Strength Training Will Help You Reach Your Weight Loss Goals

Strength training is a form of exercise where you build more muscle. Building muscle will help you lose weight because having more muscle increases your metabolism. For every pound of muscle you have, you burn between 7 and 15 calories per day while at rest. Most people will gain 2 to 5 pounds of muscle from strength training. So your at least burning 30 calories per day (3 pounds of muscle x 10 calories burned per pound). This adds up to 10950 calories burned a year (30 x 365). You need to bu
3500 calories in order to lose 1 pound of fat, so if you take 10950/3500=3 pounds. You will lose at least 3 pounds of fat per year while at rest. In addition to this, you'll burn even more calories while strength training helping you even further to lose weight. Besides all of this, you will also get in shape and become stronger.

For strength training to be the most effective & to get the most out of it, you want to burn as many calories & build as much muscle as you can in the least amount of time. The type of strength training that is most effective for building muscle and burning the most calories is the kind that works more than one muscle group at one time. Here are some exercises you can do that work at least two muscle groups.

Squats with arms extended on sides - Stand with your feet a little wider than shoulder width and arms extended at your side with a slight bend in your elbows. Keep your arms extended during this whole exercise. Now lower your body until your thighs are parallel to the floor keeping your arms extended and parallel to the floor. Then lift your body back to the starting position by pushing up with your legs, with arms still extended with a slight bend at your elbows. Repeat. Do 15 repetitions. This works the muscles in your arms and thighs. For an even better workout try this exercise with 3 to 5 pound dumbbells to work the arms.

Do pushups with one leg extended - Do a set of ten with left leg extended. Then do another set of ten with the right leg extended. This work the upper arms, thigh, butt, and abdominal muscles.

Walking lounges with bicep curl - With right leg in front of you and left leg behind you and arms at your sides with 5 pound dumbbells in your hands, lower your body until your right thigh is parallel to floor. While holding this position do an arm curl by bending elbows to bring lower arms up to shoulders then lower arms back down again. Then lift your body back up by pushing with your legs. Then put left leg in front of you and right leg behind you and repeat. Do ten repetitions. This works the thighs, butt and upper arms.

Bicep curl with dumbbells and one leg extended - While standing extend left leg up and tighten the stomach and butt muscles. With left leg extended, take two 5 pound dumbbells in each hand and hold parallel to sides of body. Then lift and bend both elbows and bring lower arms parallel to chest, then lower arms back down until parallel to sides of body again. Do ten repetitions. Then switch sides with right leg extended and 5 pound dumbbells in both hands. Do another ten repetitions. This works the upper arms and butt muscles.

Do these exercises as well as other strength exercises such as sit ups, crunches etc. for 20 to 30 minutes, 3 times a week. By doing these exercises you will develop lean muscle and burn fat. In time you will begin to see a lean, toned body. You will also feel better and have more energy. Before doing any strenuous exercise be sure to check with your doctor to make sure you are healthy enough to do them. Also be sure to warm up before exercising and cool down after exercising. I wish you much success for your weight loss.