20 Reasons to Start Lifting

20 Reasons to Start Lifting

The simple act of picking up a weight, putting it down, and repeating a few times bestows a boatload of benefits
By The Editors of The Men's Health Big Book of Exercises menshealth
 

Start Lifting Now

20 Reasons to Start Lifting // 20 Reasons to Start Lifting Today © Thinkstock

Image: Thinkstock

When you lift weights, you cause tiny tears in your muscle fibers. This accelerates a process called muscle-protein synthesis that uses amino acids to repair and reinforce the fibers, making them resistant to future damage. So when a muscle fiber is exposed to a frequent challenge—as it is when you regularly lift weights—it makes structural adaptations in order to better handle that challenge. For example, your muscles adapt by getting bigger and stronger, or by becoming more resistant to fatigue.

Here are 20 reasons to lose 20 pounds

These adaptations occur to reduce stress on your body, which is why you can perform everyday functions—such as walking up stairs or picking up a light object—with little effort. It's also why if you routinely lift weights, you'll find that even the hardest physical tasks become easier. In scientific circles, this is known as the training effect. Turns out, this training effect improves not only your muscles but your entire life, too. It is, in fact, what gives you the edge.

1 Comments
More From menshealth
Keywords:
Related Content