Unlike other types of physical activity, a well designed strength training program doesn't just get us stronger, it simultaneously improves a wide range of fitness attributes that enhance our quality of life. It's for that reason, we should prioritise strength training above all other types of physical activity.
Fitness attributes simultaneously improved with strength training include:
Strength
Power
Endurance
Mobility & Flexibility
Body Composition
Joint & Bone Health
Balance & Stability
Improving a wide range of fitness attributes improves our life as we age by making us:
Capable of performing daily tasks easily
Happier and healthier with our leaner stronger bodies
In less physical pain, particularly our joints
Less susceptible to injury
If your body can lift a heavier weight, your body will certainly be more resilient to injury. Standing up and sitting down would be an easier task if you have a strong squat. Taking walks wouldn't be an issue with strong legs and core. Picking up anything off the ground will be easier if you have a strong deadlift. Pushing a box up onto a high shelf is easy if you have a strong press. Strength training improves your capacity for life.
BUT WHY BARBELLS
Barbells are simple
Barbells a beautifully simple. Just a few carefully selected exercises performed consistently over time with accumulative progressive overload will yield astonishing strength improvements.
Barbells are efficient
Barbell lifts are efficient as they require the use of large amounts of muscle at the same time. Barbells can be lifted at near maximal loads, which conditions the nervous system and stimulates the release of growth hormone and testosterone.
Barbell Lifts can be Precisely Loaded
Barbell exercises can be performed by people of all strength levels from the complete de-conditioned to the strongest man in the world. This makes them accessible to the majority of the population. The load can be precisely increased methodically, systematically and incrementally in micro fashion over time. This allows for very effective and sustainable programming.
Barbell Lifts are Multi Joint
Barbell lifts incorporate multi joints through the body's normal synergistic natural full range of motion. The way the body is designed to move as opposed to in join isolation.
Barbells are Safe
Barbells are very safe. The main lifts are just normal human movement on stable surfaces without unpredictable or weird positions involved. There are no external forces or impact on deteriorating joints.
Barbell Training Leads to a Better Quality of Life
The outcome of consistent barbell training is an increase in our functional independence and capability to be able to perform daily tasks more easily. Instead of gradually getting weaker and sicker each decade, we can compress our last dying moments into a tiny sliver of our life cycle by getting and staying strong with barbells.
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