Why should I lift heavier weights?

amyg

amyg

Cathlete
Cathe or anyone who knows an answer:

I've been lifting weights for a few years now, and over the past few months I've gotten into Cathe's workouts (yay!) and can definitely lift heavier weights now.

It occurred to me the other day that I'm not clear why lifting heavier is better. I don't know why I should try, for example, to do chest flys with 20 lbs when 12 is hard. I know the strength gain is an impressive, fun thing, but I'm not sure what my body is getting from that. Is lifting heavier what you need to do to break through plateaus, or is there something else too? Because I can't think of anything to justify buying 15 or 20lb dumbells beyond the strength increases.

What am I missing?

Thanks!!!!
 
You're missing the following:

The heavier you lift today, the stronger you will be in later years and more able to cope with the demands of the aging process;

The heavier you lift today, the stronger your bones will become, retarding or indeed totally preventing osteoporosis, another plague of later adult years especially for women;

The heavier you lift today, the more muscle mass you maintain, again retarding or indeed totally preventing the muscle mass loss that occurs in later adult years especially for women;

The stronger you are today, the more power you will be able to put into your workouts today and tomorrow. And the stronger you are today, the stronger you will stay throughout adult life and be able to take care of yourself in your older years, without having to rely on expensive medicines and personal care attendants.

To me, the expense of heavier weights is a pittance compared to the expense of an unfit, weak body and its inability to cope with even the smallest physical demands.

It's not just about breaking through plateaus.

A-Jock
 
I agree, Judy! Thank you, Annette! I think that you just talked me into upping all of my weights! That is an excellent answer! Now I know what to say to everyone when they look at me in a strange way when they hear about my workouts! Thanks for the well-thought answer! And thanks to the poster of the original question (Amy G)!

Jenn
 
What A-Jock said!
And it's always good to have a reserve of strength--to be stronger than you think you "need" to be--to cope with emergencies, and to make even lighter tasks easier. (As I get stronger, it's easier for me to weed my garden, so I get it done faster and more efficiently, and I'm able to get bigger weeds out by the roots!)
 
Hi Amy! I have osteopenia which is right smack in the middle before having osteoporosis. And I got osteopenia from being Caucasian, small framed & post menopausal. My doctor informed me that if I did not lift heavy weights I would've undoubtedly had full blown osteoporosis. He told me to keep lifting heavy, keep staying strong! So you keep lifting those heavy weights. Its a good thing!Kathy;-)
 
Okay, these are all good ideas. Thanks everyone!! It's hard to type this morning since I did PUB yesterday and went as heavy as I could.... ;) and I'll keep on working hard on my investment!
 
In addition to all the many health benefits, there's also just something so rewarding about see your own progress as you advance to heavier weights. When I started lifting, I think I used 12 lb dumbbells for bench press. Recently, I just moved up to using 30 lb. dumbbells (not in Cathe's workouts, mind you, but at the gym). I can't help but feel some pride in that.

I guess moving up in weights is kind of like a runner who is finally able to run that marathon, or someone trying to attain a professional designation finally passing that next exam, etc. (I sometimes remind myself of my little two year old nephew who gets so proud of himself everytime he tries and achieves something new. But heck, why not be proud of our small accomplishments?).

Shelbygirl
 
Shelbygirl-

30 POUND DUMBELLS ARE NOT A *SMALL* ACCOMPLISHMENT!! ;) Way to go!

I used to run, so I see your point. I knew I was increasing my cardio stamina, though, without getting any bigger in my shoulders, like I expect will happen when I increase weights. I'm going to increase them anyway. }(

Thanks everyone!!
 
Aside to Shelbygirl - I'm in a state of serious dumbbell envy. Thanks for giving me a new goal to work toward.

Another benefit to lifting heavy, one that the exerciser can experience immediately, is the triggering of stress-busting, almost euphoria-inducing hormones that can only come as the result of INTENSE exercise. When I don't lift to my near-full strength potential and to the max reps to muscle failure, these hormones don't get triggered and I feel almost emotionally empty. However, when I DO go to my fullest (in terms of cardio intensity AND strength intensity), there is a profound, endogenous glow from the inside out that comes not only from an intellectual / emotional sense of accomplishment but also from the triggering of specific hormone (which I can't even spell, but endorphins are one set of them).

Anyone with a real life has stress, and the number of true, healthy stress-busters that don't cost a small fortune are few and far between. Heavy weight-lifting is one of them.

Aqua aerobics classes that I teach, of course, is another. Are another. Whatever.

A-Jock
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Our Newsletter

Get awesome content delivered straight to your inbox.

Top