For some odd reason, the term strength training has become stigmatized by many people to solely mean “lifting heavy weights with maximum effort for the purpose of getting bigger”. This can not be any further from the truth of what the actual purpose is in FitStrong. The goal of the program is to help you become stronger in the sense that you will be able to maintain a level of physical fitness to continue doing the things you enjoy. Not to get you competing as a bodybuilder! You will learn how to perform key movements under moderate load using a variety of free-weight equipment for the sole purpose of maximizing your body’s functional capacity.

Most people who work out regularly gravitate towards lower impact exercises such as cardio equipment (elliptical, bicycle) or assisted-strength machines, especially as they get older. While these have their benefits, free-weight exercises have the most benefit when it comes to strength development mainly due to the impact that these movements have not just on the musculoskeletal system but on the nervous system. This is important because research has shown that it’s the nervous system stimulation that is essential to long-term health and wellness.

If you are one of those individuals who includes weightlifting as a part (if not all) of their exercise routine, then chances are you’ve been doing the same movements for quite some time. Like other exercise routines, it’s very common for people who lift weights to repetitively do movements they’ve become comfortable with. Although not necessarily harmful, this is not stimulating to the nervous system and therefore further gains are hard to achieve. FitStrong focuses on a variety of upper body, lower body, and core stabilization exercises that pump your body and your brain!

The definitive answer to this often-asked question is a clear and concise “No”. The concern that strength training exercises will make you bigger has never been scientifically proven and remains an urban myth. Now does it help your muscles grow to some degree? Of course. But research has shown that building muscle is one of the best ways to decrease body fat and as most people know muscle weighs more than fat. So, yes, there’s a chance strength training may cause a slight weight gain, but for the better. Plus, building muscle increases your metabolism so strength training actually helps you burn more calories! Hard to get “too big” if that’s the case.

Completing the program is just the beginning of your journey to maintaining a level of strength and functional capacity to allow you to feel and live your best. Although you will learn plenty during the eight-weeks, it is vital that you have a plan in place to ensure that the benefits you have discovered while in FitStrong continue down the road. HealthFit has developed several programs and classes that will help you with this. Of course, if you prefer to go at it alone, our expert coaches can help you build a routine that you can do on your own.