Monday, June 1, 2009

Bucks County Experts on Fat Loss - Balancing Flexibility And Strength

By Dan Solaris

There are a number of ways to get fit and lose weight- cardio exercises, dieting, resistance training, sports, or any combination of these. It's just a matter of finding the right combo of exercises that fits a person's schedule, physical capacity and preferences.

Most of us are aware that no fat-loss workout regimen would be complete without some form of cardio exercise thrown in. The challenge for most people is choosing the right mix that will keep them exercising consistently, prevent hitting a plateau and getting bored. Dull workouts lead to skipped workouts which in turn results in slow fat loss.

The effectiveness of the Pilates method for fat loss is relatively unknown to the general public, but it just might be the solution to the frustrations of 'physically challenged' masses. Pilates is a low-intensity system of exercises which focuses on the center muscles or the core of the body where most body fat is concentrated.

Pilates exercises can also be light enough to be able to help elderly fitness buffs and those with minor injuries stay in shape. After just a few sessions, one will notice a significant improvement in the body's flexibility, posture and mental alertness.

Pilates can be the perfect complement for conventional fat-loss programs of cardio and resistance training. It can hasten the depletion of fat stores by causing more calories to be expended and condition the muscles and raise metabolism.

Along with cardio exercise, resistance training through free weights or machines is needed in a good fat-loss exercise program because the extra muscle tissues help fight flab. Muscle development can lead to stiffness of however and this is where the stretches and joint-loosening moves in Pilates can come in handy.

The moves in Pilates exercises involve simultaneous action of all the core muscles- the upper and lower abdominals, the lumbar muscles, the obliques and even the buttocks. Since several muscles are being utilized at the same time, this means more calories burned in less time, ergo speedier weight loss.

Maintaining proper metabolism means conditioning the body to maximize expenditure of caloric energy. Toning-up muscle tissue through consistent limbering movements significantly raises the level of metabolism, making it easier to lose calories from body fat.

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