Glossary /
Resistance Training
Exercise that loads muscles against external resistance — bodyweight, free weights, machines, or bands — to build strength and lean mass.
What it is
Resistance training is anything that progressively overloads muscle. Squats, deadlifts, presses, pulls, push-ups, pull-ups, kettlebell swings, and well-designed machine work all qualify. The defining feature is intent: you are trying to do a little more than you could last week — more weight, more reps, better range — so the body has a reason to adapt.
Why it matters
After your thirties you lose muscle mass and strength every decade unless you actively defend them, and that loss tracks closely with disability, fall risk, metabolic disease, and mortality. Two to four short sessions a week — covering hinge, squat, push, pull, and a carry — is enough for most people to maintain or build strength for the rest of their lives. It is the single highest-leverage form of exercise for healthspan, and it is never too late to start.