Lose Weight Using Weights

A balanced training routine of cardio and weight lifting – combined with the right nutrition – is the key to successful weight loss. A common mistake that people make when trying to lose weight is attempting to focus all their efforts on dieting and cardio, without giving strength training a second thought. 

Heading into the free weights area can be intimidating if you’re unfamiliar with the exercises, but this shouldn’t be the case. Free weights enable you to work in your own environment at your own pace, limiting the risk of overworking yourself. With a little understanding and a few simple exercises in mind, you can pick up the free weights, build confidence, and start seeing results.

Strength training, like lifting weights, ends in excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC), which means your metabolism runs at a higher rate long after your workout is complete. This means you’ll continue to burn calories at an elevated rate following your session, and will lose weight more easily.

I Am Eating Healthy And Lifting Weights. Why Am I Still Not Losing Weight?

You can't target where you lose fat but building muscle through lifting weights can help burn to increase the rate at which you burn calories (your metabolic rate), which in turn will help with overall fat loss - some of which may be around the stomach.

To burn fat most effectively you should be lifting weights at least twice a week. It’s essential that you let your muscles recover in between sessions, which means giving yourself a couple of recovery days between sessions.

The best free weights routines for weight loss are simple to pick up – the challenge comes when you increase the amount of weight you’re lifting. Try these five free weight exercises in however many reps suit your strength and stamina, then take a short recovery and repeat.

An Inclusive Guide To Weight Lifting For Weight Loss

Lunges work your quadriceps, glutes, and hamstrings to the limit. Choose a barbell that feels appropriately heavy to increase the impact of your workout.

The ultimate lower body workout, squats and great for toning up thighs and glutes without weights. If you’re ready to step up your squat game, using a weighted barbell is a great way to increase the intensity.

Rowing actions activate multiple muscle groups including the back, shoulders, arms, and core. If you’re trying to tone up your back, this is a great place to start.

Beginner Strength Training Routine For Weight Loss

Whether you’re trying to lose weight, train for an event, or improve your health, don’t overlook the value of free weight exercise. Find your nearest gym today with and check our best gyms in London,  Manchester gyms or our gyms in Edinburgh.Asset 19 angle-down-bold angle-left-bold angle-right-bold angle-up-bold Asset 10 certifications Asset 14 close-bold close Asset 8 Asset 12 menu Asset 18 Asset 17 Asset 6 Asset 16 Asset 9 Asset 15 Asset 11 Asset 13

As a female in the exercise science field for the past 12 years, I have learned a thing or two about the importance of weight training. When the end goal is weight loss (or pretty much any end goal), a weight-training program is a must. 

Let’s get real. Sure, you can cut your calories in half, or spend your morning or evenings doing cardio to lose some pounds, but I can promise you both will not last nor will they give you a healthy looking and functioning body. 

Lifting Weights For Weight Loss

When it comes to weight lifting for weight loss, it is important to put a few key points out there. First, you will not get BIG from lifting weights. You get “big” from overconsumption of energy (calories), which can be converted into fat or muscle based on the types of foods you eat and the exercise you do. Second, you can lift more than you think—and you should (with the help of a spotter, if necessary). And finally, if weight training is done properly you will likely be sore the day or two after your workouts (especially if you are new to resistance exercise). This is called delayed onset muscle soreness, or DOMS, and it is a normal response to weight training. Be sure to stretch, drink plenty of water and incorporate sound nutrition to help your body recover quickly between workouts. 

Here are five key points to keep in mind while working toward your weight- or fat-loss goals. After all, weight is just a number and doesn’t say a whole lot about your body. I’m 5’2” and weigh about 135 pounds, while my mom is 5’2” and weighs around 113 pounds—the biggest difference is the amount of muscle we each have. Keep that in mind as you work toward your goals. 

1. Lift heavy weights. I have trained a lot of individuals over the years and I cannot tell you how many have sold themselves short. You won’t get results lifting the same weights you’ve been lifting (if you’ve been lifting). You have to go up in weight. Increase weight and you’ll increase your strength and muscle mass. Increase your muscle mass and you’ll increase your metabolic rate. Increase your metabolic rate and you will burn more calories. Burn more calories than you consume and you will lose weight. If you want to lose weight and not look “skinny fat, ” you need to lift HEAVY weights.

Does Weight Lifting Help Women Lose Weight?

2. Intensity. You don’t have to spend more than 30 to 45 minutes on your weight workouts. In fact, you could cut this down to 20 minutes. I love training with my powerlifting friends, but I do NOT have the focus or the time to lift weights for more than two hours. The key is to work hard throughout the entire workout, minimizing rest and keeping your heart rate elevated.  

3. I want you to fail. If you want your body to change, you have to push past your comfort zone. You can’t expect results doing the same thing you’ve always done—that’s called insanity, right? So when I say I want you to fail, I mean I want you to have to rest. I want you to not be able to finish that last rep or two, because you picked up the heavier weights. By pushing your body out of its comfort zone, you are forcing it to respond and to change. Your body has to use energy to repair and recover. Make your body work for you, and don’t be afraid to fail.

4. Do supersets and hybrids. A superset involves doing two or more exercises that target the same muscle group, back to back with minimal rest in between. For example, doing a set of 12 heavy squats followed by a set of 12 heavy lunges is a superset. A hybrid involves combining two or more movements into one movement. Combining a squat with a shoulder press or a lunge with a squat followed by a lunge are examples of hybrid exercises. Incorporating these into your weight-training workouts can increase the intensity of your training, which is ideal for losing weight.

Cardio Vs Weights: Which One Helps You Lose Weight Quicker?

5. Circuit Training. Circuit training is a great way to get in multiple exercises. You can focus on your upper body, lower body, or total body, all while keeping the intensity up. Of course, you still want to focus on using heavy weights. Below is a sample total-body, circuit-training workout. Move quickly from exercise to exercise and rest for a minute at the end of each round. Don’t be afraid to rest during a set, recover quickly, and then get back after it. 

Ultimately, weight-loss occurs due to a combination of factors—sleep, nutrition, mindset and physical activity all play key rolls in initiating and maintaining weight-loss. Be sure to check in with a physician before jumping into a weight-training regimen and don’t be afraid of failure. Failure is the point at which growth and change occur. Aim for three total-body, circuit-training workouts a week. If you decide to split your workouts, try to do two workouts focusing on your upper body, two workouts focusing on your lower body, and one total-body workout per week. Remember, these workouts can be as little as 20 to 30 minutes—the key is keeping the intensity high.

Kelley Vargo, MPH, MS, CSCS, ACE Health Coach is a recent graduate of the Milken Institute School of Public Health at The George Washington University where she received her MS in Exercise Science with a concentration in Strength & Conditioning and her MPH in Communication & Marketing. Ms. Vargo has contributed content to Discovery Health as well as the ACE Fitness Journal. She is a member of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, Delta Omega Public Health Honors Society, and a Metabolic Effect Instructor. She enjoys sharing her passion and energy with others, helping them create healthier and happier lives. Follow Kelley on twitter @kelleyvargo or contact her at kmvfitness@gmail.com or www.kelleyvargo.com.Nearly all of them, right? Weight loss is an important fitness goal, and many of your new clients will come to you looking for the fastest, easiest way to do it.

Is Cardio The Best Way To Lose Weight? Why You Should Do Less Cardio And Lift More Weights

Of course, you know that the best way to lose weight is not a quick fix. It's steady, consistent lifestyle changes: working out more, eating better.

While there are no easy solutions to losing weight, you can help your clients hit their goals faster and more effectively