Increased muscle mass means more calories burned.

Weight Loss Tip 55 – Build More Muscle

Exercise with Kettlebells

You are thinking of losing weight.  The key concept is that the speed of weight loss is dependent on your metabolism.  You can increase your metabolism by increasing your muscle mass.  Two people of the same biologic gender and same weights will have different metabolisms.  Part of this is due to genetics and part is due to muscle mass.  Lean people will burn calories than the another individual that has a higher BMI but the same weight.  If you workout to maintain for build more muscle, you will have a higher metabolism, and this will result in a higher calorie burn rate.  It is recommended that you work out three times a week to burn more calories.  It does not have to v=be an intensive work out.  You can just do light exercises such as pushups, situps, pullups, or lunges.  Thes types of exercises can be done just about anywhere.  The best thing about these exercises is that they do not require any additional equipment.  

I know what you are thinking.  Muscle will make me weigh more.  This statement is true, but you will be denser and have a smaller waistline.  A smaller waist means you you will have a lower risk of heart disease and diabetes.  Muscle is not the enemy.  Instead, it is a tool to prevent and help with fat loss.  

If you workout to maintain for build more muscle, you will have a higher metabolism.  It is that simple.   This higher muscle mass will result in a higher calorie burn rate because of the energy required to keep the muscle operational.  I recommend that you work out 2-3 times a week to burn more calories and it does not have to be a high-intensity workout.  You can just do light exercises such as calisthenics or isometrics.  You can use your own body weight to provide the resistance.    I like calisthenics or isometrics because these exercises are that they do not require any additional equipment.  

The bottom line: More muscle equals more calories burned.  Muscle burns at least four times as many calories as fat does.  Try twenty minutes of resistance straining two to three times a week.  There are many exercises that you can add to your routine that avoid the need for equipment.