Nearly any form of strength training can build muscle and burn fat. However, there are few that are scientifically proven to be the most efficient.
Super slow strength training is one of the best ways to build muscle efficiently and burn fat effectively.
Below, we’ll take a closer look at super slow strength training, explain how it helps build muscle mass and burn fat, and discuss how you can support this training method with good nutrition.
What Is Super Slow Strength Training?
Developed in the 1980s during a weight training and osteoporosis study, super slow strength training harnesses the power of physics for an effective method for building muscle and improving cardiovascular stamina.
Unlike other forms of exercise that demand multiple consecutive hours in the gym, super slow strength training takes a different approach. Instead of requiring long durations of exercise, super slow strength training applies intense demand on the body for short periods of time to build muscle.
How Does Super Slow Strength Training Build Muscle?
In place of emphasizing the amount of time spent exercising, super slow strength training focuses on producing the optimal benefits. By using slow, controlled movements, this form of strength training increases the intensity of the exercise routines to improve muscle strength and endurance.
How?
During a typical super slow strength training session, you may perform each repetition of the various exercises at a very slow pace. This is because the goal of the session is to maintain more consistent tension on your muscles throughout the entire range of motion since you are not using any momentum. When you increase the time under tension (TUT) during a session, your muscles have to work harder and longer. This in turn leads to increased muscle strength and endurance.
How Does Super Slow Strength Training Burn Fat?
Apart from offering a more successful solution for strengthening your muscles, super slow strength training is also a more effective way to help burn fat!
While many traditional methods of exercise do burn calories, they only provide short-term benefits. Although walking on a treadmill for an hour does burn calories, you have to walk at a pretty brisk pace to hit a goal of 300 calories per session. What’s even more disappointing about this method is that you only burn calories while you’re working out.
When you build lean muscle through super slow strength training, you continue to burn calories long after your workout. That’s because muscles are constantly burning calories, also known as energy, in order to stay alive. Even at rest muscle requires fuel to function and maintain itself and that fuel comes in the form of calories. In fact, a pound of muscle needs between 75 and 150 calories a day while a pound of fat only needs 3!
The more muscle you build, the more fat you will burn – even while you sleep! Your body truly becomes a better fat-burning machine with consistent strength training. Lift weights to lose weight!
Support Your Strength Training With Good Nutrition
In addition to participating in a super slow strength training program, you can also burn more fat and build lean muscle mass by practicing good nutrition and staying well hydrated.
Following a diet that’s filled with clean, nutrient-rich foods helps support lean muscle mass. When you increase your lean muscle mass you burn more calories while at rest.
As we previously discussed, fad diets typically result in short-term weight loss. While you may feel great about shedding a few pounds quickly, these diets are often are not sustainable and don’t optimally support your long-term healthy lifestyle goals.
Creating meal plans that incorporate more whole, unprocessed foods such as vegetables, fruit, protein, healthy fats and complex carbohydrates is a great way to support your super slow strength training goals of burning fat and building muscle.
Realize Your Goals With The Right Guidance
Clearly, exercise is essential for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Yet, not every form of exercise is equally effective.
While many traditional forms of exercise deliver some good outcomes, super slow strength training provides more long-term results – especially when it comes to building muscle and burning fat during and long after your sessions.
Additionally, choosing a diet that’s focused on good nutrition (instead of restricting fad diets that deliver short-term and short-lived results) is a great way to support the goals of your strength training program.
If you’re ready to begin your journey toward a more healthy lifestyle, Loyalty Fitness can get you on the right path.
Not only do we offer one-on-one personal training services in our private studios, we also provide nutrition coaching services to help you create customized meal plans that pair perfectly with your health goals and lifestyle.
To learn more about our services or to schedule your first FREE session, contact us today!