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From Infancy to Old Age, We Should Strength Train
Why and how strength training powers every chapter of your life
There is a stigma around lifting heavy weights that won’t go away, no matter how much research is published. I’m going to keep trying to eliminate it.
Lifting heavy and strength training is not only safe, it’s one of the best activities you can do for your health. But I’m going to take it one step further.
Lifting heavy is one of the best activities you can do for your health, at any age. I’m talking infancy to 80+ years old. Lifting heavy is how we build strength, the maximum force a muscle can produce, and strength is consistently linked to better health.
You need strength for independence. Two prime examples are babies and older adults.
When a baby is learning to stand and walk, how close do you think a sit-to-stand is to their 1 rep max? Babies and toddlers constantly train at their max capacity (willingly). Heavy is a relative term.
Babies are pushing themselves to the max.
Heavy strength training doesn’t always involve a barbell and heavy grunting. It means pushing your muscles close to their capacity.
