Fittest Loser Tip of the Week: Importance of resistance training

A common misconception is that muscle-strengthening activities are more suited for men, which often stems from the misguided belief that women will "bulk up" from that type of exercise. However, women generally don't have the same level of anabolic hormones, which is what causes men to build larger muscles more easily.

In fact, muscle-strengthening activities are extremely important for women to engage in because they're more likely to develop problems with bones and joints. Increasing muscle strength - through weightlifting or other resistance training - can help prevent those problems. Resistance training also helps with:

Flexibility and balance which minimizes the risk of falls

Maintaining proper weight, as people with more muscle mass have a higher metabolism

Before beginning a new exercise routine or changing up an old one, speak to a medical professional to ensure you're healthy enough. Then, choose muscle-strengthening exercises you enjoy.

• Jill Micklow is a Wellness Consultant on the Employee Benefits team at Assurance, a Top 50 U.S. insurance brokerage headquartered in Schaumburg, IL. She brings Assurance's passion for "minimizing risk and maximizing health" to clients nationwide by helping identify specific health and wellness goals and then tailoring wellness programs for short and long-term success.