it turns out that Strength Training Is A Super Effective Anti-Aging Tool
When people think about “anti-aging,” they usually think skincare, supplements, or cosmetic procedures. But it turns out that one of the most powerful, evidence backed anti-aging interventions comes from resistance and strength training, just like what we do in our CrossFit classes.
Not all lifting is equal
At CFGG, we love tempo, pauses, and slow eccentrics when we lift for the purpose of sound movement and strength development. However, this method of strength training also creates a stimulus in your body that supports longevity, skin integrity, and tissue resilience. In other words: we’re not just training muscles, we’re training your cells.
The Hormone effect: Why Slow, Heavy Work Matters
Strength training, particularly high-tension, slow eccentric loading (think tempo), triggers a powerful hormonal response:
Growth Hormone (GH)
IGF-1 (Insulin-like Growth Factor)
Testosterone (in all genders)
Myokines released from working muscle tissue
These hormones help you get stronger and they are also critical signals for repair, regeneration, and structural integrity throughout the entire body.
Fibroblasts: The Hidden Players in Aging
Fibroblasts are the cells responsible for producing collagen, elastin, and extracellular matrix (the scaffolding that gives skin, fascia, and connective tissue its firmness and resilience).
As we age, fibroblast activity naturally declines. That’s one reason we see thinning skin, loss of elasticity, slower healing throughout the whole body and joint and tendon fragility. Fibroblasts respond to mechanical tension and hormonal signaling. Slow, controlled resistance training provides both and improves longevity of tendons and ligaments, fascia, and skin support structures. The hormonal environment created by this training style stimulates fibroblasts to produce new collagen, improving tissue quality from the inside out.
This is why people who strength train well don’t just seem more resilient and look stronger they often look younger too!
CrossFit Is Uniquely Effective
Strength training, especially the slow, controlled, intentional lifting that you see in our workouts at CFGG, has so many benefits other than just building strength and muscle. It signals your body to repair, reinforce, and regenerate itself. That’s not just fitness, that’s anti-aging from the inside out!