Weight training changed my life
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Weight training changed my life
And I mean me, Anita, co-founder of unbound (hi).
I’ve heard it time and again: “I don’t want to look hench,” or “I just do cardio.”. I thought that too but I was so wrong. Firstly, if you are actually able to “look hench” well done, you will be the envy of women far and wide. Secondly, lifting weights isn’t about getting bigger—it’s about getting stronger and healthier.
As soon as I started switching out some of my HIIT classes for lifting weights, the difference was noticeable. I started in my late 20s/ early 30s so the benefits included being able to jump up from my desk, grab my laptop, brew, phone etc. and skip to a meeting. Or, effortlessly opening a jar of fancy olives and popping a champagne cork with one hand. As I head into my 40s these things are still true. But also, I can sling my 2-year-old over my shoulder while she loses her mind when we leave the park. My best friend told me recently that she was delighted after starting strength training that she could lift her ageing German Shepherd into the car without feeling like she was breaking her back. These things matter!
My background is in Chemistry… that’s Dr Anita, thanks (the type that can’t save lives). So here are some facts that perhaps speak louder than my anecdotes.
Women lose 3–8% of muscle mass per decade, leading to decreased bone density, slower metabolism, and higher injury risk. Strength training can seriously mitigate this.1 A major study of 412,000 adults found that strength training twice a week reduced women’s cardiovascular mortality by 30%, versus 11% for men.2
Not to stereotype, but we are also busy and the science says that the goal for most women should be just two 15-30 minute strength training sessions per week.3
So, regardless of your age ability or goals, I can’t recommend strength training enough. And, if you grab a set of unbound dumbbells, you could do it at home and use our four simple videos to get started… let me know how you get on (would love some new anecdotes 😉)
Anita
2 NHLBI