Weight Training to Shed Fat?

Question: Is it true that weight training helps you shed fat? I thought aerobics was the only serious fat-burning exercise.

Answer:

Resistance Training Can Help Increase Fat Loss

Yes, resistance training can lead to increased fat loss. In fact, it's crucial to understand that in addition to cardiovascular or aerobic exercise, resistance training is an important element in any effective fat loss program.

Muscle tissue is metabolically active in the body-in general terms, the higher your percentage of muscle mass, the higher your resting metabolism. Strength training will increase your lean muscle mass resulting in an accelerated metabolism; in other words, if you add more muscle, you'll burn more calories. And this, of course, can translate into an increase in fat burning as well.

So, in addition to the other health benefits associated with resistance training-increased strength and energy, healthy bone density, protection against injury, etc.- engaging in two or three brief and intense weight training sessions per week carries the major plus of allowing your body to burn more calories even while at rest!