Muscle Burns More Calories Than Fat

This is the eighth article in a series of fast fat burning tips.  As the title of this article suggests, a pound of muscle burns more calories than a pound of fat.  In fact, while a pound of muscle can burn anywhere from 30-50 calories a day, a pound of fat only burns 2.  That's quite a difference, especially for someone who's worried about counting calories. Now what does this mean in terms of fast fat burning?  If you are trying to lose weight, it is important to incorporate a regular strength training regime into your cardiovascular workouts.  Although you won't burn as many calories lifting weights as you will using the elliptical machine, strength training actually increases your metabolic rate during the day.  It also helps shape your body as you start to lose more and more fat.

Any exercise routine should include some form of strength training, but for those trying to lose weight, it is even more important, as you will start to burn more calories the more muscle you build.  It is also important in order to preserve your lean body mass as you start to lose fat.  When you diet and begin to get skinnier, there is a real danger of losing lean body mass, and strength training prevents that while strengthening connective tissues.  In short, it is important to include strength training in your exercise routine, both to help you burn more fat and keep a healthy body as you lose weight.