Weight Training

When it comes to weight training, it's not uncommon to have a lot of mental resistance. Some of my clients avoid weight training saying it's boring. Others don't know where to start.

But most of them, especially those looking to drop a few pounds, have a tough time seeing how a session with weight can be as beneficial as sweating it out on the elliptical machine or by taking a power walk.

They're right in one sense: one lifting session won't do much good if you want to drop a few sizes.

But, over the long run, weight lifting is one of the most effective ways I know to lose weight. (In addition to having loads of other benefits!)

Here's how it works:
Say you have an hour to dedicate to your fitness program. You could jog for that hour and burn about 600 calories. Or you could weight train for an hour and burn about 300 calories.

Why would you want to burn 300 versus 600 calories?
Because, when you're done with your jog, you've burned those calories-and only those calories. But, during that hour of weight training, you're revving your body to burn calories for that hour-and many hours after.

When you incorporate weight training into your routine consistently, you'll create muscle mass that will burn more calories for you not only when you are working out, but also when you're sitting in front of your computer or the TV or even sleeping.

Plus, if you skip or miss an aerobic workout, and that's all you do, then you miss out on the calories burned during that one session. But if you have weight training built into your plan, your body will still burn more calories, even if you miss a time with the weights.

How much does that extra pound of muscle really burn? Physiologists differ in numbers ranging from 6 to 50 extra calories per day. However, that number isn't important. What is important is that muscle mass is more metabolically active than fat and will increase daily metabolic rate-the perfect foundation for losing fat!

Sound good? It is! But there are two additional qualities you need to reap all the benefits of weight training: consistency and patience. It takes 6-8 weeks of steady weight training (at least two times a week) to make your body a more lean, mean, fat burning machine. : )

Yet, what do you have to lose in that time…except more weight!

P.S. Have a question about weight training? Toss it to me!

Master trainer Jeanie Callen Barat, "The Fitness Jeanie," is a premier fitness consultant and owner of Callen Fitness, Inc.
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