Pumping Iron: Here are 4 Reasons to Do it

Pumping Iron – 4 Reasons Why You Should Be doing it.

Danielle Cerullo

Pumping iron, or strength training refers to exercises like weight lifting, leg presses and dumbbell routines. These exercises get progressively more difficult as you advance your program.

The idea of exercising with weights is to break down the muscles so that they rebuild themselves bigger and stronger. Many people ignore weight training in favor of pure cardio because they assume that strength training is just for those who want to build bigger muscles, however they are wrong.

There are many other benefits to pumping iron.

1) Build and maintain muscles

To begin with, strength training builds and maintaining muscle tone. It is by far the best way to do it. As a matter of fact, in order to build muscle effectively, you need to perform exercises that are intense enough to break down the fibers in your muscles. Only then, your body will rebuild stronger muscles. Over time, it leads to muscle growth. Additionally, only weightlifting exercises are intense enough to lead to actual muscle growth.

Even if you do not want to build muscles, pumping iron will maintain existing muscle mass. Hence, it is great for older people, who lose muscle mass as they age.

2) Boost energy levels and feel great

Lifting weights raises energy levels and improves your mood. Because it is so intense, it releases endorphins in the brain which in turn boost energy levels. People often talk about a “runner’s high” for long-distance runners. Well, the same thing happens when pumping iron.

4) Improve bone health

In the same way it keeps your muscles healthy, it also keeps your skeletal system healthy. With age, bones lose density. Eventually, this will turn into a serious issue. Additionally, bone density losses start as early as age 30. Training with weights will keep your bone’s density at a healthy level.

5) Pumping Iron is good for the heart

Finally, it benefits the cardiovascular system as well. It really gets your blood pumping. Likewise, it keeps cholesterol levels low and blood pressure stabilized. While it may not be a pressing concern when you are younger, taking steps to improve your cardiovascular health at an early age will help you later on in life to achieve wellness.