2 Think: Strong
We all know weight-lifting builds muscle, and the more muscle you have, the more calories you burn. What you may not realize is that the calorie burn continues long after your last rep.
In a study at Southern Illinois University, exercisers who did a 15-minute resistance routine burned 100 extra calories a day for three days afterward.
“Strength training causes micro trauma to the muscles,” says Wayne Westcott, PhD, director of fitness research at Quincy College in Massachusetts. “Your body has to rebuild the muscle.”
It does that by torching additional protein and carbs. Boost your fat burning: Three days a week, do 1 to 3 sets each of five resistance exercises (think push-ups and squats).
