5 Reasons Men Need to Lift Weights

Before I get to the reasons men should lift weights, let me share a story.

Greg (not his real name) was 56 years old and needed to lose weight. He came to me for help.

One of the first things he said to me was "I need cardio and to work my core".

This is very common. Even among men. Which was a surprise to me when I first started as a trainer.

But I get it. A guy in his 40's or 50's thinks that his lifting days are over. (if they ever began.)

Leave that to the 20 year old meatheads at LA Fitness.

Here's the thing though.. Greg did my program, which included plenty of strength training and some intervals, circuits etc.. not "cardio and core"..

What happened was he got stronger, was less winded going up/down stairs, and he felt his abs for the first time in years without any "core work"..

I've seen it many times now over the years. Guys don't realize how important lifting weights is. OR they have the wrong impression of what lifting weights entails.

So with that being said, let's get into the reasons men need to lift weights.

1- You are a Man and Should Be Strong

This is my opinion and I stand by it.

I strongly believe (see what I did there) that men should be able to lift some heavy things and not tweak a hip, knee or back.

Lifting weights makes life easier. 

When you have to move a couch you know it's no big deal. You don't dread the pain you may feel if something goes wrong.

You are strong enough to handle anything.

2- It Gives You Control

There's so much that is out of our control these days that it's imperative to find something that you can control.

When you follow a sensible strength training program you will make progress at a consistent pace and you know the amount of work you put into it, you will be rewarded with results- stronger body, more energy, stronger mind, reduced stress..

3- Get the Frustrations Out

One of the best ways to beat the blues is to lift weights. If you're frustrated from work, finances, stress at home etc.. take it out on the iron!

Some of my most peaceful moments have come during my drive home after a good hard training session.

You pushed yourself hard. Maybe set a new personal best.

Hit the showers and have a post-workout shake. Then all your troubles seem less powerful.

4-  More Muscle - Less Fat

Remove the image of huge juiced-up bodybuilders from your mind. When I say more muscle don't think you will ever get even CLOSE to that without putting in YEARS of dedicated hard work in the gym and the kitchen.

When you have more muscle your body will have less fat. You will burn more calories while at rest. So even if you are just laying around, the guy with more muscle will burn more calories than the guy with more fat.

Adding a few pounds of muscle spread evenly across your body will make a big difference in your health and how you feel. And you WON'T look like a huge bodybuilder.

5- Look Good on the Beach

63% of guys say they "always feel like they could lose weight

53% don't like having pictures taken

41% said they worry that people judge their appearance

44% feel uncomfortable wearing swim trunks

Those are some powerful numbers.

Lifting weights is about getting stronger and feeling confident but it's also about looking good. We all want to look good.

Who doesn't want to take their shirt off at the beach and feel great about what's underneath?

Vain? Maybe. But so what. It's totally normal.

If you want to make a change to your body, the best way to do it (besides diet) is strength training.

Put together a good nutrition plan you will follow 90% of the time. Do some high intensity intervals 1-2 times per week. Lift weights 2-4 days per week (30-45 minutes each) and you will look like a new man in 6 months.

If that's not reason enough to lift weights, then go to a zumba class or something.

For those of you guys who want some guidance on the diet side of things, I have a new e-book I put together for you. Go to NUTRITION HACKS EBOOK to get a free copy.