I always get asked does lifting weights burn fat? People who want to drop extra pounds often turn to cardiovascular exercise in order to burn fat. Many trainers recommend aerobic exercises to burn calories, saying that strength training is only good for building muscles.
Does Lifting Weights Burn Fat?
However, more and more people these days are becoming aware of the importance of muscle development for long-term fat loss. That is why people are beginning to ask, “Does lifting weights burn fat?”
Combine Cardio and Weight Training
Not too long ago, people who wanted to lose performed intense aerobic workouts such as running, jogging, swimming, or exercising on an elliptical trainer.
Cardiovascular exercise elevates the metabolism during workout and for a short time after the workout session.
Weight training, on the other hand, develops muscle mass and increases the body’s metabolism long after the exercise session is over.
The reason is that muscles require more calories to maintain than fat does. Thus, lifting weights actually burns fat faster.
Does Lifting Weights Burn Fat – Higher Metabolism
Strength training builds more muscles in the body. Because muscles use up more calories, your body turns into a fat-burning furnace.
With more lean muscle in your body, your metabolism will increase. Lifting weights actually helps you burn fat even while you rest. After your lifting session, your body will continue burning more calories for a longer period than you would after an aerobic session.
Build More Muscles
Many people think that bigger muscles are developed during strength training. Lifting weights actually tears down the muscles. Muscle development and repair take place during the rest period following the lifting session.
It is while you rest and recuperate that your muscles grow bigger and stronger.
Burn Fat Faster
Cardiovascular exercise provides a calorie-burning workout that melts fat from all over your body. However, if you want to keep the fat off it’s necessary to combine lifting with your cardio workout.
This will increase your metabolism so your body burns more calories even while you are resting or sleeping. Strength training using resistance methods or by lifting weights helps you burn fat and keep it from coming back. For every 3 pounds of muscles gained, you burn about 120 calories more per day.
Avoid Quick Weight-Loss Diets
You may be tempted to go on a miracle or starvation diet when trying to lose quickly. This is bad because it will cause the loss of muscle mass. Any lost will be quickly regained.
It is best, instead, to work towards a gradual fat loss by combining lifting and cardio activities.
This will allow you to build up muscle mass and increase your metabolism. Although it may take longer to attain your ideal , the results will last longer.
So, does lifting weights burn fat? You know now that it does.
