When we think about weight loss, the common go to exercise is “cardio” exercises such as running or cycling. But is this really the best option, or are strength exercises more beneficial? Let’s break down what all of this means and help you fast track your weight loss journey.
Before going into how strength exercises will help with weight loss, we must first understand what this actually means. Strength exercises are exercises that generally target muscular strength and are usually performed by making the muscles work against a force. These exercises are what you would typically see someone performing with weights at a gym. However, there are many exercises that can also be performed at home with just body weight. These are handy if you don’t have enough time to get to the gym, or do not have a gym membership.
So how does strength training actually help with weight loss? By performing strength exercises, muscles are forced to adapt and increase in strength. This will also be followed by an increase in lean muscle mass. Lean muscle mass is directly related to the amount of energy your body will use at rest (Basal metabolic rate). Having higher percentage of lean muscle mass means you will use up more energy while resting, promoting more weight loss. On top of this, strength exercises can also be easily turned into a routine that will also target your cardiovascular system. Simply by doing the exercises in a circuit, this will challenge your cardiovascular system, again promoting more fat loss.
Some examples of strength exercises are:
Bodyweight:
- Squats
- Push up
- Lunges
- Pull up
- Step up
- Supine bridge
Gym:
- Barbell/Dumbbell squats
- Bench press
- Deadlift
- Dumbbell row
- Lat Pulldown
- Shoulder press
To understand more about how to set up your exercise routine, feel free to talk to one of our exercise physiologists. Book online or call us on 07 3398 7022 for more information.
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