Trends in the fitness industry come and go. So many fads and gimmicks have emerged that you are left wondering what really is the best way to obtain your desired level of fitness.
Amidst all that has come and gone, one of the most basic ways to get fit has stood the test of time: strength training.
Nothing compares to the raw feel of cold iron bars and plates, which represent true strength development. It only makes sense that athletes of all levels participate in strength training programs to help improve their game. If you have two athletes of similar skill, who will come out on top?
The answer is simple: the stronger one. Competitive lifting such as powerlifting, Olympic style weightlifting, and bodybuilding all possess the basic fundamentals of strength training. You would need to become strong and proficient at your large muscle group lifts if you are to stand any chance of rising above the competition.
But maybe you’re not quite an athlete. You might be wondering, What does any of this have to do with people who simply want to get in better shape or are out there for their health and well-being?
The answer is that any basic training program should have a solid component of strength training in it.
The reason for this is that increasing the strength of large muscle groups, such as with squats or shoulder presses, will function to enhance your metabolic rate by increasing lean body mass.
This is essential if you are seeking to improve your fitness level—and you cannot get this type of benefit by performing isolation exercises such as bicep curls or leg extensions.
Increasing strength also improves joint health when done with proper technique and improves bone density. This has serious implications if you wish to improve your overall health.
Research has shown that the best way to develop strength is through barbell training, followed closely by dumbbell training. The free weight style of training is vastly superior to machine work since free weights activate stabilizing muscles throughout the back and core.
Freeweight exercises also activate the muscle through a natural range of motion, most resembling daily activities and making these exercises very functional. It is not surprising, then, that athletes in most sports will have similar strength training exercises in their programs, with only slight variation based on the sport and the athlete.
Strength training, then, presents itself as a superior form of exercise that you can also manipulate in order to help achieve a variety of goals.
As long as it is performed with proper technique, strength training is one of the safest forms of exercise.
Strength training can be an enjoyable challenge for those who wish to achieve their fitness goals and surpass their former selves.