Episode 11 - The Mental, Physical, and Neurological Benefits of Weightlifting

I want you to think about something for a second - can you name something that you can do that elevates your health and wellness physically, mentally, and neurologically? Believe it or not, It’s weightlifting and this episode attempts to shift a common misconception and stigma about lifting weights, and that is the thought that it is strictly for building muscle, or only for bodybuilders and football players, because the reality is that is far from the truth. In fact, in terms of health, wellness, and performance, resistance training is one of the most important things we can do, because although you may only associate lifting weights with muscle, get this - it has neurological benefits, boosts your metabolic rate, increases bone density, gives you energy, helps fight anxiety and depression, helps with cardiovascular health, helps burn fat, enhances cognitive function, builds areas of your brain, elevates mood, and so much more.  Sources Bathina S, Das UN. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor and its clinical implications. Arch Med Sci. 2015 Dec 10;11(6):1164-78. doi: 10.5114/aoms.2015.56342. Epub 2015 Dec 11. PMID: 26788077; PMCID: PMC4697050. Dr. Wendy Suzuki’s TedTalk Link https://youtu.be/BHY0FxzoKZE?si=HM4npxxL-iJ16mwg Smith PJ, Merwin RM. The Role of Exercise in Management of Mental Health Disorders: An Integrative Review. Annu Rev Med. 2021 Jan 27;72:45-62. doi: 10.1146/annurev-med-060619-022943. Epub 2020 Nov 30. PMID: 33256493; PMCID: PMC8020774. Walker, M. (2018). Why we sleep. Penguin Books. Westcott, Wayne L. PhD. Resistance Training is Medicine: Effects of Strength Training on Health. Current Sports Medicine Reports 11(4):p 209-216, July/August 2012. | DOI: 10.1249/JSR.0b013e31825dabb8      *His journal includes information from various sources, all of which are cited at the conclusion of the article Zouhal H, Jayavel A, Parasuraman K, Hayes LD, Tourny C, Rhibi F, Laher I, Abderrahman AB, Hackney AC. Effects of Exercise Training on Anabolic and Catabolic Hormones with Advanced Age: A Systematic Review. Sports Med. 2022 Jun;52(6):1353-1368. doi: 10.1007/s40279-021-01612-9. Epub 2021 Dec 22. PMID: 34936049; PMCID: PMC9124654.