IF you are a man or woman and you don’t lift weights, then here are a few reasons why you may want to start.

In recent years it has proven that there are many benefits of weight training for men and women, including those over the age of 50.

However, the number of women or over 50s who weight train is still much lower than the number of men.

So, women, studies have found that the average woman who strength trains two to three times per week, over a two-month period will gain around two pounds of muscle and will lose around 3.5 pounds of fat.

As lean muscle increases, so does your resting metabolism, a faster metabolism burns more calories all day long, every day, even when you’re sat on your bum!

In simple terms, the more muscle you gain, the more fat you lose.

Ladies, when I talk about gaining muscle, please don’t think that this means you will end up looking like Arnie!

You will not gain huge biceps, nor will you begin to look like a man.

Women typically don’t gain size from strength training, as, compared to men, women have 10 to 30 times less testosterone, the hormone that makes muscles bigger.

Women who strength train will benefit from gaining muscle tone, that combined with fat loss will give a lean slender look, not bulk.

For those over 50, our muscle tone starts to decrease around our 50s so strength training will help to slow down this process.

Increasing the strength of muscles will provide joints with more stability, improve posture, improve balance, reduce aches and pains, improve self esteem, reduce depression, reduce the risk of heart disease and osteoporosis, increase bone density. . . need I go on? It is never too late to start.

Anyone can start a strength training programme, as with anything it’s all about starting at a suitable level for you.

Increasing the strength of your muscles makes you stronger.

So whether your goal is weight loss, toning up, rehabilitation, being able to walk unaided or even feeling emotionally stronger, weight training may help you.