In this article we will explore whether or not strength and conditioning is good for weight loss.
First off, what is Strength and Conditioning?
Strength and Conditioning is actually a profession. The strength and conditioning profession is all all about optimising sporting performance and reducing injury through the use of fitness training. Strength and Conditioning training is therefore all the training that an athlete performs that isn’t practising the sport itself.
So when asked, is Strength and Conditioning good for weight loss? This question actually seems a little out of place. However, if pushed on it, the answer would have to be yes. All the fitness based work that an athlete does for their sport. Strength training, endurance work, speed training and hypertrophy work. These are all demanding types of training that result in high energy expenditure. As such, of course they could contribute to weight loss.
However, I believe this is not what most people mean when asking, is Strength and Conditioning good for weight loss.
Is Strength Training good for Weight Loss?
I believe the real question being asked here relates purely to traditional strength training. Even so, the answer still needs to be a resounding yes. Strength training is actually good for weight loss. However, this alone, is not a very helpful answer. So, let’s take a look at exactly why strength training is good for weight loss.
Strength Training Burns Calories
Of course, all physical activity burns calories.
Don’t forget, at the end of the day, weight loss comes down to calories in vs calories out. So any physical activity that burns calories can contribute to weight loss. This includes strength training.
Now, if we are only interested in energy expenditure during exercise, then strength training is unlikely to come out on top. Running, swimming and cycling are all likely to burn more calories. We would expect a greater energy expenditure during one hour of cardiovascular exercise in comparison to one hour of strength training. But this is not the full picture.
There is some evidence to suggest that strength training elevates energy expenditure for a greater period of time following the completion of a workout. So one hour of cycling will burn more calories than one hour of strength training. However, one hour of strength training may result in more calories being burnt during the six hours following the workout. The theory behind this is that strength training has a greater potential to provide an acute breakdown in muscle tissue. As a result of the greater levels of muscle damage arising from strength training, there is greater energy expenditure following the workout. This is because repairing damaged muscle tissue has a high energy cost.
Strength Training Builds Muscle
The other side of the equation relates to building lean muscle tissue.
You may be wondering why I am taking about building muscle. After all, this article relates to weight loss. However, muscle is an active tissue. It costs us more energy to hold on to more muscle tissue. As such, if we can build a little extra muscle through strength training, then we will burn more calories throughout the day, every day. How important this may be for weight loss is unclear. It is, however, definitely a factor worthy of consideration.
If we can build muscle as a result of strength training, this will absolutely, to some extent, contribute towards your weight loss goal.
Strength Training in York
If you in need of help in your weight loss journey, I may be able to help.
I am the owner of Egerton’s Garage Gym. This is a fully equipped, private strength training gym in York. It is only available for use by my private personal training clients. If you are based near York, and you would like more information, please take a look at our personal training service page here:
If you would like to get in touch, and perhaps arrange a visit, then please send us a message. You can contact us directly through this website. Alternatively, you can send us a DM via the Foxwood Personal Training Instagram page:
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Is Strength and Conditioning good for Weight Loss?
So to summarise, yes Strength and Conditioning is good for weight loss. However, the real answer of importance is that traditional strength training is good for weight loss. I can help you with this if you are based near York, UK (see the links above). If you are not local to York, then I hope the content on this website can still be of help to you. Please do explore the blogs. And if you have any questions, make sure to get in touch!
Tim Egerton, Foxwood Personal Training, Egerton’s Garage Gym, York