4 Reasons Why You Should Start Weightlifting This Winter

Believe it or not the winter months are a great time to for both men and women to start lifting weights. Not only is it a great way to avoid holiday weight gain, but it’s a great way to get yourself toned and fit before the warmer months come around. 

The reality is, everyone should be partaking in some form of weightlifting, so now is the best time to begin. Weightlifting not only helps with weight loss, but supports stronger bones, body recomposition, muscle gain, and overall improvement to your strength and health.

Instead of fighting your resistance to the treadmill, jump on the weightlifting bandwagon and learn for yourself why it’s such an integral part of your fitness routine.  

1. Boosts Metabolism

Most people are well aware of the fact that cardio helps to burn calories, but what many are not aware of is that resistance and weight training can also boost your metabolism! This is done by increasing your energy expenditure during the workout and for hours post-workout. Lifting weights also helps to build muscle and strength. This is important because the more muscle you have, the more calories your body will burn, even when you’re at rest. 

2. Combats Holiday Weight Gain

We touched on this above, but it’s worth mentioning again. Weightlifting in the winter months is a great way to avoid holiday weight gain while you’re enjoying the often, more indulgent food of the holiday season. 

Just by adding a few weekly resistance training sessions to your workout schedule will help increase your overall weekly expenditure, which in turn will help stave off the holiday weight gain that so often sabotages so many people.

3. Heightens Mood

So much of the focus of resistance training is based around building muscle and burning calories and for good reason, these are two very important results of weightlifting! But, there is another important benefit that many people overlook and that is that weightlifting will help to improve your mood. 

This is vital for so many men and women, especially those who suffer from “winter blues” due to the lack of sunlight during the winter months.  Research indicates that resistance-training causes the brain to release a number of feel-good chemicals, including dopamine, serotonin, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and endorphins.

Additionally,, a 2018 meta-analysis found that resistance training can even help to reduce depressive symptoms, no matter how hard or long the workout is. In other words, even if you only have 10-15 minutes to set aside for training each day, you can still see big benefits when it comes to improving your mood.

4. Maintain Your New Year’s Resolutions

With the new year, there is always increased motivation is high and many people have the intention stick to their new diet and exercise plan. Unfortunately, with each passing week, the number of individuals sticking to their New Year’s resolutions declines, which is one of the biggest reason to why so many people give up on their resolutions by time February and March come around.

By implementing a weightlifting regimen prior to the new year you’ll be setting yourself up for success and more likely to stick to your resolutions.