Strength Training Has Nothing to Do With Exercise

When you think of strength training, you probably picture big, sweaty bodybuilders, racks of heavy weights and intimidating machines you have no idea how to use. But here’s the truth: strength training isn’t just for bodybuilders—it’s for YOU and anyone else who wants to move better, feel stronger and live the best life possible! At Results Fitness, we love our weights and fitness toys, but exercising isn’t really about lifting weights at all.

It’s about preparing you for LIFE!

Because here’s the thing—those weights aren’t just making your muscles stronger inside the gym, they’re helping you do the everyday stuff you probably take for granted right now:

• Walking, sitting, and standing up without struggle.
• Carrying groceries, pushing a cart, or lifting luggage into an overhead bin.
• Hugging your kids or grandkids (and actually being able to pick them up!).
• Keeping your balance so you can travel, explore, and check off your bucket list well into retirement

Being strong is about so much more than just gigantic muscles and flexing in the mirror—it’s about having and maintaining independence so that you don’t need help getting off the couch, taking a shower or living the life you worked hard for. And it is NEVER too late to start! If you start now, not only will you feel stronger, healthier and more energetic, you’ll set yourself up for a healthier, more capable future tomorrow, next month, next year and for decades to follow! If you never start, you are gauranteed a much harder, less enjoyable life (and sooner than you think). That’s why strength training is at the heart of everything we do at Results Fitness!  It’s the single best investment you can make in your body, long-term health – mental and physical – and quality of life. In today’s blog, you’ll discover:

• Why you avoid weights (and how to get past it)
• Why strength training beats cardio (science-backed!)
• The ideal approach for beginners and veterans

Ready to get stronger and live the life you deserve? Let’s dive in! ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ WHY YOU AVOID WEIGHTS There are plenty of reasons why you may avoid lifting weights —misconceptions, past experiences or just not knowing where to start. Let’s clear the air so you’ve got the facts and confidence to make strength training work for you! Reason #1: “Weights Are Harder Than Cardio” Cardio seems simple—you hop on a treadmill and go!

Strength training, on the other hand, feels more intimidating because it requires learning proper form and technique, and most gyms don’t show you how. If you’ve ever walked into a gym, looked at the weights, and felt lost—you’re not alone!

That’s why you always work with a coach here at Results Fitness – so you can exercise safely and effectively!

And yes, lifting can feel uncomfortable at first—but that challenge is exactly what makes it so effective for your health, strength and longevity!

That’s why more and more women, especially 40+, are shifting from cardio to strength training. Many of our members came to Results Fitness feeling weaker in daily life or dealing with osteopenia, osteoporosis or arthritis—and strength training is what’s helping them feel stronger, healthier and more capable than ever!

Reason #2: “Weights Are for Bodybuilders and Athletes” Forget the image of grunting bodybuilders! Strength training is for all ages, all fitness levels! The beauty of it is adaptability: with the right coach, your workouts can be safe, effective, and tailored to your fitness level and needs. That’s why every program at Results Fitness is 100% customized to YOU! Reason #3: “My Joints or Injuries Can’t Handle It” Got bad knees, hips, or back pain? You may have been told lifting isn’t safe—but the truth is the opposite! When done properly under the direction of experienced coaches like our team here at Results Fitness, strength training reduces your pain, improves your mobility and strengthens the very joints you’re worried about! Many of our members came in with arthritis, knee replacements or chronic aches—and now move better than ever! Reason #4: “Lifting Weights Will Make Me Bulky!” This is the #1 fear among women—and it’s simply not true.  Lifting weights helps you get leaner, stronger, and more defined- cardio alone won’t do it! Muscle takes up less space in your body than fat, so adding muscle actually makes you look smaller, not bigger. The “bulk” you feel and or fear is really body fat, which comes from what you eat—not lifting weights. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 14 REASONS TO LIFT WEIGHTS:

If you want the most effective workout to transform your health, look your best and live your best life—it’s strength training!

At Results Fitness, strength training is our core focus because nothing delivers more benefits for your time and effort.

Cardio has its place, but strength training is king.

The key is doing it safely, with the right coach and a program tailored to your fitness level, goals, and needs. That’s why every program at Results Fitness is 100% personalized to your starting point, your preferred level of challenge/ intensity and modifications for injuries, aches and pains.

Here are 14 reasons strength training is essential—no matter your age or fitness level.

(Note: “heavier weights” are always relative to where YOU are starting).

1. Builds Confidence: Picking up a heavy weight is empowering and that confidence carries into every role you play outside the gym—spouse, parent, friend, employee, etc.

2. Improves Strength:  Being strong makes everyday life easie—from carrying all the groceries in one trip to picking up your kids or grandkids pain free!

3. Decreases Joint Pain: Stronger muscles support weaker joints which reduces chronic pain in shoulders, knees, hips, low back…

4. Decreases Fat & Builds Lean Muscle:  The more muslce you have, the more fat your body burns, creting leaner, more ‘toned’ aesthetic!

5. Increases Metabolism: Muscle requires energy, even at rest so the more muscle you build, the higher your daily calorie burn—plus, up to 48 hours after a workout!

6. Prevents Injury: connective tissues adapt and strengthen with weight training, making it harder to get injured!

7. Strengthens Your Heart: Heavy lifting challenges your cardiovascular system in a powerful way, forcing the heart to work harder and ultimately get stronger!

8. Creates Stronger Bones:  Builds stronger, thicker bones that are harder to injure and protects against / slow the progression of osteoporosis and osteopenia!

9. Repairs Cartilage: Stimulates nutrients to flow through cartilage, aiding repair and improving joint health—something high-impact cardio can’t do.

10. Increases Athleticism:  Improves your ability to generate power—critical for movements like sprinting, jumping, and simply staying active and agile.

11. Prevents Disease: Lowers your risk for chronic dieseases and quite simply, stronger people tend to live longer—and better!

12. Enhances Recovery: Lifting helps your body release “repair hormones” so you get stronger and recover faster!

13. Creates Mental Toughness:Pushing through tough workouts builds grit and resilience you’ll use in all parts of life!

14. Promotes Continued Improvement: Allows for endless progression compared to most other workouts! While activities like cardio or yoga offer some level of gradual progression, they don’t compare to the ability to improve so much for so long.

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Now that you know why strength training = a healthier, happier, stronger YOU, the next question is: how often should you train, and if you’re new—where do you start?

The sweet spot is at least 3 strength workouts per week, mixed with active recovery and cardio-based activities like walking, yoga, or Pilates. What matters most is hitting those 3 sessions—it doesn’t matter if they’re every other day or back-to-back.

Like anything in life—a new job, a new language, even pickleball—the more you show up and practice, the better the results.

And to make it simple (without the overwhelm of going it alone), you can book a free intro call with our team to see if our coaches, community, and workouts are the right fit for you. 👉  Book your call HERE!