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Love Yourself Strong

in The Too Busy to Diet Blog on February 15, 2015

Written by Judy Joyce. Take your cardiovascular health off the treadmill and into the weight room.
January has come and gone and perhaps so have those New Year’s resolutions. Rarely is there a resolution that does not include some sort of commitment to health. Well, February may be the perfect month to fine tune that commitment. While you’re spreading love to family, friends, and someone special, save a little for yourself.
Heart health is usually thought in terms of the treadmill, elliptical, pounding the pavement and other typical forms of cardiovascular training. Studies now show that resistance training (some form of weight-bearing exercise), not only engages the muscular system but the cardiovascular system as well. In short, yes, you can get an aerobic workout and reap the other many benefits of strength training; all without the dreaded fear of “bulking up”. The American Heart Association lists improved heart and lung function, reduction in coronary disease risk factors and improved glucose metabolism as just a few of the many benefits of strength training. Study after study shows the power of strength training far surpasses just making us look and feel better. All that looking and feeling better translates into reducing or preventing many chronic conditions such as osteoporosis, obesity, diabetes, mild depression and anxiety all the while increasing, strength, stamina, flexibility, balance and coordination.

If you are new to training, seek out a trainer that can tailor a resistance training program specific to your goals. One size does not fit all.
Remember, the heart is not just any muscle, it’s the most important muscle in your body.
So, to keep your heart pumping strong, pump some iron.