Remember, muscle is more active than fat. In fact, a pound of muscle can burn anywhere from 10-20 calories a day while a pound of fat burns only 2-5 calories a day. And, don't forget, muscle is more dense than fat and takes up less space. That means when you lose fat and gain muscle, you'll be slimmer and trimmer.
Plenty of people, especially women, avoid strength training like the plague, either because they think they'll gain weight or because they like cardio better. But strength training has a number of benefits such as:
- It builds lean muscle tissue
- It strengthens muscles, bones and connective tissue
- It keeps your body strong and injury-free for your cardio workouts
- It raises metabolism
An effective fat loss program will include regular strength training and cardio workouts, done either separately or together, depending on your schedule and goals. Another important component is, of course, eating a healthy diet as well. By implementing all three components, you can maximize your weight loss and your health.
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