Most people look at weight lifting as merely a way to increase muscle mass, and while it can and will do that there is so much more. In many weight loss programs, you will see a big emphasis placed on cardiovascular workouts and less on lifting weights, which works to a degree but is really robbing you of the best potential outcome. With the right weight bench or home gym equipment, you could be on the fast track to losing weight and looking great at the same time.
Body Proportions
Have you ever lost 10 or even 20 pounds only to find that you do not look a whole lot different? This is because your fat to muscle ratio has not changed; you are simply a bit smaller. Working out with weights however will increase your muscle mass and tone, which makes for much more dramatic physical changes. In fact, many times the visible changes are more pronounced with less weight loss!
Keys to Weight Loss
When you want to reduce body fat content you must either burn more calories than you eat or eat fewer calories than you burn, this is basic math. For the fastest results it is advised that you do both, reduce your caloric intake and increase the rate at which your body uses calories. Lifting weights will help not only with burning calories now, but also elevate your metabolic rate which means you will continue to burn more calories for hours after a workout.
Carbohydrates and Weight Lifting
One thing you need to keep in mind before hitting the weight bench is your carbohydrate intake. Carbs are a part of the recovery process between weight lifting workouts and if you have cut the carbohydrates, you will need to reduce your lifting regimen. You can generally maintain strength while losing weight by cutting weight lifting volume in half. This may seem counterintuitive but remember if you are not recovering well between workouts; your performance will drop making it even harder to lose fat!
Choosing a Bench and Weights
There are many different types of weight benches and home gyms on the market today. A bench is traditionally used in conjunction with free weights such as barbells and dumbbells; however, they are also often a part of a combination home gym. In order to choose the best bench you have to consider your overall goals. One weight bench may not cover all of your workout needs; in fact, some home gyms have 3-7 different types of benches and equipment combination. If you can only afford or have room for one choose the model that is the most versatile and best suits your weight lifting goals.
Conclusion
Many people seem to think that exercise is divided into two types of people, those who want to lose weight and those who want to build muscle. This is why a number of individuals would never consider adding a weight bench to their workout out room equipment. Lifting weights has many benefits, with weight loss and strength being at the top of the list.
More information is available on the weight bench home page.
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