Every woman is on the hunt for the secret to staying young, but guess what? It's right here, under our noses: it's weight training, and it's science that says so.

Your muscles in shape

To stay in shape and stand the test of time, build muscle! Skipping your workout can cause you to lose nearly three kilos of muscle per decade, according to the docs at Harvard Health. So become the woman who can pull it all off and do push-ups without flinching!

Bye bye tummy fat

Visceral fat is the kind of fat that doctors want you to get rid of, the kind that surrounds your organs and can give you heart trouble, even if you're in a normal weight range. According to studies, weight training has a special way of getting rid of that annoying fat - and as a bonus, it lowers your overall body fat percentage.

Glowing, youthful skin

And there's even an added beauty bonus: working out improves your skin's health. Studies have shown that working out boosts skin elasticity, structure and thickness, by activating certain collagen-making genes, the protein that keeps your skin looking supple and plump. What's more, by improving blood circulation, it helps your skin regenerate itself and get rid of inflammation.

A relaxed brain

Exercise boosts your brain - it's not just a mood-lifter, it protects it too. In fact, studies show that 12 weeks of weight training stimulates changes in your brain that keep it in shape.

What you need to get started

There are lots of cool tools out there for building muscle, so pick what appeals to you most. It could be fitness machines, dumbbells (at home or in the gym), resistance bands, or just your own body weight. Use a weight or resistance that allows you to do 8 to 12 reps of an exercise. When you feel it's getting a little too easy, switch to a heavier weight. 

Go for it, and don't forget to share your progress with us by sending us a photo to inthemove@intelcia.com!