Strength training is a critical component of any weight loss and muscle gain program. While diet and cardio are important, strength training can help improve the results you see from your weight loss program. Unfortunately, many people underestimate the importance of strength training and often stick only to cardiovascular exercises.

In this article, we’ll explore the importance of strength training for weight loss and muscle gain and provide evidence-based reasons why you should make strength training a regular part of your workout routine.

Firstly, strength training can help you lose more weight than just cardio alone. When you engage in weightlifting or resistance training, you are building muscle, which burns more calories than fat. So, the more muscle mass you have, the more calories you burn while at rest. Muscle mass helps you burn calories even when you’re not working out.

Furthermore, strength training helps you increase your metabolism, which means your body will be able to burn more calories throughout the day even after the workout is over. Studies suggest that strength training increases the metabolic rate by about 7% and the metabolic increase can last up to 72 hours post-workout. During these post-workout periods, the body keeps burning calories almost automatically allowing for an optimal fat burn.

Moreover, strength training can help you gain muscle, which is helpful because muscle is denser than fat, taking up less space in your body and causing you to appear leaner. Muscle gain through strength training will also improve your body’s aesthetic looks, creating a more toned look.

Strength training can also improve your overall health. by improving your bone density, reducing your risk of developing osteoporosis as well as decreasing the likelihood of developing heart and metabolic diseases. It can also reduce the risk of injury by improving muscle strength and overall balance.

Incorporating strength training into your routines doesn’t have to be complicated nor does it require expensive equipment. Bodyweight exercises, resistance bands, or even lifting household items like a milk jug all qualify as strength training. And when you improve your training over time, you can increase your strength, allowing for better progress and fitness gains.

In summary, strength training has far-reaching benefits beyond just building muscle, burning fat, and improving your metabolism. Incorporating a strength training routine into your weight loss and muscle gain program can go a long way to helping you reach your fitness goals in a healthy and sustainable way. Start small and work your way up.

In conclusion, for any weight loss or muscle gain program, strength training is essential, as it helps burn fat, build muscle, improve overall health and metabolism, and reduces the risk of injury. So, if you’re not doing strength training as part of your routine already, there is no better time than now to start!