How do women and men gain so much body fat?

As we age we become less active, we lose muscle, and we gain fat weight. Since losing weight is a top goal, here's a reminder of the wonderful benefits of pumping iron. Starting a strength training program can be a major step against the battle of the bulge!

Regular strength training 2-3x per week has many different benefits from aerobic training (keep up that walking!). This week we focus on the anti-aging benefits of strength training to keep and/or add muscle.

Many of us lead very busy lives, and we may feel we don't have the time to devote to strength training. I suggest that we need to make the time.

Consistent strength training will :

• Give our muscles more shape and help us to reshape

• Keep our skin tighter ( ever notice how weight loss without toning leads to a loss of elasticity?)

• Help us to keep our functional strength for our daily activities and sports

• Help relieve arthritic symptoms by strengthening supporting muscles that surrounds our joints

• Increase bone density

• Improve posture

• Prevent lower back pain

• Help raise our metabolic rate (so we can eat a little more and maintain our weight a little easier)

• Improve our circulation. Yes, strength training our lower body helps the blood to return to our hearts ( strong leg muscles contract during movement helping to push blood flow back to the heart)

• Studies also suggest that strength training is helpful to lowering blood pressure too.

These are just some of the important benefits to consistent strength training.

The American Institute for Cancer Research also recommends that we keep our weight gain during adulthood to under 11 pounds to lower cancer risk. This is why they have added strength training to their recommendations.

So, one of my motto's I try to live by on a regular basis is " I don't find the time, I make the time". Exercise, both cardiovascular and weight training, are important lifestyle habits. Pump any iron recently?