Can Weightlifting Help with Fine Lines & Wrinkles?
The short answer is YES!!!
I will admit, being in midlife has made me more vain. I am suddenly aware of the loss of firmness in my face and neck and the permanence of some (gasp) wrinkles. Although I’d had a face like a permanent oil slick during puberty and pimples galore it didn’t mean I skipped the wrinkles for having endured it. So when the opportunity for a free mini-facial presented itself at my local Spa, I took advantage of the pampering but didn’t expect anything other than a shiny face. Afterall, everyone knows exercise is supposed to really be the fountain of youth but my textured skin was something I was stuck with, so I thought. What learned has really changed my skin and my lifestyle.
I had thought that I had to live with my sunspots from using inadequate sun protection, and scars from those years of acne but I have since learned that with consistency, there are some very good products on the market now which can make things a lot better. Many people however, give up on them before seeing results which may be good but not give you say Jennifer Aniston’s face. Better than what you have now might take consistency and discipline in a skincare routine- which I haven’t had. However, in the hands of an expert, I sampled what it could feel like to have smoother skin and decided even if I didn’t reach skin perfection, even a little better was worth the effort.
For instance, I learned that Retinol (not recommended while pregnant) can resurface the skin and smooth pores and vitamin C can diminish the darkness of those sun-spots. However, it would take an investment of time and consistency and a little money. However, I’m at a point where its worth the investment. I think it will be empowering to be putting my best self forward. Even if it doesn’t make me a super-model, it will be my personal best and will likely enhance my self-esteem. Retinol can take 4-6 months to show any results and they may be subtle, so taking before and after pics are recommended. More people are probably following a skincare routine than a workout routine but the effects of each can be remarkable. We want and expect instant results, but sometimes it takes a professional to help us pinpoint the specific things that work best for our unique skin and save us time and frustration of going it alone or helping with the discipline to stick to it.
That said, there’s even better news that came out in the fountain of youth dept last week! A new study looked at endurance cardio training like cycling vs. resistance training. The study involved 61 sedentary Japanese women mostly in their 40’s and got them working out twice a week. They hooked the ladies up to fancy probes and ultrasound, took blood samples and looked at dermal thickness.
Inflammatory markers were down and growth factors were up. Elasticity of the skin improved with both resistance (ie. chest press, shoulder press, curls) and endurance (cardio) training. Dermal thickness and collagen increased with WEIGHTLIFTING! So with increased elasticity and increased dermal thickness we get less fine lines and wrinkles.
I do find this very motivating though we could use a larger scale study to replicate these findings. We already know all the ways exercise prevents heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. It can prolong your life. In my mind, if you combine your skincare routine, weightlifting, good nutrition and regeneration, you have a recipe for the fountain of youth! Maybe its not so bad to be vain.
I hope you found this motivating. If you need to sample how wonderful working out can make you look, feel, and perform, treat yourself to a session or a mini-session 1:1 or come to my class this week.
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