At its heart, strength training is based on functional movements - lifting, pushing, pulling - in order to build muscle and coordination needed for everyday activities, explains Ramona Braganza, a Los Angeles-based celebrity personal trainer who is certified by the Canadian fitness education organization Canfitpro. "For some people, the phrase strength training is intimidating, but it’s enhancing your ability to move safely and effectively in your life," she says. For example: Your ability to lift something and put it on a shelf, carry your groceries in the door, bend down and pick something up, or get up after you’ve fallen down. "Getting up off the floor requires you to recruit muscles in your upper body, abs, legs, and glutes," Braganza says. The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recommend children and adolescents ages 6 through 17 incorporate some strength training into their daily 60 minutes of physical activity three days per week.
Adults should aim to do moderate or intense muscle-strengthening workouts that target all muscle groups at least two days per week. And you need to rest in between strength training workouts. "You don’t get better during workouts