It has been seen that to lose 1 pound, you have to burn around 3500 calories. If you eat 250 calories less per day combined with loss of 250 calories from exercise, it results in a weight loss of 1 pound per week. So, there are two ways this can be done- through diet control and physical fitness routines. A combination of these two routines, which involves both exercise and caloric restriction, is the best way to effectively lose weight.

Why Exercise Instead of Just Dieting?
If you just embark on a lose weight program without a fitness program, you might end up losing some lean body mass i.e. muscle tissue. So, though you succeed in losing weight, the weight loss is due to muscle loss and not fat loss. Your aim must be to lose fat, not muscles! You will also be losing your curves and become a thinner unattractive version of yourself. And if you really diet a lot, your body will go into starvation mode and fats will be conserved, thus defeating your purpose.
Another adverse effect of weight loss through diet control is that your metabolic rate becomes slower. Now you might wonder-so what if my basal metabolic rate slows down? The answer is -It matters a lot. The slower your BMR, the slower will be the rate at which calories get burned. So, for the same amount of exercise, you will be losing fewer calories than a person having more muscles.

I want to lose weight, but I want to have a sexy curvy figure too
Exercise helps to burn calories by decreasing body fat, builds lean body mass, build strength and endurance, and increase basal metabolism. It is important to inculcate weightlifting in your fitness program as it helps to achieve a well-toned body. Muscle tissue burns more energy. Hence, the more muscle you have, the more quickly you'll burn fat and have a tighter firmer curvier body. Again, since you are stronger and healthier, you can increase the intensity of your workout routine, thus achieving weight loss faster with a type of body you desire.

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Weight training
Do you know that for one kg of muscle gain; the body burns around 50-80 calories more! This fat burning occurs even while you are resting!
To start off, don't think you have to lift heavy weights for hours together. Just workout three days in a week on alternate days for about 45 minutes to an hour with weights. But remember, weight lifting technique is important. So, if you do not know how to workout with weights, take the assistance of experts such as personal trainers or someone who does weight lifting. With their help, you must select exercises pertaining to the entire body and set a routine taking into account your fitness level, goals, and needs.
Distinction between weight training and bodybuilding.
Now you might be thinking weight training means bodybuilding. Well, both involve the use of resistance. But the difference is that bodybuilding helps to increase muscle mass and definition while weight training basically helps to reduce fat and improve strength without specifically trying to increase your muscle mass. You wont easily develop a body builder's physique without specifically focusing on that.

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