TRX: Strengthening for Weight Loss

Dr. Kavita | January 10, 2011

At first glimpse the TRX portable training system might seem like another weight loss gimmick that usually gets advertised on late night TV infomercials. As with all the new fitness equipment coming into the market, one should scrutinize every detail of the product before purchasing it. The TRX was devised by the U.S. Navy Seals to condition their recruits and have been adapted to promote strengthening weight loss to sedentary individuals.
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The TRX operates on the concept of bodyweight exercises. By taking advantage of our bodies biomechanics, body weight exercises are a great way of working out that can prove challenging even to elite athletes. Doing body weight exercises is a way of getting into shape by strengthening our muscles; in doing so, helps us in weight loss. The TRX makes use of our body weight, essentially making us our own personal gym.

Weight loss through strengthening has long been used by fitness professionals to entice people to work out. People wanted to aim for both strengthening and weight loss, so it was like hitting two birds with one stone.  The idea of weight loss while strengthening was born due to the complex systems at work in our bodies.

Training for strength requires large amounts of energy for our muscles to lift heavy weights. Energy is also required to repair the damage sustained by our muscle from heavy training. This process of wear and repair is the guiding principle of strength training. As our muscles increase in size, our body requires more energy to keep up with the demand and keep our vital organs functioning properly. Studies support the fact that strength training increases our metabolism which aids in weight loss.

The increased metabolism forces our body to use fat as an energy source because of its high energy yield. This process is at its peak during prolonged low to medium intensity workouts. Also, weight loss shares a reciprocal relationship with strength training. A decrease in body weight makes us easier to lift our bodies; essentially leading to an increase in workout performance in the TRX.

Though the TRX may be fairly new in the physical fitness field, its promise of weight loss through strengthening has made it a huge hit among fitness enthusiasts. Using hard scientific facts and concepts to create equipment for specific training purposes such as weight loss, has made its entry into the mainstream easier.

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