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Strength training

By Mayo Clinic staff

Strength training can help you tone your muscles and improve your appearance. With a regular strength training program, you can reduce your body fat, increase your lean muscle mass and burn calories more efficiently. Better yet, strength training doesn't take as long as you might think. For most people, two to three strength training sessions a week lasting just 20 to 30 minutes are sufficient.

Strength training can be done at home or in the gym. Free weights and weight machines are popular strength training tools, but they're not the only options. You can do strength training with inexpensive resistance tubing or even your own body weight. With proper technique, you may enjoy noticeable improvements in your strength and stamina in just a few weeks.

MY00396

March 19, 2009

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