Weight training or resistance training is one of the most common means to improve one's health and physique. People who lift weights aim to lose unwanted pounds and gain muscle mass. Weight training also develops strength, endurance, nerve-to-muscle coordination, and helps prevent osteoporosis. During weight training, the body burns calories while toning and firming a person's muscles.

Weight lifting can also be used as a therapy for stress and anxiety. Research shows that when people undergo strenuous activity, the body excretes a substance called endorphin. These endorphins, short for endogenous morphins, are the body's natural pain killers. Endorphins are released when the body is engaged in activities of moderate to high levels of intensity. The substance makes a person experience moments of relaxation interspersed with elation, which some health experts call the ?runner's high.? Endorphins make people 'high' and happy. Research also shows that people who exercise regularly have more energy and better self-esteem.

Doctors, however, warn that weight-lifting and other physical activities should be done properly to avoid unwanted effects. Improper weight training, over-stressing the back muscles, or failure to perform warm-ups may cause lower back pain that may lead to serious back injuries. A recent study led by Dr. Geraldo Magela Vieira of Brazil revealed that weightlifting may increase the risk of glucoma, an eyesight-threatening condition. Vieira and his team of researchers found out that lifting heavy weights was linked to a brief increase in pressure within the eye. This takes place when a weightlifter holds his or her breath when performing bench presses and lifting too much weights. Health experts advise weight lifters to perform sets using light weights and do many repetitions instead of heavy sets with few repetitions. Many individuals think that lifting more weight is the key to attain a finely shaped body. But experts claim that lifting light weights properly using proper techniques may play a big role in improving one's physique.

Health specialists also add that weightlifting and other strenuous activities should be done in moderation. Men who over-train experience fatigue which temporarily reduces sperm count and quality. This happens because the body literally kills itself during training. The resting period according to health experts is as important as the training period because the body needs to recuperate to attain normal cell development. Fatigue may reduce the level of hormones in the bloodstream that affects sperm production. Training properly and devising a proper training program may help develop muscles and avoid over-training.

There are many reasons why people undergo weight-training. From weight-loss, to toning, improving posture, and building bulk. People who exercise and lift weights regularly have a more positive outlook and are happier overall compared to their inactive counterparts. However, regardless of how and why people perform exercises, exercise should not only improve physical health, but also mental health. Utilizing the physical and psychological benefits weight lifting and exercise may help enhance one's quality of life.