There’s no doubt that pounding the pavement can help with weight loss. But cardio isn’t the only way to lose a few pounds. Complimenting aerobic exercise with strength training can maximize your weight loss efforts, according to Dr. Goutham Rao, founder of University Hospitals Fitter Me, a physician-led weight management program. “When you do strength training, it builds muscle which increases your basal metabolic rate and helps you burn fat,” says Rao. “For somebody with more muscle, it requires more calories to maintain that muscle, and so they’re going to burn more calories as a result.” There are other benefits, too. Strength training, whether through body weight exercises or weightlifting, helps improve your stability and balance, which makes aerobic activities easier. More muscle helps you move your body more efficiently too: It’s a lot easier to power yourself up a hill on a run or hike when you have stronger legs. Rao recommends incorporating strength training into your workout daily for weight loss and encourages lifting heavy weights for maximum caloric expenditure. He suggests attending a strength training class at your local gym or working with a personal trainer to make the correct moves while finding motivation and encouragement. “Anybody who’s under 50 who’s otherwise well and doesn’t have a lot of chronic conditions — male or female — should feel free to start strength training,” he says.
Get Fit: Why Strength Training Should Be Paired With Aerobic Exercise
Dr. Goutham Rao, founder of University Hospitals Fitter Me, provides answers behind the importance of strength training.
