Share

How to burn more kilojoules at the gym — without doing any extra exercise

accreditation
Here's how you can burn more kilojoules without adding more exercise to your workout programme.
Here's how you can burn more kilojoules without adding more exercise to your workout programme.

You’re doing your 60 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise most days, but the scale hasn’t budged in weeks. The solution? Don’t do more exercise – just change how you do it.

Read more: 5 ways to switch up your workout routine to lose more weight

The amount of fat you burn during exercise is determined by your weight, age, gender and the amount of muscle mass you have, says Catherine Viljoen, a biokineticist at Virgin Active SA. So there’s no one-size-fits-all approach that’s guaranteed to work, but a few adjustments will go a long way.

Hit the HIIT

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is a great way to jolt your metabolism into action. “By alternating between high- and low-intensity training, you burn more kilojoules,” explains Viljoen. “An example of a cardio interval would be one minute of step-ups or star jumps interspersed with two minutes of brisk walking. Ensure you build up a good sweat and increase your breathing and heart rate.”

Read more: “I tried HIIT training for 3 months – here’s what I learned”

Flex that muscle

Another way to up your burn: Introduce strength training. A kilo of muscle burns more energy than a kilo of fat, meaning muscular people typically have a higher resting metabolic rate. So if you’ve lost muscle mass as you dropped kilos, it’s time to start rebuilding.

Read more: Exactly how to build lean muscle – without the bulk

Should you eat before training?

According to Gina Fourie, who has a BSc in dietetics, postgraduate in dietetics and BSc medical honours in exercise science, you should only eat before a high-energy workout, not a medium one. If your workout’s going to be intense, you’ll need the extra energy to sustain you, but if you’re not pushing yourself to the edge of endurance, you don’t need the extra kilojoules – especially if you want to metabolise fat.

Read more: The best way to lose weight when you just love food too much

What about a post-workout snack?

Recovering muscles need fuel and protein. Prepare a healthy meal or snack, such as a banana with a little peanut butter, to have straight after the workout – this will also prevent you from grabbing a takeaway on your way home.

This article was originally published on www.womenshealthsa.co.za

Image credit: iStock

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE