Weight Loss Strength Training

One very commonly overlooked aspect of losing weight is the need for strength training. It’s true that controlling your calories alone will help you lose weight but when you add in strength training you can burn calories faster. Strength training builds lean muscle mass which helps speed your metabolism. So, in effect the more lean muscle mass you have the better you will burn calories.
The goal is to raise your resting metabolic rate. This is determines the amount of calories your body burns while simply resting. The more muscle you have, the higher your RMR will be and the more fat you will burn. Strength training works great in combination with cardio. The difference in the two when dealing with your RMR is that cardio or aerobic exercise only raises your RMR temporarily while strength training raises your RMR permanently. Some people find that strength training is more effective than cardio exercise. A couple of hours in the gym working on strength training just a few times a week can help meet your fat loss goals significantly.
So the key is to build your metabolism. Strength training does just that. The more strength and muscle mass, the more fat you will burn throughout the day. Strength training is also very important for building bone density. This is especially important for women. You will become stronger and gain more endurance through strength training. More muscle will give you more control and balance which may just help avoid injuries as well.
Some important things to note with strength training that you will want to use more resistance than your muscles are used to. Your body will begin to adapt so its important to progress to heavier weights along the way. Lastly, it’s very important to get rest. You only build muscle when you rest and recover. Be sure to never work the same muscle group two days in a row.