Does Strength Training Burn More Fat Than Aerobics?

Does Strength Training Burn More Fat Than Aerobics?
by Samantha Cantrell

otherwise, and maintaining muscle mass is key to keeping your metabolism from
dipping while you diet. Working with weights also helps people jiggle less and fit back
into clothes that were uncomfortably tight, since muscles take up less room than fat.

In a study comparing strength training with aerobic exercise, researchers at Brigham
Young University found that middle-aged women who participated in a home
strength training program three times a week for 12 weeks experienced greater
improvements in body image than those who walked at the same frequency and
duration. Other studies show that strength training leads to less blood sugar readings
stored as fat, making people who lift weights, used dumbbells, or do sit-ups and
push-ups less likely to develop the belly fat that leads to diabetes and heart disease.

Does lifting heavier weights build more muscle?

If your goal is building big muscles, you'll want to lift heavier weights. If you're looking
to burn calories during your strength workout, you have a choice. You can lift
heavyweights and be done with your workout quickly or lift lighter weights for a
longer period of time. Either will burn the same number of calories.

If big muscles are your priority, go with the heavier weights if you can safely handle
them. You'll challenge your body in new ways and increase the size of your muscle
fibers more. Compare the physique of a marathoner with that of a sprinter. The
sprinter with huge, powerful legs probably does leg presses with heavyweights. The
marathoner, more concerned with endurance and overall toning, probably doesn't.

About The Author

Samantha Cantrell has been researching and writing online for over 2 years now. She
enjoys writing on health related topics. Her latest website discusses
and accessories. The other site I am currently working on is about . If your interested please check them out.

Strength training boosts metabolism
by increasing muscle mass, which
leads to weight loss. Walking or
pedaling a stationary bike will burn
calories, for sure, but the body's
metabolism quickly returns to
pre-exercise levels, usually within
about 40 minutes. Not so with
strength training, also called
resistance training.

According to researchers at John
Hopkins University, strength training
leads to increased calorie burn for up
to two hours after the workout ends.
It also builds muscles you won't get

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The content on
this website is for educational purposes only. Please consult with your physician before using natural
remedies and before making any drastic changes to your diet or exercise program.