At the moment, everyone in the fitness world seems to be talking about resistance workouts. The days of endless cardio are long over - nowadays, people are training with weights instead. But what are the actual benefits of resistance workouts? Are they suitable for weight loss, or should you stick to cardio? Read on and we'll go into the real benefits of using resistance tools when exercising!
Weight training helps you build strength
Let's point out the obvious first -
training with weights will help you build strength. Using a range of resistance
equipment - such as barbells, dumbells, resistance machines, and booty bands - will help you build whatever
muscle you're working on. If you want to increase your strength and tone a
particular area of your body, resistance workouts are perhaps the best thing
you can do.
Resistance training can help you lose weight
But what if weight loss is your main
focus? Well, resistance training can help you there too. This is due to a few
things: your body will be working harder, you'll experience 'after-burn', and
doing weights will help you lose more fat long-term.
Your body is working harder
When you do resistance training, your
muscles need more oxygen. So, you will naturally breathe faster, and your heart
will pump blood around your body quicker.
You will also use your energy
reserves to give your muscles a boost. This means that you will be burning calories
- and subsequently losing weight!
Feeling the after-burn
The weight loss process doesn't stop
when you've finished exercising. Muscles need to return to their natural state,
so they still require more oxygen.
Your muscles will find this oxygen in
excess fat and carbohydrates in the body. The body breaks down these substances
through a process called EPOC, or excess post-exercise oxygen
consumption. So, even after your workout, you could still be losing weight!
Losing fat long term
If you want to not only lose weight
but keep it off, resistance exercises could be your answer: the bigger your
muscles, the higher your RMR (resting metabolic rate).
This basically means that the bigger
your muscles are, the more calories you will need every day just to live. In
turn, this means that it will be much easier to either be in a calorie deficit
or to consume the same amount of calories as your body needs.
If you want to increase your RMR
deliberately, do some glute and quad exercises. Glutes and quads are the
biggest muscles in your body, and the larger they are, the more calories your
body will naturally burn.
Resistance training vs. cardio
Both exercises are good in their own
ways, but bearing in mind what we have discussed above, resistance training
may, in fact, be better for weight-loss purposes than cardio.
This is because when you do
resistance training, your muscles will be experiencing increased fatigue. Your
body will need more energy over a longer period, as it will need to repair
itself after the workout.
You certainly can burn off quite a
few calories on an extended run, but you don't burn off the same amount of
calories after. Therefore, if you really want to burn some calories and
strengthen your muscles in the process, consider resistance training.
Other benefits of resistance training
Protect against injury
Doing resistance training can help
you to protect your muscles, joints, and bones against injury. You will
naturally become fitter as you work out with weights or resistance bands, and
you will have higher stamina. Your muscles and joints will also be much stronger
and more flexible, making injury less likely.
Improve your mental health
Doing resistance training can help
with your mental health. Any exercise can give you a serotonin boost and make
you feel happier both in the short and long term. Resistance training can also
help with your self-confidence.
Deal with insomnia
Doing resistance exercises can help
you cope with insomnia. Any exercise is excellent for physical exhaustion,
which can help you sleep better at night.
However, the fatigue that your
muscles will feel after weight training will definitely help your body reach
that stage of exhaustion quicker!
Resistance training is certainly worth the hype. There are countless positives to this type of training - not least because it will help you to build your muscles. It's one of the best types of exercise you can do for weight loss, and there are so many other perks too! If you're seeking out any of these health benefits, consider putting resistance training into your fitness regime.