Why You Should Be Doing Resistance Training During The Summer
It seems like once the nice weather comes around, everyone forgets all the hard work they have put in over the winter months gaining muscular strength and endurance. Some things that you should be thinking about if you are considering or have already fallen off the resistance training wagon are that if you do not use your muscles…it is certain that you will lose them, no questions asked, and it only takes a few short weeks to lose some the strength you have worked so hard to achieve previously. So, do yourself a favor and don’t negate what you have already put so much time and effort in to.
If you’re someone who has never done resistance training, this article is for you too, as it is absolutely never too late to start a strength training regimen. If you are still not convinced that weight training is a very valuable aspect to your fitness read on.
Resistance training can either maintain or improve the following:
- blood pressure
- muscular strength and endurance
- blood glucose tolerance, a must for diabetics
- Your resting metabolic rate (RMR) stays elevated post workout so, you burn more calories!
- cholesterol
- bone mineral density to prevent osteoporosis
- muscle mass and RMR will help with weight management.
Some quick tips to remember:
- For resistance training, during the concentric (shortening) phase, make it last for 2 sec while during the eccentric (lengthening) phase; make it last for 4 sec.
- Keep the full range of motion during each exercise to keep the muscle lengthened and prevent loss of flexibility in your joints.
- Stretch after your workouts to keep your joints mobile and flexible.
Hannah Roeter BS, Gold’s Gym Wenatchee Summer Intern
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