Fitness is commonly associated with the sort of cardiovascular conditioning that results from training on a treadmill or elliptical trainer. In recent years, though, experts have agreed that true health and fitness should include the muscle strength that can come only from resistance training. Home gyms have become a popular way to attain this all-around fitness.

As with so many other things, mass opinion can be slow to catch up to the science. In the case of exercise, weight-training has long been associated with bodybuilding. Since people don't want to look like body builders, their first reaction to the suggestion of weight-training is the think that it's not for them. However, there are several reasons to train with weights that can be compelling to the health-conscious person.

By the time a person reaches his or her early 30s, their muscles start to deteriorate. This deterioration continues until, by the time the untrained person reaches his 70s, his muscles have shrunken dramatically. This itself may not concern many people, until they consider the consequences.

Strength is needed for everyday tasks. Even though these tasks may not take unusual strength, when your strength has left you gradually over the years, having significantly less than you used to is dangerous. Falling and breaking a hip is a common occurrence in older people that can be prevented by adequate muscle strength.

The pressure of weights also strengthens bones. Without this weight, bone loss accelerates. This can lead to early onset of osteoporosis and a poor posture. Weight training has been shown to delay, and even reverse, this process. Weight training can also maintain posture by keeping joints aligned and cushioned. There is also mounting evidence that weak muscles lead to a weak immune system, which can make increase the incidence of all kinds of diseases, including cancer. Muscle strength can also reduce the insulin resistance that leads to diabetes.

Training with weights also promotes the release of human growth hormone. While this is also true of other forms of intense exercise, weight training appears to do this more efficiently than the other forms. Human growth hormone speeds the recovery from cellular damage and enables recovery from injuries.

Don't forget the additional benefits of weight loss. Note that this is fat loss, not weight loss. Most people say “weight loss” to be polite, but what they are really talking about is fat. Muscle weighs more than fat so weight can be misleading. Muscle is replace by fat as we age, so even maintaining the same weight as you age makes you fatter, unless you maintain or your muscle mass. Moreover, it is widely believed that, for every 10 pounds of muscle we have, we burn 500 calories per day just to maintain it. Thus, just carrying muscle also makes it easier to minimize fat accumulation.

All of these benefits are possible for those who consistently use a home gym.