Weight training is often accompanied by a notion that it is imperative to lose weight before you actually start training. This, however, is not the complete truth, as weight training encompasses all the muscle groups and aids weight loss. Conflicting information about weightlifting is very easy to come by at the gym and when everybody thinks they’re a trainer, it can be hard to separate fact from fiction.
Rapid weight loss before weights messes up the metabolic system, thus, causing damage rather than aiding your progress. Here are a few reasons why you don’t really need to lose weight before weight training:
• Burns fat faster
The biggest myth associated with weights is that they don’t do much to fat. In reality, weight training and HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) incinerate fat faster and for longer durations.
• Increases metabolic activity
Weight training increases your metabolism. The fat stored in your muscles is burned away with weight training.
• That’s where the fat goes
As your muscle size increases, the fat stored in them gets consumed and, thus, decreases and you gain lean muscle!
• Different body, different training
Another major factor associated with fat loss and weight training is that it depends on your body type. If you are heavily overweight, you might want to lose some fat before you start training for it to be actually effective and visible.
• Types of training
There are different types of weight training and thus, they have different effects on your body. So if you are doing heavy weights with less reps, you will gain muscle. Whereas if you lift light weights with more reps it will help you lean down.
• You are what you eat
Diet is an important factor to be considered for weight loss and training. What you put in the body determines your progress.
Your body is what you make of it. So, at the end, it all depends on you and what fitness goals you aim to achieve for yourself.
Keep calm and lift!