Strength Training to Burn Fat

Some great fat burning exercises are strength training workouts. Why?

The more lean muscle you have the higher your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR).

This is the rate at which you burn calories while at a complete rest – like sleeping.

So, by increasing your lean muscle, which in turn is increasing your BMR, you are ultimately increasing the number of calories you burn in a day including burning fat.

Weight Lifting

In order to build lean muscle, you must do some strength training exercises, like weight lifting.

This doesn’t mean you’re going to bulk up and look like Hulk Hogan.  Body builders have to work very hard to obtain that amount of muscle.

Weight lifting is the most recommended strength training to effectively build lean muscles, although other methods can be effective as well.  

For weight lifting, you will need to have access to exercise equipment, like a weight bench, free weights and a weight bar.

Or perhaps you could check out your local gym as they generally have many different machines that will help strengthen all the muscle groups.  

If you do incorporate weight lifting into your fat burning exercise routine, make sure you know how to do the exercises correctly to get the maximum benefit of your workout.

You will also want to alternate your muscle groups when doing your strength training fat burning exercises. 

For instance, one day focus on the upper body, and then the next day do lower body.  Don’t forget to do the abdominal exercises during the week as well.

Other Strength Training Workouts

Resistance Band Exercises

You could start out doing resistance band exercises for your strength training as part of your fat burning exercises routine. 

You can purchase bands with varying degrees of resistance, so you can start with the low and work up to the higher resistance bands.

To get the most out of your resistance band exercises, make sure you are doing the exercise correctly.  

Here on this site there are several free fitness videos demonstrating several strength training exercises using resistance band.

Go to the fitness video page to see all the free exercise videos.


Dumbbell Exercises

Another alternative to weight lifting is using dumbbells. Dumbbell exercises also gives you resistance in order to strengthen and tone your muscles.  Remember to challenge yourself – but don’t injure yourself. 

You can use different weights to alternate between the heavier dumbbells and lighter dumbbells as needed for the different muscles you are strengthening.

Check out this article to learn more about dumbbell exercises.


Body Weight Exercises

Using your own body weight can help tone and strengthen your muscles. A great example of this type of workout is your typical push ups. The weight of your body while performing this exercise is providing resistance in order to build your muscles.

Not only does it help build lean muscle mass, it requires no equipment - so basically you can do these workouts without investing a lot of money. Learn more about body weight exercises.

Abdominal and Core Muscles

Don't forget to strength train your core muscles as well. The core includes the abdominals, lower back and hip flexors.  Make sure to work all these muscles and not just the abs.

Strengthening your core muscles can help with your posture and minimize back injury. Of course it also helps get that six pack abs many people are striving for. So be sure to save enough time in your routine to really work your core muscles as part of your fat burning exercises workout.

Be sure to read this article to know what are the best ab exercises.

In addition to strength training to burn fat, be sure to add some aerobics for a complete fat burning exercises routine.

Back to Page 1 the best exercises to burn fat


Additional Articles

Circuit Training
Make the most from your strength training to burn fat by combining strength exercises with aerobics with these circuit training routines.

Dumbbell Exercises
Find out how these workouts can help you burn fat and lose weight.

Benefits of Strength Training
In addition to burning fat, find out what other health benefits you get from these workouts.