The key to successful weight loss and muscle building is to combine both weight training and aerobics. Some think they weight training will only cause them to become bigger and bulkier, but studies prove that theory wrong. Weigh loss increases by an amazing 56 percent when combining a strength and aerobic routine with a healthy diet.

It is a fact that muscle weighs much more than fat. However increasing your body’s muscle allows it to burn more fat, even when you aren’t exercising. The more you exercise the higher your metabolism is. Every pound of muscle on your body will consume about 350 to 500 calories a week to maintain. On the other hand a pound of fat will only require about 14 calories per week to maintain.

Everyone can benefit from strength training, including the elderly. Recent studies have shown that the amount of muscle loss found in the elderly isn’t due to age, but rather lack of activity. This isn’t limited to the elderly as even young people who don’t get physical activity will lose muscle.

When exercising for weight loss it is crucial to include both aerobics as well as strength exercises. Aerobic activity strengthens your lungs and heart. Strength exercises will help you develop muscle mass, as well as reduce your body fat.

Aerobic activity is any exercise that elevates your heart rate and breathing for a continuous sustained amount of time. This act overloads the heart and lungs which forces them to work harder, thus burning more calories.

There are many aerobics exercise that you can do with family or friends to keep you motivated. Some of these include swimming, speed walking, bicycling, and aerobic dance. It is recommended by many health care professionals to alternate different aerobic activities to achieve the maximum physical results.