Lose Weight By Changing Your Weight Training Approach

October 3, 2018 Ashley 0 Comments

If you’re like me, you might count your reps when you lift.

It’s pretty standard.

But I tend to find that, when I do this, I get super bored. And as a result, I tend not to want to strength train. Like, at all. Now why is this? I mean, when you think about it, squats and bicep curls are no less repetitive than my monotonous elliptical I happily blast calories on and end up drenched in sweat from, after a whole half hour. That time flies. But that’s actually exactly the reason. What’s the difference between half an hour and X reps of 30? Time. Maybe I’m not going to spend a solid thirty minutes geared toward my glutes. But even if it only takes me ten minutes to finish working a given muscle group, it typically feels far longer than ten minutes on a treadmill or elliptical. Why? Because I’m spending that ten minutes counting. And a watched pot and potbelly alike never boil (or burn fat). Case in point: ever notice how much longer the microwave takes if you’re lurking near it like a Chester by a playground?

But if you do need some kinda number to motivate you to return to strength training, (other than the scale’s readout after Labor Day weekend… which turned into Labor Day week), then that number is three. Not three minutes. Not three sets of ten. Three times – as in muscle built from strength training burns three times the amount that fat does. And that’s true even when you’re just sitting there doing nada. I always knew muscle burnt more; I just never knew how much.

So, by now you’ve probably figured the fix: to quit counting reps and simply set a timer. And you’re right. But for how long? While some folks like to put in a good sixty minutes at the gym, even just ten spent on strengthening before or after cardio can impart all those weight loss benefits we crave. And what do we focus on now that we’re not counting? Well, form, for one. Staying present and making sure every rep’s better than the last can maximize your progress. So can a good, motivating playlist (not unlike what you’d use for cardio). And, finally, your breath. This kinda goes with the “presence” thing; but, also, by exhaling during exertion, you contract your abdominals. And by breathing evenly, you bathe all your body meat in oxygen and nutrient filled blood, making for a great workout overall.

(Or, try all three and take that workout outside for a change’ve scenery to make the time fly)

Whether you’re doing ten minutes or thirty, just ensure you’re splitting the time to cover all body bases and taking breaks between. Unsure if you’re doing enough reps between resting? Maybe count just for the first few times to get an idea of how long it takes to do however many reps. You might even find that counting becomes fun again as you try to “beat the clock” next sesh. (Just don’t sacrifice form or safety for it.) And if you’re tiring too quickly before the timer chimes? Try a drop set to survive that last minute.

So shelve endless rep counting, set the timer, and lose yourself in muscle pumping!