Or maybe you understand the importance of it, but just don't know how to get started.
The great news is it's very easy to get started. Even just incorporating 1-2 strength workout sessions per week can make a huge difference in your fitness.
Not only does lean, toned muscle help protect your bones and joints (think of it as armor around your body), but performing weight-bearing exercise prevents against weak bones and diseases like osteoporosis and osteopenia -- which is increasingly important as we age and our hormones change.
Here are some quick and simple workouts that you can add to your weekly rotation to make sure you're strengthening your body.
Basic Strength Training Workout
Perform each exercise for 30 seconds each, moving quickly from exercise to exercise. At the end, rest for 60 seconds and repeat 1-2 more times (depending on time and fitness level).
- Squats (with or without dumbbells)
- Pushups (feet or knees)
- Lunges - left leg only (with or without dumbbells)
- Dumbbell overhead shoulder presses
- Lunges - left right only (with or without dumbbells)
- Dumbbell curls
- Lying leg scissors
- Triceps pushups (feet or knees)
Time-Crunch Strength Training Workout
For busy women short on time, this workout combines two movements in one to make sure you get a great workout in less time.
Perform each exercise for 30 seconds each, moving quickly from exercise to exercise. At the end, rest for 60 seconds and repeat 1-2 more times (depending on time and fitness level).
- Squat with an overhead dumbbell press at the top
- Plank with alternating dumbbell row (feet or knees)
- Woodchops (with dumbbell) - left side
- Woodchops (with dumbbell) - right side
- Dumbbell curl to overhead press
