When people think about losing weight, they often default to cardio—running, cycling, or spending hours on the treadmill. While cardio can help burn calories during the activity, there’s another method that’s far more effective for sustained fat loss: resistance training.

At Reformed Fitness, we emphasize the power of resistance training, not just for building strength but for its remarkable impact on fat loss. Here’s why resistance training is a game-changer when it comes to losing weight and keeping it off.

WATCH: Resistance Training is More Effective for Weight Loss Than Cardio

The Afterburn Effect: Why Resistance Training Wins

One of the biggest advantages of resistance training over cardio is what happens after your workout. While cardio burns calories during the activity, resistance training continues to boost your metabolism long after you've finished exercising. This phenomenon, often referred to as the afterburn effect, can keep your resting metabolic rate elevated for up to 72 hours after your workout .

This means that even though resistance training might not burn as many calories in the moment as cardio does, the afterburn effect allows you to burn more calories in the long run. Essentially, your body continues to use energy and burn fat while you’re resting or going about your day.

Building Lean Muscle: The Key to Long-Term Fat Loss

Another major benefit of resistance training is its ability to build lean muscle. Why is muscle important for fat loss? Muscle tissue is metabolically active, meaning it burns more calories at rest compared to fat tissue. So, the more muscle you have, the higher your resting metabolic rate will be, even when you’re not working out.

For clients who are looking for long-term, sustainable weight loss, this is crucial. Cardio might help you burn calories in the short term, but muscle-building exercises ensure that you continue to burn calories even after your workout is over. Over time, this leads to more efficient fat loss and a leaner, more toned physique.

Why Cardio Alone Isn’t Enough

Cardio has its benefits—it’s great for heart health, improving endurance, and burning calories during the activity itself. But if you rely on cardio alone for weight loss, you might find that you hit a plateau. That’s because cardio doesn’t have the same muscle-building benefits as resistance training, meaning you’re not getting the long-term fat-burning effects that come with increased muscle mass.

In fact, doing too much cardio without incorporating resistance training can even lead to muscle loss, which slows down your metabolism. Without enough muscle to support your body’s energy needs, you could end up burning fewer calories over time, making it harder to achieve or maintain weight loss.

At Reformed Fitness, we recommend a balanced approach that includes both resistance training and cardio, but with an emphasis on the muscle-building benefits of resistance training for effective fat loss.

How Resistance Training Helps You Lose Fat, Not Just Weight

When it comes to weight loss, many people focus on the number on the scale. But losing fat is more important than losing weight. Traditional cardio can cause you to lose both fat and muscle, which is why some people end up feeling “skinny fat”—they’ve lost weight but don’t have the toned or defined look they were hoping for.

Resistance training, on the other hand, helps you maintain muscle mass while losing fat. This leads to a leaner and more defined appearance. Plus, building muscle gives your body a stronger, healthier foundation, which improves your overall physical performance and helps you stay active.

The Reformed Fitness Approach: Efficient and Effective Workouts

At Reformed Fitness, we understand that life is busy and finding time for long workouts can be a challenge. That’s why we focus on short, effective workouts that combine resistance training and cardio in just two 30-minute sessions per week. By prioritizing muscle-building movements that engage multiple muscle groups, you get the most out of every workout—without spending hours in the gym.

Our approach allows you to maximize your fat loss, build lean muscle, and boost your metabolism, all while fitting seamlessly into your busy schedule. You don’t need to spend endless hours doing cardio to see results. Instead, with just two 30-minute sessions of resistance training per week, you can transform your body and achieve long-term fat loss.

Why You Should Start Resistance Training Today

If you’ve been focusing on cardio for weight loss and aren’t seeing the results you want, it’s time to rethink your approach. Resistance training is the key to unlocking sustainable fat loss, boosting your metabolism, and building a leaner, stronger body.

At Reformed Fitness, we help clients design personalized programs that fit their unique needs and goals. Whether you’re new to strength training or looking to take your fitness to the next level, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.

Ready to See the Power of Resistance Training for Yourself?

If you’re ready to transform your body and experience the benefits of resistance training, we’re here to help. With just two 30-minute workouts per week, you can start building muscle, boosting your metabolism, and achieving the fat loss results you’ve been striving for.

Schedule your FREE Discovery Call today and see how easy it is to fit effective resistance training into your life.

Stay Fit,

Xavier Robinson

Founder, Reformed Fitness