For those of us wanting to get lean and toned, it’s time to hit the weights! Yes, cardio is great for fast tracking weight loss, but if you really want that beach ready body for life then strength training is the way to go. Strength training burns more calories because your muscles are more metabolically active and the result is less body fat and trim physique that is easier to maintain long-term.

Ladies, don’t fear the bulk! – As long as you stick to weights that allow you to do higher reps, big muscle growth will never be triggered. A good bench mark is that the weight should be light enough that you can do 15 reps but heavy enough that you can’t go very much over that.