Startling Facts About Aerobics and Resistance Training
There's a lesson I wish I had learned a long time ago. It is that there are other ways to burn calories and lose weight besides aerobics. Because it seems that resistance training may be as important for burning off the fat.
Which might be one reason my fat loss was less than I expected despite hours peddling the stationary bike in my bedroom.
All of which made me wonder why is aerobic training said to be the best for burning fat? Seems like maybe we should clear the air because you too may have assumed that aerobics is your best bet. And could benefit from finding out how resistance training might help as well.
Well from what I can tell aerobic exercises have always been associated with fat loss. The reason is not hard to see. Aerobics is relatively easy and not all that uncomfortable to do. I mean come on now. It's not THAT tough compared to some things. Besides the theory is simple enough. Reach your fat burning zone. Stay there for 30-40 minutes duration. And you are done.
And don't forget you can often distract yourself with TV, music or other types of entertainment when doing aerobics.
Alternatively, we'd rather not think of the stress and strain resistance training involves. I mean it involves lifting weights repeatedly for a specific number of times. Ugh! All the math involved gives me a headache. No wonder we prefer to stay in our aerobics comfort zone.
Well maybe we'd be wise to dig further to compare the list of benefits offered by strength training verses those from cardio exercise, as defined, alone.
When it comes to burning off fat here's how I see what cardio offers.
With any cardiovascular routine you will likely burn a few more calories than resistance training does.
There is less burning of calories after your workouts.
Another issue, unless you're doing water aerobics, is the joint problems that sometimes crop up from the impact on them that comes with this type of exercise.
Alright, so what's the results of resistance training when it comes to fat burning?
Believe it or not, depending on the amount of weight used and number of repetitions done you can burn more or less the same amount of calories as with an aerobic workout.
Then get this. After the workout you will continue burning calories as your muscles repair and rebuild. Your metabolic rate has also been bumped by maybe 30% and will stay that way for like the next 24-36 hours. Which is how you can burn fat even while asleep.
When you workout your core and ab muscles you have less chance of injury as you learn balance and co-ordination in such workouts.
There you go. Resistance training helps you lose fat and develop muscle tissue that burns more fat. So now that you know that, what's your next step?
First this revelation is no reason to call the whole thing off. Your cardio routine that is. No, the reasonable thing to do is combine moderate weight training with low impact aerobics. I suggest that because aerobic activities themselves bring with them their additional benefits.
They build up your lungs and heart helping them to work more efficiently.
Aerobics help your blood circulate better.
They work to get you to a better overall level of fitness, endurance, and stamina.
Help in the muscle repair after a strength training workout.
Okay so what takeaway should you be getting here? Simple. You're better of following a comprehensive program of resistance, cardio plus improve eating habits which will combine to lead to a leaner, fitter you.
Jalinn M Hardy writes for the popular health and fitness site MeltOffTheInches.com. There you can learn more about why a regular jump rope fitness workout is such a good exercise for those looking to lose inches. If you don't know the benefits of jumping rope perhaps you should check that website out now.