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Five Significant Health Benefits of Weightlifting

Posted by Marie Curtis on
Five Significant Health Benefits of Weightlifting

Weightlifting seems to be a daunting thing at first, but like anything else, when you give it time and practice it regularly, it will pay off for the rest of your life. Nowadays, many people are practicing weightlifting as a way to keep fit and healthy because it has a lot of benefits for adults of all ages and genders. Here are five health benefits of weightlifting when you make it a part of your workout routine.

1. Injury prevention

Weightlifting is one of the most effective ways to increase bone density and build muscles mass. It is important to build stronger bones to reduce the risk of fractures. This is the reason why if runners skip on strength training activities, they can end up injuring their knees and other body parts as well.

 2. Healthier heart

A recent study has shown that spending less than an hour on weightlifting each week could reduce the risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke by 40 to 70 percent. This might boost your cardiovascular health better than running. However, for optimal physical fitness, it is recommended that you should perform both types of exercise, for example, strength training and aerobic activity.

3. Burn calories

Technically, a cardio session burns more calories than a weightlifting one. However, weightlifting can help build muscle, meaning that you will burn calories even while at rest. Following a high-intensity weightlifting session can be considered as the afterburn effect.

4. Diabetes management

Particularly, those who are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should include weightlifting or some other forms of strength exercises in their routine. Experts advise that you should tone your muscles in order to better control blood glucose levels.

5. Mental wellbeing

While it is clear that aerobic exercise has certain mental health benefits, the literature shows that weightlifting can also lift your spirits. According to a meta-analysis taken in 2017, weightlifting is linked to a significant anxiety reduction.

Famous weightlifters

Top 7 greatest weightlifters in Olympics history (part 2)

Posted by Marie Curtis on
Top 7 greatest weightlifters in Olympics history (part 2)

4. Zhou Lulu (China)

The strongest woman in the world, Zhou Lulu achieved this feat in 2012 in a head-to-head tussle with Tatiana Kashirina from Russia beating her by 1 kg in total lift.

Zhou Lulu

The Russian woman had set the world record in her last attempt with a lift of 332 kg, then to be ousted soon after by Zhou Lulu in her final attempt when she claimed gold for China, securing the title of the world’s strongest in the women’s +75 kg class.

Olympic Medals: 1 Gold

World Championships: 1 Gold , 1 Silver

5. Leonid Zhabotynsky (Soviet Union)

Soviet weightlifter Leonid Zhabotynsky set 19 world records during his illustrious career. He also won Gold in the super heavy weight category in the Olympic Games 1964 and 1968.

In addition to his Olympic achievements, he also won four world championships and two European championships titles during his professional career.

Olympic Medals: 2 Golds

World Championships: 4 Golds, 1 Bronze

6.  Paul Anderson (USA)

Paul Anderson, considered as the strongest man of all time, is acknowledged to have dramatically changed the sport of powerlifting. He became an Olympic champion in 1956, World Champion and national champion for twice within only 4 years of turning pro.

The World Records’ Guinness Book listed Paul Anderson in its official release of 1985 as having backlifted 2845 kg, that became the basis of his reputation as the Strongest Man of the World.

Olympic Medals: 1 Gold

World Championships: 1 Gold

7. Hossein Rezazadeh (Iran)

Hossein Rezazadeh is the man who presently holds the world record in the super heavy weight class of professional weightlifting. By lifting a combined 472.5 kilos, he achieved this feat of strength in Sydney 2000.

The Iranian weightlifter won 2 golds in Olympic 2000 and 2004, 4 World Championships, and 5 Asian Championships during his distinguished career and has earned the title of the world’s strongest man for holding the world record for the heaviest total weight that was lifted by a professional weightlifter on a grand stage.

Olympic Medals: 2 Golds

World Championships: 4 Golds, 1 Bronze