If you’re like most people, when you think of losing weight, you probably think of doing cardio. But what if I told you that strength training is actually more important for fat loss? Losing fat and toning up can feel like a never-ending battle. You work hard, maybe do a lot of cardio, and see some results initially but then things start to plateau. Sound familiar? You’re not alone. In order to make lasting change and see continual progress, strength training needs to become a staple in your fat-loss journey. Here’s why:
Burn more calories at rest
When you have more muscle, you naturally have a higher metabolism because your body has to work harder to maintain muscle mass. Cardio burns calories while you’re doing it but then once you stop, so does the calorie burning. Strength training helps to increase your resting metabolic rate (or the number of calories you burn at rest) which means you’ll be burning more calories even when you’re not working out!
Get rid of stubborn areas
We all have those trouble spots that seem impossible to get rid of no matter how much cardio we do. It’s frustrating, I know. Cardio is great for overall fat loss but it doesn’t do much to target specific areas. Strength training exercises help to build muscle in specific areas which will help to “fill out” problem areas and give you the toned look you’re after.
Strength training is an important part of any fitness journey but it becomes even more crucial when your goal is fat loss. Cardio is great for overall health and essential for fat loss but adding strength-training into the mix will help you lose fat faster and get rid of stubborn problem areas. Incorporating strength-training into your workout routine will also help increase your resting metabolic rate so that you continue burning calories even when you’re not working out!
Are you ready to get stronger by incorporating strength training to your fitness routine? Contact me today to get started!