Do you Burn Fat during Resistance Training?

The answer is Yes!  Listen up, if you want to lose weight over 40, there is concrete evidence that shows fat is being burned during and after resistance training.  So keep the burning going and grab some weights.

What we know is that muscle contributes significantly to resting metabolic rate, which is the energy expended to maintain all bodily functions at rest.  A study lead by M.J. Osmsbee in 2007 showed that fat oxidation (burning of fat) was 105% higher after the resistance training than it was after the control session in their study.  Therefore, fat was definitely being used above resting values as a fuel during and after the resistance training session.

I don’t want to get too technical, the important thing is that you are definitely burning more fat by doing resistance training or what most people call weight lifting.  So with that in mind, if you want to seriously lose weight over 40, you want to do a resistance training program that encompasses not just the large muscle groups like the legs, but also the smaller muscle groups in your arms and upper body.

Your exercise program should consist of Leg exercises for the Quadriceps (the front of your thighs), Hamstrings (the back of your thighs), Glutes (butt) and Calves (back of lower leg).  Arms or upper body exercises for the Pectorials (chest) ,Trapezius (upper back), Biceps (Front of Upper arm), Triceps (back of upper arm).  Of course the abdominal and lower back areas need to be worked too.

Follow up your resistance program with stretching of the muscles you used during the resistance session to increase your flexibility and reduce soreness.

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