Is an entrepreneur qualified enough for discussing the benefits of weight lifting?

Time is considered premium and a luxury in this fast-paced world of modern business. As a result, non-work-related activities such as exercise and dieting are all too often pushed to the side to make way for meetings, phone calls and answering emails.

This is understandable. Afterall, we are business executive with tons of corporate duties that we are obliged to fulfill on a day-to-day basis. However, while these tasks are undoubtedly important, there is another responsibility that most of us take for granted and is every bit as vital: maintaining our health.

You probably have in your head some muscle-bound men, with huge arms and no waist, walking like a hulk. In fact, there are a lot of well put together businessmen and women spending their precious time lifting weights at the gym, and they don’t look anything close to a hulk. Here are four reasons why you should be lifting weights

1. Develop better posture

Strong, positive body language is a valuable asset for any business executive, and few things radiate quite the same level of confidence as entering a meeting with your chest out, shoulders back, head held high and a smile on your face.

Despite its benefits, achieving good posture is no easy feat, particularly for frequent travellers who often find themselves hunched over and literally bent out of shape during long haul flights.

Weight training offers an incredibly effective solution. While cycling, running and jogging do engage your core and legs to a certain extent, these activities are sorely lacking when it comes to recruiting the muscles in your back.

In contrast, weight-bearing exercises such as deadlifts, face pulls and planks, among many others, have all been proven to be excellent tools in developing good posture as they strengthen a number of critical muscles, tendons and ligaments you can’t see. Be sure to check with your trainer to find out which exercises you should be doing to address the unique postural nuances in your body.

2. Reduce stress levels

Regardless of the role you play in your company, it goes without saying that work can be stressful. We all have different coping mechanisms for dealing with stress, but consistent weight training has proven to be one of the most effective.

As the American Psychological Association explained, research suggests that regular exercise may boost levels of neuromodulator norepinephrine, a chemical found in high concentrations in the part of the brain that deals with emotional and stress responses.

In addition, weight training can facilitate greater communication between your physiological systems, essentially enabling your body to more effectively deal with stress.

3. Improve your concentration

In today’s hyper-connected business landscape, there are countless things vying for your attention at any given time. While some may be able to effortlessly switch between tasks, most of us struggle to stay on track 100 per cent of the time.

Weight training can help you boost your concentration levels to new heights. How? Simply put, exercise requires discipline. Unlike running on a treadmill or cycling on a stationary bike, during weight training sessions, you’re bound to dedicate an hour of undivided attention to your body and very focused movements. This forces you to ignore other distractions around you.

As you might imagine, this is a very transferable trait, and your newfound concentration in the gym will translate seamlessly into your professional life, whether you’re in the boardroom giving a presentation or meeting with prospective clients.

4. Burn more calories

If weight loss is your goal, you have every reason to be in the weights room. Many studies have shown that a weight training session can increase your metabolism for up to 36 hours following your workout. This can make a significant impact on the number of calories you’re able to burn post training.

Of course, to reap the benefits of this, you really need to be working out on a consistent basis so that your metabolism is always in a heightened state. Over time, you’ll develop more lean muscle mass, which in turn will help you burn even more calories.

Lifting weights can do more than make you look great (though it’s certainly effective for that, too!). A well-programmed training regime comes with a range of mental benefits that are sure to have a positive impact on any business executive.

5. Rejuvenation

I'm in sports, and weights, since I was in my teens. As an entrepreneur, no matter the hour, if that is 4 a.m. or past midnight, I never skip a session. That's my exhaust valve, my balance, my life saver. After my workout I feel relieved, recharged. rejuvenated, and my system is clean, whatever I had in my chest, now is no longer in my system, and I can think with no hanger, fluster, or distraction.

55 years old, soon turning 56. Working an average of 11-12 hrs day since these past 4 years. Had Covid, and spit that out lifting. No magic jab, only weights, and plenty of sun. That's my magic recipe. Maybe many of you will doubt my age. But well, here I am, no filters applied. No photoshop, no shortcuts. Only daily routines, rain or shine, single or accompanied, on the top of the world, or sitting on the bottom of hell. Life around me can and will change, not my habits.

You could do the same if you just put yourself into it. It's worth trying as results remain there for the long run. Aren't we all obsessed with planning? Why our body can't be part of our plans? It's the only body we have, and there is no replacement when it gets damaged. Ever thought of that?

Andrea Guidorossi

Founder Principal - KonectCity Corp. USA