Will Pilates Help Me Lose Weight?
If the operative word in the question, “Will Pilates help me lose weight?” is help, then Pilates most definitely, without a doubt assist in weight loss. Some of the people, who are searching for new ways to shed pounds, look for the next miracle pill or other quick fix.
So just to be certain that Pilates isn’t a part of that diet and exercise misconception, let’s remember- there are no quick fixes. There are no miracle workouts, smoothies, pills, or creams. Good old-fashioned hard work pays off, and Pilates is an excellent workout that will yield dramatic benefits and results.
However, as with any new exercise it needs to be done with careful consideration and proper assistance. A Pilates instructor will guide you along in your workouts, help you plot goals, achieve new levels of physicality, and develop a pattern into which your body can safely and effectively respond. Because Pilates uses all of the muscles within the body statically and simultaneously, it is strengthening and lengthening the muscles with ease and gentility all at the same time.
The one “miracle” of sorts about Pilates is that its workout feels different to the body than traditional exercise. It may even feel like you are not doing enough in your Pilates session, if you are used to a certain type of strenuous workout. Because of the exercises unique ability to work the muscles in a functional capacity, you may or may not notice the work being done, even thought you are working. For those that don’t like to feel strained or have a lower tolerance for endurance activity and pain during their workouts, Pilates may be a great option for you.
Don’t get me wrong, Pilates is a hard workout! If you don’t necessarily “feel it” in the duration of the work, you will most definitely feel it the next day. The deep muscles that used in the integration of the various body positions, will shock the body, since those muscles usually lie dormant unless called upon by certain core strengthening positions. Those certain core strengthening positions, Pilates offers in spades.
In addition to Pilates not being a quick fix for weight loss, there is always the need for balance in any exercise program. When Pilates is coupled with cardiovascular exercise, this combination of calorie burning fuel and deep muscle strength training will result in a lean taut body, and will increase the rate at which your body metabolizes calories.
While Pilates isn’t a cardiovascular or a “muscle building” workout it does tone the muscles, making them stronger and increasing their ability to endure. The more muscle fibers there are in the body, the more calories the body will burn even at rest.
Pilates can help you lose weight and will tone your body in ways you never imagined possible. Because the effort your body puts forth in a single session is so concentrated, it may feel like you are not “doing” enough. The results will speak for themselves, and you will see that focused effort in smaller doses is better than sporadic efforts in larger bursts.
With attention to your diet and consistent participation in cardiovascular exercise 3-5 times a week, Pilates may be that key that will retrain your brain to think of exercise as a functional way to increase the quality and health of your life, instead of a separate entity to help you simply lose weight.
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