Weightlifting Research Paper

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention; 49% of adults 18 years or older are involved in some type of aerobic physical activity (“National Center for Health Statistics”). That statistic is strictly based out of the U.S. When you think about it that is a lot, half of the population is working out. It comes down to two types of physical fitness, Cardio or Weightlifting. Many of us have spent years stuck running on a treadmill or an elliptical trying to lose weight. Fearful of walking over to the side of the gym where everyone is lifting weights. I know that was me for many years. Far too nervous to walk over to the side where all the people with muscles were. While cardio is one way to work out, what if the solution was the …show more content…
This notion goes against everything ingrained in my mind, even to this day, as I become more educated in lifting weights. I still find myself drifting toward the elliptical thinking it will give me the results I am dying to see. The main question, how could lifting weights possibly burn more calories/fat than cardio? Lifting weights will give your metabolism a spike for an hour after a workout. The reason for the spike is the body trying to recover the muscles after the workout. After the end of training with weights, an individual will burn an additional 25% of the calories burned during the workout (Frey). What this means is that not only is a person burning fat when they are working out they continue to burn fat for two more hours. This was the game changer. Also, lifting weights gives bursts of high intensity, which causes the body to not get enough oxygen. In turn causing the cells to start to break down sugar. Sugar is the main cause of weight gain. Cardio will help one reach their goal weight quickly and help give them more energy throughout the day. Cardio can also help a person live a long and healthy life. However, when you are strength training you get the same bonuses as doing cardio plus a little bit more. Here is my problem with cardio. It is boring, mindless running or stationary moving becomes mundane. Also unlike strength training, when a person is practicing cardio they only burn calories when running. …show more content…
I do not mean that by lifting weights a person’s diet will automatically change. Yet, as stated above lifting weights can produce instant results. It then becomes a motivation factor. Dieting and nutrition are responsible for 75-85% of all results when it comes to body and health. This is something that is not widely known. About a year ago when I first started working out I spent 4-5 days a week in the gym but I still ate whatever I want. I wondered for months why I didn’t see any results. I thought maybe I was not working out hard enough. I eventually ran myself ragged working out two times a day four times a week. It wasn’t until a great friend of mine let me know that diet is over half the battle. Also, I learned that there is a difference between dieting and nutrition. Dieting has an end date, and nutrition becomes a lifestyle. It is stated best here “Nutrition is the science concerned with the human body's use of nutrients and food substances. Proper nutrition decisions are important for the optimal health of each individual” (Kaczkowski). It makes perfect sense, the body needs nutrients to function and for optimal health. I like what Mark MacDonald said, “There are many things we cannot control in life; the one thing we can control is how we choose to take care of ourselves” (MacDonald). Proper nutrients and diet will definitely give the achieved results desired, but it