by Sarah Defibaugh

Created on: April 28, 2008   Last Updated: May 05, 2008

Women who stick with a strength training work-out will reap valuable rewards. There are many reasons for women to incorporate strength training into their weekly workouts, not the least of which are the health and beauty benefits that come from increasing muscle mass. Read on to discover the many advantages strength training has to offer.

Fat Fighter

Women who focus on strength training are actually increasing calorie-eating muscle mass that requires additional fuel to operate within the body. Cardiovascular exercises burn calories only during the 20-30 minutes spent on the treadmill or in spinning class. The difference between cardio and strength training is that when you are focused on building muscle strength, calories are burned long after you stop exercising. More muscle mass requires more energy, energy that the body locates in the form of fat. The more muscle your body has, the more fat you will burn, even after the workout is over. In addition, strength training increases the speed of your metabolism, another added benefit when looking to lose weight.

Cellulite Eraser

Even the skinniest of women battle cellulite. While topical treatments can produce short term effects, the only way to really see a significant decrease in the puckering and dimpling is to build solid muscle tone. Strength training that focuses in on the rear and the hamstring areas will produce visible results within weeks. It may take more discipline to carve out time for strength training exercises than it does to apply cream, but it's worth it. In addition to smoother, tighter skin, the taut muscle tone that appears will banish that pre-beach trip anxiety. Hello, bikini!

Energy Booster

Not only does strength training offer beauty benefits, but you'll see an elevation in your energy levels as well. Think about all of those hobbies you've wanted to start, or classes you've wanted to enroll in. Strength training helps sharpen the mind by increasing your energy, giving your body added resources to put towards those extra activities you felt too depleted to start previously. You'll also experience a decrease in your level of stress, increasing your work performance and overall well-being.

Injury Reducer

In addition, building muscle mass means that the likelihood of injury while performing routine (or not so routine) activities goes down. Women who strength train are much less likely to pull a muscle or strain a ligament. This results in fewer trips to the chiropractor for a strained back or muscle. The sooner you start strengthening your muscles, the less likely you are to experience chronic problems that come with age.

Gravity Reverser

An additional problem that occurs as women age is the compacting of the skeletal structure. Strength training can assist in maintaining the skeletal structure by providing muscular support. The bones are held in place by the muscle mass that is built around them, decreasing the possibility of skeletal shrinking. One side note is that muscle strength in the chest area can help slow the gravitational pull on the breasts as well!

Strength training truly does offer many valuable internal and external benefits. Ensure that a focus on stretching and flexibility supplements your strength training routine, and never attempt to lift more than you feel comfortable with. Making strength training a priority will allow you to start reaping its many benefits!

Learn more about this author, Sarah Defibaugh.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.