Originally published November 10 2005
Fitness expert explains how weight lifting benefits metabolism
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Amy Bertrand answers questions about the health benefits of weight lifting, and one of the major advantages that lifters have is a high-power metabolism that burns calories for longer stretches of time after the workout.
There's really no getting around it, but there are things we can do about it.
Although fever, pregnancy and certain drugs (some legal, some not so legal) can speed up metabolism, those aren't good options.
However, there is one sure-fire way for most of us to rev up that furnace inside: physical activity, particularly resistance training.
"That's the key there," says Dr. Tyler Wadsworth, medical director of the Sports and Therapy Center at St. John's Mercy Medical Center.
"When we lift weights we build muscle mass.
Wadsworth says your body can continue to burn calories up to 22 hours after a resistance workout.
You also burn calories after an aerobic workout, but only for up to four hours.
The workouts don't have to take an hour; you can get benefits in about a half-hour's time.
And for women worried that weightlifting will make them bulk up, Wadsworth says don't worry.
I recently switched doctors and am now on Losartin potassium and hydrochlorothiazide, which doesn't seem to work the same.
Lotrel and Diovan HCT are actually four different medications packaged in two pills, says Zachary Stacy, an assistant professor of pharmacy practice at the St. Louis College of Pharmacy.
"To the patient, he sees he's taking two pills and then he got switched to two pills, but really he got switched from four medications to two medications," Stacy says.
Stacy says he's not sure whether the second doctor meant for the reader to discontinue the Lotrel.
"The first question to the physican should be, 'Did you want me to discontinue the medication I was taking?'"
If you have a health or fitness question, send it to Amy Bertrand, health and fitness editor, 900 North Tucker Boulevard, St. Louis, Mo.
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