Why lift weight?

Hulky, massive and sweaty... perhaps the first thing many people think of when 'weightlifting' comes to mind. But there really is more to it than that, and this is why it is so important to understand that.

Five years ago if someone had mentioned weightlifting to me my mind would have fluttered between short, middle aged, bald men in the corner of the gym grunting like they were being punched in the stomach, and shredded, golden, bulbous men standing on stage at the Arnolds. Two demographics I'd hope I'd never get bunched in with. But now, I guess I am. Not because my veins are popping out or I'm carefully measuring my next dosage of steroids, but because week in, week out, I pick weights up and put them down again.

my three year transformation from weightlifting

The desire to better ourselves mentally and physically tends to drive us to make changes.

Instagram is the hub promoting the physical benefits of a decent weightlifting regime with sculpted six packs, bulging biceps, mean and lean bodies. My own transformation is of significant pride to me - going from a body I ferociously despised to one I only hate when my lighting and angles aren't perfect. I wanted to dedicate this post to more than the physical benefits of weightlifting because I truly believe this lifestyle can solve a lot more than teenage insecurity.

The benefits of weightlifting

I don't know about you, but I've read a lot of shit written by so-called fitness industry experts, one theme being 'boost your metabolism with x fruit'... your metabolism is essentially how effectively your body turns food into energy. The more effective your metabolism, the more calories you can afford to eat without gaining fat. The heavier someone is, the more food they can metabolise into energy because their body requires more energy. Muscle is fat free mass. The more muscle you have, the more you can eat without gaining fat. Gaining muscle essentially boosts your metabolism. This is a method to reduce your body fat percentage which can decrease your risk to obesity and diabetes, the two leading health concerns for adults in the world.

Osteoporosis for women is a much bigger concern than for men going into old age and related joint and bone health can be improved by weightlifting. This works the same as weightlifting of muscle tissue; by causing slight stress to the bones and joints they are encouraged to deposit and get stronger which is favourable going into old age.

You don't have to have been lifting for long to feel the effects of lifting on your mind. It improves perseverance, the ability to push your body past what your mind deems capable. I am not exaggerating when I say this has translated into my work ethic beyond the gym. In other sports I am pushing harder than I used to, I am able to stay up later studying because my mind is conditioned to be out of its comfort zone.

The mental health benefits of weightlifting have been heavily found to be outstanding in studies and anyone who lifts regularly will confirm this. When people ask me how I get my legs so big, the truthful answer is I do leg day after a breakup, leg day when I've maxed out my overdraft, leg day when my fake tan goes to shit. Because I go into the gym at 2% and walk out at least 70%. Lifting weights won't solve all your problems but it'll definitely make you feel better about your sub par life. With mental health being another one of Britain's medical crisis' of the 21st century, now is as good a time as any to promote weightlifting as a solution.

Back pain is the number one cause of sick days taken from work in the UK and a lot of bodily pain can be blamed on muscular weaknesses in the lower back, glutes and quads, which squatting alone can help solve. Strengthening underused muscle groups helps balance out the body. This also aids performance in sports with increased explosive power.

Obesity, diabetes, back pain and mental health. Four of the biggest medical costs to the UK economy all directly addressed and improved on by weightlifting. I wouldn't say have a Kim K arse is a matter of national urgency but it is easy to think weightlifting is purely aesthetic when really it is so much more than that. As soon as the benefits of this form of exercise is properly articulated to the mass population, the better in my opinion.