Resistance Training vs Other Forms of Exercise

I'm sure there are plenty of people of there that understand the benefits of resistance training and why it may be superior over other forms of exercise, but most people just don't.

Did you know that of all forms of exercise, including cardio (yes, that's right! "gasps!"), resistance training provides the most long-term health benefits?

The reason for this is due to the nature of the movements and what they provide your body with. When you are resistance training; whether it be lifting weights, light band workouts or body-weight workouts, you are not only strengthening your muscles (which assists in stabilizing your body and preventing injury), but also helping to strengthen your bone marrow and your immune system.

Resistance training has the most benefits over other forms of exercise, as well as of course being a display of good health and can be aesthetically pleasing.

Let's look at other forms of exercise:

Cardio - Great for the heart; hence why it is called cardiovascular training.

You should always include some form of cardio into either your workout routines or your day to day life; as having a strong, well-maintained heart will of course aid in better health and longevity. One of the best ways to incorporate cardio is if resistance training is your primary focus, just add in a few brisk walks every day or make sure you are moving enough throughout the day, then add in an activity a couple of times per week that increases your heart rate. Depending on your goals however, this doesn't have to be intense! Just enough that you feel the increased heart rate. This is enough to ensure good heart health, providing that you are doing other forms of exercise multiple times per week.. like resistance training!

Pilates - Great as a cardio activity and for mobility

Pilates; great for the heart-rate whilst incorporating the excitement and fun of a group environment, but isn't a big goal kicker. Sure, if Pilates is your thing and the main activity you do that isn't sitting on the couch or gives you that energy outlet after sitting all day at your office job... then perfect! It is a form of exercise that can definitely assist a lot of people that were quite sedentary or weren't excising at all prior. One thing Pilates can also be great for is improving your mobility and range of motion, if this wasn't even something you had considered prior if you were that sedentary person. This is where this sort of thing is a great gateway exercise. It definitely has it's place and benefits.

CrossFit - Like the above, great if you were't doing much prior.

CrossFit, like a lot of come-and-go fitness fads, is another great tool and gateway to fitness and better health if you weren't doing anything prior. It's got the group-based excitement going for it, but is also doesn't tailor directly to your specific fitness needs and goals. This is a big issue with group classes due to it being a "generic" one-size fit's all approach to health & fitness. Now it does have it's benefits, of course; it can be a great, intense cardio workout and a lot of fun in that competitive group environment. But going so intense and so hard every single workout can actually be detrimental to your progress and it can be quite mentally difficult to regress from here to ensure you continue to progress in your goals. Again however, it has it's place and is another great gateway exercise for that person who was quite sedentary prior.

Resitance Training - This really is the perfect fit for everyone.

Not matter age, size, health and goals.. it has the best bang for your buck for long-term health benefits. Did you know that doctors are even starting to move away from prescribing the elderly with 120 mins cardio per day, to 15 minutes of light resistance training instead?! Clear research and studies have now been so conclusive that resistance training helps stabilize the muscles, bones and immune system, among others; that elderly folks are able to recover from falls, lift their arms above their heads and move like they were still 10 years younger! The benefits are 10/fold over the previously prescribed 120 minutes of cardio per day.

What about woman? A lot of woman are resistant (pardon the pun) to start resistance training due to the fear that they will grow massive muscles and wake up looking like a body builder. This just doesn't happen. Not only does it take a long time to get physically and noticeably huge, but woman also don't have the same genetic ability to grow muscle the same way men do. The ones that do, usually have great genetics in this area or are professional athletes and physique competitors.

What about "toning"?. Sorry, but toning is a made up word created by the fitness industry.

You see, "toning" sounds more appealing to woman, rather than "build muscle". The mental image it creates is much more subtle and is usually described by sentences like "I just want to look a bit fitter" or "I just want a more solid look". Guess what? All "toning" is.. is just growing muscle That's all it is. Just growing muscle until a certain point that you think "that looks better, I look more solid and healthy" and then keeping it at that point and just maintaining that level of muscle mass.

See? Resistance training has lots of benefits; short-term, long-term and at any point of your life! It can improve all aspects of your life and has proven time and time again that it truly is best type of training for overall good health and longevity.