Maintaining muscle requires lots of energy(calories). We all know someone who has a “fast metabolism”, but they likely have a lot of lean muscle that is burning up those calories. More lean muscle definitely makes weight loss easier, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
The compounding effect is what really drives the results. When you’re stronger and more fit, you can workout harder and longer, burning even more calories.
Now that we know why more lean muscle helps with weight loss, let’s talk about what that workout should look like. Compound movements, or exercises that use more than one muscle group, are the best way to achieve weight loss. For example, pull ups would be better than bicep curls. Pull ups use wrists, elbows, shoulders, almost every muscle in the arm, and core muscles while curls involve far less. Another example is the leg extension machine vs. squats. Leg extensions use one joint while squats cover several, require core strength, and train our balance. These single joint exercises have their place. If you want bigger muscles, they absolutely work. If weight loss is what you’re after, you should be spending more time working on compound movements.
If you have questions about where to start with weightlifting or are hesitant because you’re not sure of the correct technique, give me a call. I’d love to help! Chiropractic is just part of what Total Health & Sport Care offers. This is your one stop shop to move better, be stronger, and live without pain.
Move well. Perform better.