19 Aug Strength Training and Body Composition
As we continue our series about the benefits of strength training, this week, we are spotlighting the impact on body composition.
According to InBody:
Body composition is used by health professionals to evaluate a person’s weight by breaking it down into its core components: fat, protein, minerals, and body water.
It describes your healthy weight more accurately and provides a better glimpse into your overall health than traditional methods like BMI & weight.
We know that every birthday we are getting a little older and wiser, BUT unfortunately we are also losing a little bit of lean muscle mass, unless we are challenging and growing our muscles. Strength training allows our body to maintain and gain lean muscle mass and can help someone lose weight while hanging onto lean muscle mass and dropping body fat. Conversely, strength training coupled with appropriate caloric intake can help a person gain weight and lean muscle mass.
Unlike strength training, a person who solely focuses on cardio for weight loss may lose weight, but stands to lose more lean muscle mass than someone who is engaging in a combination of strength AND cardio. The latter can lose pounds and have all or most of the weight come from body fat. If it sounds too good to be true, it isn’t, BUT the trick is that you have to engage in strength training on a regular basis which is ~2-3x/wk.
Did you know that you have access to an awesome, body composition test at your employee health center – The Wellness Clinic or CityCare (depending where you work.)? The InBody is a body composition analyzer and the test is quick, easy, and free. It will help you learn where you’re at and serve as a tool to measure your progress over time. Call your employee health center today to schedule your appointment for an InBody test.
By Victoria Emmitt RD
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