Strength training doesn’t tickle.
You only need to look around in public to see that not everyone does it. I’ve been picking things up and putting them down for over 30 years, and staying on it through all my seasons of life is challenging.
Like many guys who walk through the gym doors for the first time and strut to the dumbbell rack, I wanted to get big. I wanted attention from the opposite sex because the biggest benefit of strength training was getting some.
Muscles = attention.
Vanity goals like losing fat, building muscle, or improving your body composition are all great reasons to do it, but they’re not hidden benefits. But when the results slow and life gets busy, the vanity benefits, IMO, will only take you so far.
You need the down-and-dirty hidden strength training benefits to hang in there for the long haul.
Let’s dive into what they are.
The Hidden Benefits Revealed
We all see the external benefits of strength training, such as bigger muscles, a leaner body, better posture, and glutes that pop. The benefits below are internal, but they also play a significant role in your quality of life.
Strength Training=Stronger Bones
My grandmother broke both hips. My mother fell on her knee, broke it, and needed a partial knee replacement. Both were in their 60s, and neither was strength training at the time.
Your muscles are not the only things that get bigger and stronger while lifting — your bones do, too. Your bones are always working, remodeling to support movement and keep you standing tall. Like your muscles, if you don’t give your bones a reason to stay strong, they will not. If you place greater stress on a bone, it adapts by becoming stronger.
Every time you lift, you’re not just getting sexy—you’re also strengthening your bones. It’s Wolff’s law in action. While lifting weights, the tendons and ligaments tug on your bones, which remodels them into stronger ones. It will become thicker and denser to withstand it. But if you sit on your bottom, your bones become thinner and less dense.
Don’t do that.
Strength Training=Enhanced Confidence
Before weights, I got sand kicked in my face while others watched and laughed. After weights, there’s no sand headed my way. The bigger muscles and better posture help you stand taller, but also give you an air of confidence that didn’t exist before.
My former client, a nurse, was thirsty, but the water dispenser was empty. The 35-pound water container was right by the dispenser, and she went to pick it up.
Then a nurse piked up and said, “Cheryl, I’ll get maintenance to take care of it.”
Screw that, she squatted to the floor, picked it up, and flipped it over, and she took care of her thirst needs. Everyone behind the desk was impressed. Lifting weights gave her the confidence to complete the task, and she knew she could.
Strength training not only helps you stand tall against life’s challenges, but it also boosts your confidence to engage in fun activities, like impressing your coworkers with displays of strength.
Strength Training=Brain Sharper
Lifting isn’t all about building muscle, but about sharpening your mind. Every time you lift weights, you’re working on your muscles and training your brain to focus, adapt, and stay strong.
Research shows resistance training boosts cognitive function, enhances memory, and reduces mental fatigue. Think of it as brain fertilizer—each rep strengthens your ability to think clearly, handle stress, and focus. The iron teaches discipline, concentration, and problem-solving under pressure—skills that stick with you long after you’ve racked the bar.
Now, where did I leave my keys?
Strength Training=Mental Resilience
Resilience is the ability to bounce back from challenges or adversity. It’s the capacity to adapt to stressful situations and maintain psychological well-being during tough times. The physical resilience gained from crafting your own suit of armor is a significant benefit of strength training.
The mental resilience, although hidden, is just as important.
Let’s say you perform heavy farmers’ carries while everything screams at you. Then, that pickle jar lid won’t budge, and you need to show mental and physical fortitude to open it. The physical resilience built in the gym shows up when you unscrew the tough lid to enjoy some tasty hamburgers.
Building physical resilience helps build the mental side, too.
In the past year, some of my clients have faced challenges while bending but not breaking. The thing they all have in common is the physical strength built by lifting.
Because their strength goes beyond just their muscles.
Wrapping Up
Strength training is challenging, and it gives you every reason to stop, especially when the results don’t come as they used to. That’s why these hidden benefits are vital because they give you reasons not to quit.
Work With Me Online
Whether you’re just starting or you’re tired of piecing together random YouTube workouts, my online coaching will help you succeed with:
Customized workouts you can do at home.
Mobility routines to reduce stiffness and move better.
Expert guidance and progress tracking that fits your lifestyle.
Real accountability.
Click here to get started today.
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