May 26, 2021 1 min read

When it comes to working out, most people assume that cardio is the best way to burn calories and fat. However, lifting weights is better overall. Not only does weightlifting only focus on torching fat, but it also helps your body burn fat and calories even after leaving the gym.

Weightlifting stimulates muscle growth and increases muscle size. As you build more muscle, your metabolism increases because muscle burns more calories at rest than fat does. This means, regardless of how many calories you burn at the gym, you will begin burning more calories daily when you build muscle instead of only doing cardio exercises.

Also, because weight lifting is higher intensity and tends to demand more energy than cardio, your body requires extra oxygen to recover after workouts, and this extra oxygen burns calories. The afterburn effect of weightlifting can last for more than 24 hours after you’ve worked out.

During your workout, the average 150-pound person can burn between 200 and 400 cal per hour. Of course, all this depends on how heavy the weights are, how long you rest between sets, and the types of exercises you do. For example, dumbbell curls do not burn nearly as many calories as squats.

Because lifting weights can burn so many calories inside and outside of the gym, it’s important to eat a balanced diet, so you can power through a hard workout and give your muscles the necessary nutrients they need to grow. High-quality protein snacks, such as Jawbox Jerky, can help you start refueling your muscles as soon as you leave the gym.

Martin Kier
Martin Kier



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