The ‘Iron’-Clad Resolution to a BETTER Brain?!

By Jack Taylor Posted January 14, 2022

The holidays are in your rearview mirror and 2022 is in full swing. 

And for many of us, that means working on those trick New Year’s ‘resolutions’ like losing weight, reading more books, or even taking up a new hobby or skill. 

But have you ever thought about a New Year’s resolution that focuses on your BRAIN? 

Sure, taking care of our waistline and dabbling in a new skill are all great things… but preserving and strengthening your brain power is something that can last a lifetime! 

So how can you do it, without going back to school or sticking your nose in dozens of ‘how-to’ books? 

Well, it turns out that this specific “iron”-clad resolution can do wonders for your mind and memory.  

Yes, folks, I’m talking about exercise… with a catch. 

We all know our body’s need exercise, but sometimes it just gets pushed to the bottom of our ‘to-do’ list. We’ve all made excuses to NOT exercise. 

But just committing to this type of exercise a couple days per week could boost your brain power… AND help preserve your memory for years to come!  

I’m talking about LIFTING WEIGHTS! 

Now before you think that weight lifting is only for bulked up meatheads, check this out this study… 

Researchers from Georgia Tech have found that lifting weight – for as little as 20 minutes, 1-2 times per week – can help improve your episodic memory by as much as 10%.  

Episodic memory is the type of memory most associated with your long-term memory. 

But that’s not the only benefit that lifting weights has when it comes to helping your brain… 

A new study recently published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry noted that frailty is one of the biggest risk factors for older adults developing DEMENTIA.  

Frailty can lead to muscle loss, low grip strength, tiredness, and even slow gait speed – all of which have been found to be symptoms associated with dementia.  

But staying active – and occasionally ‘pumping iron’ – can help prevent frailty.  

If you already have an exercise routine like walking or jogging, consider incorporating some simple strength training into your already-established routine.  

Walk with some light hand weights (2-5 lbs.), or during your walk or run do some pushups against a wall or a side of a building. Both are easy on your joints AND give your arms a great ‘pump.’ 

If strength training is new to you, don’t worry… it can easily be added into your daily routine. And you certainly don’t have to become a body builder to reap the benefits of easy weight lifting!  

All you need is a simple set of dumbbells anywhere from 5-12 lbs. Simple movements like bicep curls, squats, and shoulder presses are all easy to master and work all the muscles in both your arms and legs. Keep it simple. 

Try doing 2-3 sets of each exercise two days per week. And if you feel like you’re strapped for time, try doing it while watching your favorite TV show, or even the news.