When it comes to fat loss, many people think of cardio as the first solution. But there’s a technique that is often overlooked even though it is a very effective method for shedding fat. Cardio can help burn calories, but strength training is a long-term strategy that works even when you are not exercising.  Building more muscle is the best fat burner.

Body Recomposition

Your muscles are important to help you do everyday activities so keeping them strong and in good working order is desired.  Muscles have a higher metabolic rate than fat so the more muscle you have, the more calories you burn at a resting state. Body recomposition (the process of changing fat to muscle) is a huge help when it comes to weight management.

There are several improvements with body composition changes.  These include cardiovascular health, blood pressure, mood, and musculoskeletal health.

Muscle vs. Fat

Muscle tissue requires more energy to maintain than fat tissue. This means that the more muscle you have, the higher your resting metabolic rate.  You will burn more calories throughout the day, even while you’re sleeping or sitting on the couch.

After a weightlifting session, your body continues to burn calories at an elevated rate as it recovers and repairs muscle fibers. This “afterburn” effect can last up to 48 hours, meaning your body is actively burning fat long after you’ve finished your workout.

Building muscle isn’t just about aesthetics.  It is about creating a sustainable fat loss environment. The higher metabolic rate with muscles can make it easier to maintain a healthy weight and continue burning fat over time.

Protein

Eat protein at every meal. Protein is essential for body recomposition because of its two main functions in the body.  Protein helps to repair muscle and then to build muscle.  If you are not getting enough protein while doing heavy weightlifting, it will affect your recovery from your workouts, and how much muscle you add to your body.

Building more muscle is the best fat burner and effective method towards body recomposition.  Strength training promotes muscle gain while targeting fat loss. This results in a leaner, more toned body, even if the scale doesn’t show drastic changes.