Strength Training builds muscle and the more muscle you have the higher your daily metabolic rate will be. Every 0.5kg of muscle you put on will burn off an extra 50-100 calories EVERY DAY because muscle is an active tissue and it requires energy to maintain it, even while you’re sitting on the couch watching tv and during exercise you’ll burn far more calories than if you didn’t have it… It can be compared to the engine in a car – the bigger the engine (like a v8) the more petrol (energy) is burned off while you’re sitting at the lights and whilst driving.
Research reveals that adding just 1.4kg of muscle to your body increases your resting metabolism by 7% and you can eat 15% more calories if you’re not trying to achieve fat loss. In a 1994 study, people lost 1.8 kg of fat from strength training after 3 months, even though they were eating 15% more calories each day, so they were eating an extra 370 calories extra every day and still lost fat!!
Research has also shown that after a heavy weights session your body begins to use fat as a preferred energy source to help repair your muscles and make them grow. More muscle equals more fat burnt during and after your workout and then daily because of your increased me tabolism.
If you want to burn fat faster and have a lean, tight body…you MUST lift weights!!! With all those benefits wouldn’t you agree it’s a pretty good investment of your time!?! So, if you’re still not doing weights, WHY NOT?!?!
The Benefits of Strength Training
I’m sure that everyone at some point has heard that Strength Training is really good for building muscle, increasing your metabolism and burning fat. But do you know all the other reasons why lifting weights is so important to do on a regular basis?
The Benefits of Strength Training:
- Increase or maintain Lean Body Mass (muscle mass)
- Increase Metabolism
- Promote faster fat burning and leaner physique
- Increase bone mineral density
- Increase joint strength and stability
- Increase functional strength
- Increase power and sporting performance
- Increase vitality and quality of life
- Improve posture
- Decrease risk of osteoporosis
- Decrease risk of injury
- Decrease blood pressure
- Decrease risk of type II diabetes
- Decrease risk of degenerative joint disease
- Promote rehabilitation from injury