because it was "too heavy." Nevermind that I'm 1) a woman, 2) twice their age and 3) half their weight. :laugh:
So then I have to split it up into two bags, but I'm really tempted to wait outside and offer to lift it for them.0 -
I love being able to bring in all the groceries in one trip!
The negative side effect is that my city has a 30 pound weight limit on garbage bags. As a guideline, they suggest if you can lift it with one arm, it should be ok. I've had the garbagemen refuse to take my trash because it was "too heavy." Nevermind that I'm 1) a woman, 2) twice their age and 3) half their weight. :laugh:
So then I have to split it up into two bags, but I'm really tempted to wait outside and offer to lift it for them.
That's too funny! It's because the garbage men can't lift your bags? lol0 -
What type of routine would you recommend for a complete newby to weight lifting. I've lost so much strength in my upper body and need to build that back up again and also melt alot of hip, tummy and thigh fat off. How do you do lunges and squats without it hurting your knees. It kills mine. I'm about 30 lbs overweight.
Thanks.0 -
Do you have a knee injury that you're working around or generally healthy knees and those movements hurt?What type of routine would you recommend for a complete newby to weight lifting. I've lost so much strength in my upper body and need to build that back up again and also melt alot of hip, tummy and thigh fat off. How do you do lunges and squats without it hurting your knees. It kills mine. I'm about 30 lbs overweight.
Thanks.
Edit- Either way actually, for you I would suggest checking out the newest New Rules of Lifting book- New Rules of Lifting for Life. It has modifications for many of the exercises to address specific problems you may have. As far as Squats and lunges hurting- with proper form neither one should hurt your knees, I might get a trainer for a session or two to show you good form, or check out Starting Strength by Mark Rippetoe- it's like the proper form bible.0 -
I would love to start weight lifting, but I am totally clueless. How did you start? What program did you use?0
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My first job back in the day I worked in a kitchen at a restaurant, and one of my duties was to clean the bathrooms. The men's was no picnic, but at least we only had to stand to go most of the time. The women's was pretty gross too. I can definitely understand the benefit.LOL- I don't think men realize how much of a benefit this really is!0
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