During the holidays and winter months it’s not unusual to put on a few extra pounds. With summer just around the corner folks everywhere are flocking to gyms, buying the newest fitness videos and trying out the newest weight loss products that promise fast results. So what is the best way to get the beach body you desire? It seems the answer to that question lies partially at least, in weight training.

Years ago, it was believed by most that weight training was only good for bulking up. It would never have been thought of as a way to achieve weight loss. Women especially, were scared to go near a weight bench or pick up a dumbbell. Images of greased up women body builders were not what they were going for. Though muscle does weigh more than fat, it is also now recognized that more fat is burned during a weight training session than simply using aerobic workout routines.

Aerobic routines boost your heart rate and burn calories, but incorporating weight training provides you with muscle that actually helps to burn fat. For women who worry that lifting weights will add extra bulk, just keep this simple tip in mind: use light weights and do multiple reps. Using this fitness technique will help you to tone and shrink muscles, not bulk them up. Weight training can actually help you achieve a tighter, more toned body than doing aerobic activity alone. Lifting weights will also help strengthen your muscles to make you stronger.

Participate in online online fitness forum and blogs can help you create a public journal that chronicles your weight loss journey. You can post before and after pictures and keep a running account of the activities you are doing each day. Be honest and explain what routines are working and which ones are not. Fellow enthusiasts can support you by leaving encouraging comments and suggestions. You may even help others by offering your suggestions. Online support can be a great motivation and can keep you on track to achieving the body you are striving for.

If you start your fitness program while there’s still snow on the ground, you should be ready for a bathing suit by the time the weather starts to get warmer. You will be looking forward to summer and shorts instead of dreading it. Aerobic activity, for cardiovascular endurance, teamed with a weight training routine is your ticket to the beach body you desire. With these tips and the will to succeed will help you achieve the thin and toned body you want.