by Jaime Lafond

Created on: June 30, 2009   Last Updated: July 01, 2009

This year I had the pleasure of turning the big 3-0. I didn't give it much thought; after all, it was just another birthday. However, as the birthday cards poured in and the phone calls came through, the reality of this milestone birthday sank in - I am old. Suddenly overwhelmed with an alarming sense of dread over inevitable weight gain, muffin tops, cellulite, and saggy boobs, I decided that I needed to take a stand. I could choose to sit on my rump and let Mother Nature lick me with all she's got, or I could stand up and fight! I decided on the latter, and after some careful research I armed myself with the most powerful weapon I could find in preparation for my battle with Mother Nature - a resistance training fitness program. Here's why.

Resistance training offers women many physical benefits, such as weight control, increased energy and bone strength, and improved appearance. It also offers vital psychological benefits, such as an overall feeling of well-being, decreased stress and depression, and enhanced self-esteem and self-confidence. Contrary to popular belief, participating in a resistance training program will not cause us to "bulk up" or appear "manly" because our bodies are not genetically or biologically wired to do so. (However, if you are lucky enough to have genes that support the development of certain sleek and defined muscles, all the power to you!) Participation in a resistance training program will, however, prevent the loss of muscle mass and strength, and the medley of problems associated with such loses.

It is extremely important that women partake in resistance training programs in order to optimize muscle strength and endurance. Loss of muscle mass and strength is not inevitable with age, but if we don't use it - we will lose it. Decreased muscle mass is associated with poor weight control and, ultimately, weight gain. Have you ever noticed that most of your friends tend to struggle more with their weight than the men in their lives? This is because the average male has twice the muscle mass of the average female of equal size and consequently a higher metabolism (the higher your metabolism, the more calories you burn at rest). Loss of muscle strength is associated with injuries, poor balance, and loss of functional independence in the elderly. Although the thought of getting stuck on the toilet at the shopping mall (my poor grandma!) is daunting, I must admit that at this point I am more concerned with not being the soccer

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