All modalities of
exercise will help you burn calories and lose weight.
But strength training
will help to promote the growth and maintenance of lean muscle mass.
In other words,
making you toned and lean is the job of strength training.
According to Dr. Caroline Apovian, MD, Endocrinology Diabetes &
Metabolism, "as we age, our metabolism changes— this
process begins around the age of 30 and by age 45, you're burning about 200
calories fewer per day than you did when you were 25."
This often translates
to weight gain of up to 12 pounds per year, she added.
As we age and our
hormonal levels fluctuate, muscle loss further lowers your body's metabolism,
replacing your lean muscle tissue with fat, which generally settles in around
your midsections, hips and thighs.
