These are some reasons why you should not let more time pass without lifting weights.
1. You'll get in shape faster. The term cardio should not only describe aerobic exercise: one study found that weight training exercises increase your heart rate 15 beats per minute more than if you were running at 60 or 70% of your maximum heart rate.
2. You will burn more calories. Lifting weights increases the number of calories you burn at rest. That's because after each strength training, your muscles need energy to repair their fibers.
3. You will deal better with stress. Make dumbbells and keep you cool when you're under pressure. Scientists determined that people who were more fit showed lower levels of stress hormones than those who were less.
4. Your heart will be healthier. Researchers found that people who did three weight training a week working the whole body over a two-month period lowered their diastolic blood pressure (the lowest number) by an average of eight points. That is enough to reduce the risk of stroke by 40% and the likelihood of having a heart attack by 15%.
5. You will live more. Full body strength is associated with lower risks of death from cardiovascular disease and cancer. So being strong in adulthood is associated with an exceptional survival rate, which is defined as living longer than 85 years without developing a major disease.
