Why You Should Build Muscle

Why should someone add muscle to their body?

The short answer: It’s great for your health.

Keep in mind that we aren’t talking about huge amounts of muscle. Sometimes people think of oversized bodybuilders when they hear the word “muscle,” or they think they can instantly “get bulky” by lifting weights. I am referring to smaller amounts of muscle added to people who want to be generally healthy and active.

A lot has been written about the “obesity epidemic,” but you don’t often hear about “sarcopenia”—a gradual loss of muscle mass and strength.

This condition is more common in the elderly, but many people start losing muscle in their 30s. In fact, Webmd.com states that inactive people can lose between three and five percent of their muscle mass in every decade after they turn 30. LOSE 3 to 5% of MUSCLE A DECADE AFTER 30! As someone who just turned 40 this stat TERRIFIES me and has given me a even more motivation to chase strength every day.

This might not seem like a big deal, but if you lose muscle, you’ll lose the ability to perform tasks, and you’ll be more prone to injury. Eventually, you might not be able to live independently. Take aesthetics out of the equation — strength is where it is at for longevity and living a full life.
Here is the great news: Strength training works AT ANY AGE. Yes, that’s right…for those of you that think you are “too old to start training” that is just not the case, get excited to GET STRONG.
Things change a little as we age and we don’t build muscle as fast as in our 20’s but you can not only maintain muscle through strength training but even build muscle well into our 70s. 

So what are the benefits of muscle? Here are 6 of them:

1. Muscle increases your ability to do everyday tasks—If you’re strong, you won’t struggle to pick up the kids, move that box or just stand up. And, related to that, you’ll feel a sense of confidence because you know you’re physically able to do lots of things.

2. Muscle prevents injuries—If your muscles and bones are weak, it’s much easier to damage them. And weak, unbalanced muscles leave your joints unprotected. If you have a good amount of muscle, you’ll avoid a host of injuries (and I am accident prone so I need all the help I can get!😆)

3. Muscle helps preserve a healthy body weight—If you have more muscle, you’ll burn more calories at rest, which makes it harder to gain excess weight. Besides, people with strong muscles are generally active because they like to use them in fun activities, which makes it even harder to add body fat.

4. Muscle improves posture and prevents aches and pains—As you lose muscle, your body can start to “sag,” and that causes all kinds of problems. Think about someone whose rounded shoulders cause a lot of pain. If you build some muscle, you’ll add a ton of “support structure,” and your body will feel great.

5. Muscles helps you perform better in sports–If you enjoy playing any sport, muscle will help you get better results (and avoid injuries, too). You’ll be stronger, faster and more powerful. I don’t know about you, but I plan on snowboarding until I’m 90, so I need those strong legs🏂, now THAT’s some retirement 😍

6. Muscle building has mental-health benefits—Studies have suggested that strength training can boost self-esteem and help people deal with depression, anxiety and stress. Strength training has no negative side effects, and you can even train with a partner or in a group to make it a super-fun social experience.

Overall, a little muscle goes a long way—and we’re experts when it comes to adding it!