Weight Training for Weight Loss

Every dieter knows that exercise is the best way they can lose weight and keep it off. The idea of a diet is not simply changing what you eat. Proper dieting is an all around lifestyle change, and that includes using exercise to your utmost advantage, like weight training for weight loss.

Although most individuals think of lifting weights as strictly a way to bulk up and add muscle, weight training for weight loss is actually one of the most effective methods out there. By exerting energy in training muscle groups, not only do you boost your metabolism and burn off ample calories, but you also begin to tone up and add muscle definition where the fat used to be.

Using weight training to your advantage may not provide the quick weight loss results you want, but it will provide the results you need.

Lifting Weights to Shed Pounds

The idea behind using weight lifting to lose body fat is simple – you are looking to boost your metabolism and to stay active, burning large amounts of calories with moderate workouts. Lifting a lot of weight—your maximum—and working out feverishly with weights will actually lead to muscle gains which will result in weight gains.

Although you will still burn plenty of fat, your body weight will not decrease significantly. To avoid the proverbial bulk-up associated with lifting weights, it is important that you maintain a light to moderate pace with the weights and always remember to:

• Go light on the protein: Too much protein is going to lead to too much muscle for you. Instead of packing in the protein, ingest higher amounts of fiber
• Eat a calorie-restrictive diet: Most weight lifters increase their overall calorie intake. You should do just the opposite. Cut down on your calorie intake and force your body to dip into its fat reserves to burn for fuel
• Alternate your workouts: Only train with weights a couple times per week, and always remember to switch up muscle groups so that you’re not working on any one group significantly more than others

Following a simple, light workout plan, you should be able to burn more calories with weight training than with light cardio. As an added bonus, of course, you will not have to work as hard with weights as with running or jogging and you will become stronger and fitter in the process