THE BOTTOM LINE

Another study!  I read recently that lifting can now slow “middle aged spread.”  No kidding.  A study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that women who strength trained twice a week for 2 years had decreased their body fat by 3.7% over the control group (who had no change).  Plus the lifters gained less intra-abdominal fat (the bad stuff that is linked to heart disease) – 7% versus 21% in non-lifters.

Strength training builds muscle which continues to burn calories from fat stores even when you’re not working out.  The benefits are continuous which makes strength training a great way to bust through a plateau or to jumpstart your fitness program.