Lose More Calories with Weights

This is going to be a quick post...but hopefully gets the point across fast!

Someone in one of my classes said that they don't workout with weights because they were afraid.  So I asked, "...afraid of what?"  To which they gave a long list of reasons from too much bulk to it's painful to "it's just not for women". Wow was my response.

1.  Women can't bulk up because we're not genetically built to get like this.  If you see a "woman" that's big and bulky like a man..they are using steroids and lots of them.

2.  Don't be afraid of adding weights to your workout program.  Adding weight exercises strengthens your muscles and builds stronger bones.  Your "older" self will thank you.

3.  Ok...so why do I lose weight if I train with weights.  Besides the obvious "get healthy/lose fat" line...the surprising fact is that when you weight train, you are actually breaking down your muscles in the process to build them back up.  This process takes A LOT OF ENERGY and this whole process which takes hours and hours is using calories to accomplish. That's the simplified explanation.

So think of this.  If your normal routine is to jump on a treadmill and run, your body is using calories during that hour only to keep your body going.

If you create a circuit routine where you run, then lift weights, then run, and so on...then your body is using calories during the workout.. and then for the next 12-24 hours (depending on how much you did) you body is in "repair" mode.  it's using calories to repair and rebuild that muscle. 

So do you want to use up calories for an hour?  or 24 hours?