Did you know that for every extra pound of muscle you put on, your body uses around 50 extra calories a day.
In a recent study, researchers found that regular weight training boosts basal metabolic rate by about 15%. This is because muscle is ‘metabolically active’ and burns more calories than other body tissue - even when you’re not moving.
Training with weights just 3 times a week for around 20 minutes is enough to build muscle. Not only will you be burning more calories, you’ll look good and feel better.
You don’t have to have much equipment to get an excellent resistance workout. In fact, you can exercise all your major muscle groups by using your own body as resistance.
Press-ups will exercise your chest and arms while pull-ups will work your back. Squats will work your legs and crunches will test your abdominals. The dorsal raise is an exercise that will help to keep your lower back in shape.
Investing in a set of dumbbell weights, resistance bands or a multi-gym will help to sculpt, tone and strengthen your muscles.
If you don’t have access to this type of equipment you can use common household objects. A plastic bottle filled with sand can be an effective substitute for a dumbbell!