Resistance Training Combined With Diet Decreases Body Fat While Preserving Lean Mass Independent of Resting Metabolic Rate. High-Intensity Resistance and Impact Training Improves Bone Mineral Density and Physical Function in Postmenopausal Women With Osteopenia and Osteoporosis: The LIFTMOR Randomized Controlled Trial. Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans: Second Edition.Clinical Cases in Mineral and Bone Density. Santilli V, Bernetti A, Mangone M, et al.
The more intensity and volume and variety that you can apply to your body the greater the response,” he says.īraganza agrees, adding that continuing to challenge yourself by adding free weights or using a weight machine at the gym or altering the tempo you perform the exercises at will help mix things up to create the adaptations your body needs to build strength. “Squatting on a chair at home, pushups, planks, or other movements that require you to use your own body weight as resistance can be very effective. You definitely don’t need a gym membership or expensive weight machines, he adds. If you’re looking to add strength or resistance training to your routine you have a lot of options, Pire notes. “If you have more muscle mass, you’ll burn more calories - even in your sleep, than if you didn’t have that extra lean body mass,” he adds. That’s because lean tissue in general is more active tissue. “ keeps your metabolism active after exercising, much longer than after an aerobic workout.” Strength Training Helps Keep the Weight off for Goodīecause strength training boosts excess post-exercise oxygen consumption, it can also help exercisers boost weight loss more than if you were to just do aerobic exercise alone, Pire says. That means more calories burned during the workout, and more calories burned after the workout, too, while your body is recovering to a resting state. So you can amplify this effect depending on the amount of energy you put into the workout. It’s a process called "excess post-exercise oxygen consumption,” according to the American Council on Exercise.īut when you do strength, weight, or resistance training, your body demands more energy based on how much energy you’re exerting (meaning the tougher you’re working, the more energy is demanded). With both aerobic activity and strength training, your body continues to burn calories after strength training as it returns to its more restful state (in terms of energy exerted).