The number one way for obese people to lose fat is the exact same for
those that are only 20 pounds overweight. Strength training is the best
way to cut through fat and burn through calories. There's no
difference between strength training for the obese and strength training
for everyone else.
When we strength train, we add lean muscle mass to our body. This lean
muscle mass burns through 35-50 calories per pound of muscle every
single day. Let's take a look at that number from a different point of
view. If we have 5 pounds of lean muscle, that muscle will burn about
250 calories a day. Here comes the fun part. If we have 10 pounds of
lean muscle mass, then our muscles burn about 500 calories a day.
Hopefully you can see why adding lean muscle is the best way to lose
fat.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that we are obese
if we have a BMI (body mass index) of 30.0 or greater. Being obese is
not healthy. It leads to a host of diseases and illnesses. I'm almost
positive you already knew that.
Obese and over weight people can use functional exercises to begin
changing their health. Exercises like squats and bicep curls will help
strengthen the muscles we use in everyday movements. Often these
movements are difficult for obese people. Keep up your workout routine
and you'll notice that getting in and out of the car, walking to the
mailbox, going upstairs and simply lifting heavy boxes will all become
less of a hassle.
Strength training for the obese is the same as strength training for
slender people. The difference comes in the starting point. It's so
important to talk with your doctor, get the go ahead to workout, and
then create a routine that you feel suits you best. Take one step at a
time and before you know it, you will have taken 5,000 steps.
