Why Are We Always Telling You To Lift Heavier?!

If you’ve taken a class at the Studio, chances are good you’ve heard your coach say something like, “Try a heavier weight on the next round!”

Contrary to popular belief, we don’t say this to make your life more difficult; there is actually a very specific reason behind why we encourage you to lift heavier. In order to build muscle, you need to provide your muscles with enough of a stimulus to make growth possible. 

Your body will adapt to each load you place it under. That is why it may be difficult at first for you to lift 10 pounds over your head. As you continue to take classes however, you will find that 10 pounds is no longer as challenging and you can increase the weight. If you stick with the 10 pounds indefinitely, you are no longer providing an adequate stimulus for your muscles to grow.

“But why do I need to build muscle?!” you might ask. Good question. Muscle mass is one of the top predictors for longevity. After age 30, muscle mass starts declining slowly. After 60, the rate of decline increases further. 

More muscle mass has been inversely correlated with mortality in aging adults. Not only that, but declining muscle mass will greatly limit your self-sufficiency and ability to perform basic everyday tasks as you age. The good news is that we can do something about this now! 

Continuing to show up for class and challenging yourself to lift heavier weights over time is a major component of what it takes to not only increase your lifespan but more importantly increase your healthspan, or the amount of time you are actually feeling healthy and mobile.

So now you know that when we stop by your station and encourage you to lift the heavy weights, we aren’t just giving you a hard time. We are preparing you for more years of strength, health, and autonomy over your body!

- Written by Coach Julia