Do you know that you are actually fighting against nature when you are attempting to lose weight? You see, way back long ago, when a caveman's next meal was uncertain and he was hungry, the body will store and conserve as much fat as possible to ensure its survival.
Furthermore, it will lower the metabolism rate so that less fat is being burnt for energy. Therefore we all have this built-in survival mechanism and this is the reason why skipping meals when trying to lose weight is not such a good idea. Now, you can see why it is so easy to gain weight and so difficult to lose them?
Although we now have certainty when our next meal is coming, our body will still instinctively store fat for it is a natural survival mechanism since the body can't think. Fortunately, there are a number of ways we can raise our metabolism and keep fat at bay.
If you want to burn fat by raising your metabolism, try lifting weights. Lift weights using compound exercises with high repetitions. The idea is not to build muscles but to raise your metabolism in order to burn fat. Since compound exercises such as dead lifts, squats and bench presses work on many muscle parts, you will be puffing and panting. In other words, you are having a good fat burning cardio work out.
Because the exercises work on many muscle parts, more calories are expanded and that meant more fat is burnt. Don't waste your time doing puny exercises like bicep curls or tricep extensions. Yes, these exercises have their places, but they are not efficient for fat burning.
You should also limit the number of sets of each exercise to 3 or 4 sets since there are some studies showing that there is no difference in doing four or six sets for fat burning purpose.
Next, do pay close attention to how long you rest in between sets. Resting for too long, say for 2 minutes will clear a fat burning hormone releasing chemical called lactate from your bloodstream. Therefore if you want to burn fat, you need to keep lactate in your blood stream for as long as possible. Therefore do not rest more than a minute in between sets.
Yes, you say that there is not sufficient recovery time after the last set and performing the next set before recovery will not be efficient. Well, you can get around this easily by alternating the exercises such as doing a lower body exercise, and then do an upper body exercise next.
Tempo when lifting weight is vitally important. By swinging your weights up and down will get you nowhere, perhaps even getting an injury. This is because when you swing the weight up, you are using momentum and when you lower them quickly, you are using gravity to assist you.
Therefore, slow things down to a consistent rhythm but fairly quickly enough to get a cardio workout.
Although the above exercise techniques are not meant for building muscles but for raising metabolism to burn fat, if you have never lifted weights before, you will also gain some muscles. Do know that muscles are natural fat burner and the more muscle mass you have, the higher your metabolism. When you have gained enough muscles, you will become a natural fat burner.
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Frequently Asked Questions
Anorexia
By: wrong/right | 10-07-2008
My parents think i'm anorexic and i hate that cause i know for a fact i'm not but the more they keep telling me i am the more it's getting to me and probably making me become anorexic.But they don't understand how i feel and i try telling them i'm not but they are always making jokes on how i look like it and it hurts me mentally. How can i prove to them that i'm not??
Eating whatever we want.
By: catfishandray | 10-07-2008
Look, the only people who have to watch what they eat, like at Baskin & Robins, are people who have diabetes, heart problems, are fat, obese, that don't exercise properly. Anyone who eats a variety of the food groups, exercises, doesn't have a pituitary gladular problem, diabetes, cholesterol problems, can eat anything they want.
Windpipe
By: Erin | 09-07-2008
can you get hurt from being slapped in the throat / chest?
What is the best treatment for ostio and ...
By: joleen | 08-07-2008
what is the best treatment for ostio and rheumatoid arthritis after going through chemo and radiation therpy for breast cancer
I am looking to see if anyone has taken pills ...
By: erika | 07-07-2008
I am looking to see if anyone has taken pills called thermo grass to lose fat and weight???Anyone does it work and how long before u see results.???
Maeshmallow consumption
By: norm | 05-07-2008
How many marshmallows are consumed in the United Staes each year??
Q&A Powered by:
More from Chris Chew
How to Be a Jazz Drummer
By: Chris Chew | 16/07/2008 | Sports and Fitness
So you have decided that you want to be a drummer but is at a loss as to which genre of playing style you want to master. Have you considered learning how to be a jazz drummer?
As you probably know, jazz is one of the most artistic and intriguing...
You Can Gain And Lose Weight With Law Of Attraction
By: Chris Chew | 11/07/2008 | Sports and Fitness
Learn how to gain or lose weight by using The Law Of Attraction.
Learn How To Play Jazz Drums
By: Chris Chew | 09/07/2008 | Music
Jazz drumming may not be as complicated as it seems. Find out why.
Why You Should Learn How to Play the Piano
By: Chris Chew | 08/07/2008 | Sports and Fitness
Have you ever wanted to learn how to play a musical instrument but do not know which instrument to take up? Do you know that being able to play a musical instrument well is a very satisfying lifelong experience?
The feeling is even more satisfactory and thrilling if you are playing...
How to Lose Weight Easily and Naturally
By: Chris Chew | 03/07/2008 | Health
Losing weight is easy and in fact it is sheer common sense. If you consistently use up more calories than you consume, you will over a period of time lose weight naturally. Of course you know that. I said it is sheer common sense, didn't I? Then why are you...
Why Should You Learn To Play Piano?
By: Chris Chew | 01/07/2008 | Music
Why choose to learn how to play the piano when there are so many musical instruments to choose from?
Boracay Island Resort in Phillipines
By: Chris Chew | 27/06/2008 | Travel
I was captivated by several respected travel magazines claiming that Boracay island resort in the Philippines has one of the best beaches in the world, I wasted no time in traveling to this island resort to experience what many claimed is a tropical island paradise.
Boracay is a lush tropical tourist...
Easy Ways To Lose Weight Naturally
By: Chris Chew | 26/06/2008 | Nutrition
To lose weight successfully is just a common sense affair. Find out why.