Let’s get one thing straight: resistance training isn’t just about picking things up and putting them down. It sets off a cascade of biological changes beneath the surface. According to Josh Honore, NASM-certified personal trainer and coach for Row House, “When we weight train, we’re tipping the first domino toward increasing muscle size, strength, and/or performance.”
Here’s a peek inside your body during a typical strength session:
- Energy gets depleted. Your muscles start by using stored glycogen. As that runs low, your body taps into fat and even protein.
- Muscle fibers tear. Tiny microtears form in your muscles during resistance training. This sounds scary, but it’s actually a key part of growth.
- Inflammation sets in. Your body responds to the strain with inflammation and soreness—that familiar “day-after leg day” feeling.
- Recovery begins. Your body sends in satellite cells to repair and rebuild those muscle fibers, making them stronger and more resilient.
But here’s the catch: this rebuilding doesn’t happen during your workout—it happens after. And that’s where rest comes in.
