March Forward

Strength training benefits more than just the muscles – boost your Secret Cells with power.

Strength training is something we all hear a lot about these days. For some, this can be overwhelming. It doesn’t have to be. Anytime you load the muscles, you’re doing good work. So that means simple body weight exercises, core planks, and resistance training with bands all count. Of course you can lift weights too. The more you safely load, the better. Muscle just needs to be told to work – not mindless repetitions, but a few focused effortful moves.

If you’re still feeling a little nervous, consider all the “weights” you lift each day. For some, this is picking up a child. For others, a heavy bag of groceries. Even others, it’s squatting down and pulling out deep roots while gardening. I’m sure you can think of others too. With that in mind, consider how you might strategically add strength training of some sort into your life. 

The benefits to your Secret Cell are incredible. You send messages to your muscles that help them increase their energy powerhouses. Your metabolic efficiency is improved. Why? Partly because more muscle = more calories burned at rest. Strength training also helps us regulate stress and our nervous system. Do this a few times a week and see the improvements add up – remember, all these little benefits add up throughout the week.

Try these challenges for the next week:

· Wall sits – aim for 30 seconds, then 1 minute, then 2 minutes

· Core plank – aim for 30 seconds, then 1 minute, then 2 minutes

· Do push-ups on your toes or knees – aim for 10, then try 15 next time!

Kathryn