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If you are trying to lose weight and improve your overall appearance you must start an exercise program that contains resistance training. Training with weights gives you so many more benefits than just doing cardiovascular workouts. Weight training helps to build lean muscle mass which is so important for burning calories from our bodies. The metabolism is instantly elevated during a workout and for many hours following your workout. Weight training is a must if you are trying to lose weight and lower your body fat percentage.
Here’s what happens when you lift weights, you are actually breaking down your muscles as you are lifting the weights. But following your workout the body uses lots of caloric energy to repair and rebuild your muscles. This is why you will see an increase in your metabolism. A word of warning though, if you are not use to training with weights, take it easy for the first few workouts and if possible always train with a partner so that they can spot you when lifting very heavy weights. You will also find yourself becoming very hungry when you start an intense weight training routine, you can help to lesson the hunger by drinking a large glass of water and chewing on some sugar free gum.
Starting a weight training routine is much more than just increasing your metabolism. Let’s give you just some of the benefits you will get from lifting weights. Number one your bone mineral density will increase which is very helpful in keeping your skeletal system strong. Which as we get older naturally weakens. Number two your overall strength and fitness levels will increase and you will feel like your on top of the world. Number three your body fat percentage will drop due to the increase in your metabolism and basal metabolic rate.
Weight training is a very important part of any good workout program and if I had to choose between weight training and cardio training. Weight training would win every time, due to the added benefits that you receive from doing it. Don’t get me wrong cardio training is very important and to get the best results from lifting weights you should always do some form of cardio exercise. My goals at the moment are not to lose weight, but to maintain my current body weight and lower my body fat percentage, this can only be achieved my lifting heavy weights and eating a diet high in protein and complex carbs. I’ve got the training down to a tee now I just need to work on my willpower to say no to my temptations.
