Many personal trainers suggest using some sort of weight resistance when trying to burn fat. The weight helps your body to build muscle. That muscle actually burns calories even when you are at rest. Building a lean muscle mass is the key to turning your body into a fat-burning machine.

However, some of us who have tried adding weight to our workout routines find ourselves feeling stiff and tight. We lose flexibility and range of motion when we work out with weights too much.

Pilates is designed to stretch and lengthen the muscles of the body. You will swear that you have grown an inch in height after a few weeks of working out to pilates DVD’s on a regular basis. I felt longer and leaner after spending a few dedicated weeks practising my workout.

While strength training is still a great way to stay in shape and to build bone mass it does require some balance. Pilates helps to create a balance for you. The weight exercises tighten and shorten muscles while the Pilaties lengthens them. The result is a lean, fat-burning physique that is also flexible and relaxed.

The only complaint I have about the program is the lack of logical advancement. Many DVD’s are designed for beginners who are not in the best of shape. Of course, this is the ideal place to start in any routine. However, the advanced DVD’s seem to jump to an almost professional level.

Adding ankle or wrist weights is a viable alternative that will help provide some challenge to the workout. The problem is that the added weights can easily throw you off balance. The idea behind pilates is a natural flow of motion. Sometimes adding weight restricts your range of motion and you are doing little more than working out with weights.

All and all, the pilaties approach to fitness is wonderful. It is a safe, effective exercise program that suits nearly everyone. Finding one that provides reasonable challenges can be a challenge in itself.

Introduction to Pilates is the latest addition to: Pilates Exercise Info

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