Workouts are part of a program designed to achieve various improvements in physical fitness and health. Weight loss may be determined to be one of the goals of a workout. Together with proper nutrition, workouts are beneficial for achieving weight loss goals. Workouts can also be part of a sport-specific training program designed to improve athletic skills and team performance.
Function
At rest, your body provides a lowered amount of fuel to your muscles. Training workouts increase your activity level and place an overload or greater demand on your body to provide fuel. Workouts can be specific in where the demand is placed. Cardio workouts place an overload on your heart, lungs and lower body muscles. Weight training overloads specific muscle groups placing a resistance on the movement.
Workouts increase fuel demands and burns calories. When the amount of calories burned is higher than the amount of calories eaten, your body draws the extra calories from fat storage. When a deficit of 3500 calories is reached, a weight loss of 1 lb. occurs.
Types
Cardio workouts consist of a minimum of 20 minutes of continuous movement using primarily your lower body muscles. Examples include walking, jogging, elliptical training, group aerobic classes and kickboxing. Your heart rate and respiration significantly increase to provide the extra blood and oxygen that your body needs to continue the workout.
Weight training workouts consist of resistance exercises using weights, your body weight and gravity. Your muscles contract to exert force to overcome the resistance during exercise movement.
Sport specific workouts consist of drills and game-type situations to improve specific skills and techniques for improved athletic performance on an individual and team basis.
Effects
All workouts increase activity levels requiring energy. The energy is provided from food in the form of calories. Workouts burn between 100 and 500 calories per hour based on the intensity of the activity and your ability to burn calories. Weight loss can be achieved through a combination of increased activity through workouts and proper nutrition.
Benefits
Benefits of workouts include improve heart and lung functioning and increased strength and endurance. Increased metabolism, your ability to burn calories, will help reduce excess body weight and body fat. Improved fitness and health levels help reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes and obesity.
Significance
According to the National Institutes for Health, 66 percent of adults in the United States are overweight. This can lead to increased risks of illness and disease. Exercise is beneficial to reducing this risk. Workouts combined with healthy eating will result in a weight loss and improved health. First time participants should see a physician prior to starting a workout program.
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