Why Strength Training is the best form of exercise for Fat Loss

Hey Fitstudios fam, Coach Shannon here. If you don’t know me, I am a BIG believer in strength training. Strength training used to get a bad rap as a lot of people, especially women, would think picking up a heavy weight would make them look “bulky” or think they would become a “bodybuilder” overnight. I am here to explain how WRONG that is and go over some of the benefits of strength training for fat loss and overall health.

1. Strength training speeds up your metabolism. Who wouldn’t want to be able to do less AND still lose body fat? This is exactly what a fast metabolism can do for you, and strength training (when done correctly) is the #1 factor in speeding up the metabolism. Ultimately, the more muscle you have on your body the more calories you burn at rest and therefore the less activity you have to do to burn off those calories. This makes it a very sustainable form of exercise.

2. Strength training allows you to build and sculpt specific areas of the body. So no, you cannot specifically pick an area and decide “I want to lose fat here,” it doesn’t work like that. BUT what strength training can do is help you build muscle in certain areas of your body which will SHAPE your body. It helps create symmetry in the body and correct imbalances from one side to the other. For example, if you are looking to build your lower body, you can train lower body more frequently. If you have an imbalance from your left to right bicep, you can train single arm movements to target the weaker muscle. Tell me another form of exercise that can specifically do this? I’ll wait.

3. Strength training balances hormones. Strength training is the only form of exercise that can naturally raise testosterone in men (and women who have low levels), balance progesterone and estrogen (this balance is key to fat loss) in women and regulate insulin levels to help prevent illnesses such as diabetes. Having balanced hormones is key to fat loss, increased energy, increased motivation/drive and increased libido.

4. Strength training strengthens bones. Muscles are not the only thing that get stronger during strength training, bones do too. Bones get denser and stronger because of the resistance placed on them during strength training. This is an often overlooked but very important benefit, especially as we start to age.

I could go on forever but I’ll let these 4 sink in. So, before you choose to hit the treadmills because you think you’ll burn more calories running, think of me and pick up the damn weights!!

Coach Shannon