Why Building Muscle Helps You Lose Weight
Strength training exercises can help you get slimmer
If you’re a woman, odds are that you are intimidated by the idea of lifting weights or engaging in strength
training exercises. If you’re afraid of bulking up if you use weights, guess what? You won’t bulk up.
If your doctor gives you the go-ahead, strength training is a great way for you to slim down faster. In fact,
incorporating weight lifting into your workout routine ensures that you drop the inches faster than just aerobic
exercise alone.
Building up your muscles can bring many benefits including endurance and flexibility, joint protection, energy
level boosts, bone mass increase, and, most importantly, a boost to your metabolism.
Studies show that people who follow a strength training program burned 200 hundred calories more per workout than
those who worked out without following a strength training program.
Best of all, the benefits from strength training continues even when you’re not exercising. You will burn more
calories when you’re inactive—even in your sleep! Building lean body mass ultimately helps you keep fit in the long
run, since your body burns more calories overall with more muscle.
How to Begin Strength Training
Sit-ups, pull-ups, and push-ups are all strength training exercises. Do your own modified version of weight lifting
by lifting cans of soup in each hand. Next, move up to heavier items when you feel you’ve mastered the cans. Fill
up a small water bottle with something heavy, like sand or kitty letter, and increase the contents as you go along.
Be sure to both increase your weight and your repetition count.
Intensifying the workout
You can use light-weight dumbbells and resistance bands when you feel it’s time to take your workout to the next
level. Or, if you’re really dedicated, make an appointment at your local gym for a strength training consultation
and a trainer will take you step by step through the various weight-lifting machines.
Remember: Don’t push yourself too hard, or you might end up injuring yourself or someone else.
How often should I train?
Experts recommend doing strength training exercises two to three times a week. Studies show that people who worked
out two times a week enjoyed very similar results to people who worked out three times a week or more. They also
advise exercisers to skip a day between sessions to rest the muscles.
Remember
If the scale shows you’ve gained weight, don’t panic. Muscle weights more than fat, so initially you might gain
more weight. However, the difference lies not in weight loss but fat loss. Strength training helps you lose inches
and wear smaller sizes. Try strength training every other day and you’ll see results in no time!
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