Can Pilates Help You Lose Weight?
Pilates is a popular low-impact exercise that is effective for toning, building lean muscle, and improving posture.
Is Pilates a good exercise for weight loss?
Practicing Pilates can benefit your health and help you maintain a healthy weight.
However, Pilates may not be as effective for weight loss as other cardio exercises, such as running or swimming.
In fact, traditional mat Pilates classes burn fewer calories than other cardio exercises.
But if you enjoy Pilates classes, you may be more likely to stick to your fitness routine by taking these classes regularly. You'll also be more likely to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
If your goal is to lose weight, try combining Pilates with a healthy diet and other forms of exercise.
Alternate Pilates with strength training and other forms of cardio exercise such as walking, swimming, running or cycling.
Read on to learn more about the benefits of Pilates and the role it can play in helping you lose weight.
What does the research say?
Research on Pilates for weight loss is mixed.
A 2017 study looked at 37 overweight or obese women aged 30 to 50.
Researchers found that practicing Pilates for eight weeks was effective for:
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weight loss
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BMI reduction
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waist toning
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reduce the circumference of the abdomen and hips
In contrast, it did not make a difference in lean body mass (weight of body fat subtracted from total body weight).
This study was compared to a group that did no exercise during this period.
Another 2015 study looked at postmenopausal women aged 59 to 66.
She found that 12 weeks of mat Pilates practice resulted in no changes in body composition.
But participants significantly increased strength in their abdominals, upper limbs and lower limbs.
Researchers suspect that body composition did not change because the women in the study did not change their diets.
There is also research from 2015 that showed that Pilates may be effective for the management of chronic low back pain and rehabilitation of other injuries.
But further studies are needed.
Never practice Pilates if you are injured or in pain without the permission of a doctor.
How many calories does Pilates burn?
The amount of calories you burn practicing Pilates depends on your current weight, the type of class, and the difficulty level of the class.
For a person weighing about 150 kg, a 50-minute Pilates class at the beginner level burns about 175 calories. A 50-minute advanced class burns about 254 calories.
You will burn more calories in a reformer Pilates class or any other Pilates session where you increase your heart rate.
How do calories affect weight loss?
To lose one pound, you need to burn about 3,500 calories.
If your goal is to lose weight, you can try doing cardio exercises like walking, running or cycling, in addition to Pilates.
Also, be sure to eat a healthy diet that includes lean proteins, whole grains, fruits and vegetables.
How often should you practice Pilates?
If you are new to Pilates, try practicing 2-3 times a week to reap all of its benefits.
You can also try more advanced Pilates classes, such as Pilates reformer classes and combination classes like Piloxing (Pilates and boxing) or Yogalates (yoga and Pilates.)
You will burn more calories in these full body classes than in a traditional mat Pilates class.
If you are trying to lose weight, participate in these types of combination classes several times a week for best results.
You can also alternate Pilates classes with strength training sessions (with weights) and cardio exercises.
Combining Pilates with other forms of cardio and strength training, along with a healthy diet, is an effective way to tone your muscles and help you reach your weight loss goals.
What is the Pilates effect?
The "Pilates effect" is the idea that practicing Pilates can improve posture, muscle tone, and core strength.
The result of this "effect" is that it may appear as if you have lost weight. In fact, if you have gained or toned muscle, you may appear fitter, even if you have not lost any weight.
Tips for losing weight
Exercise is important for weight loss, but it's just as important to focus on your diet.
Eat healthy meals and snacks that contain lean proteins, vegetables, fruits and whole grains.
Consult your doctor or a nutritionist to create a diet plan that fits your goals. To be safe, never eat less than 1,200 calories per day.
Pilates is an effective, low-impact workout that can be beneficial for toning muscles, strengthening the core, and improving posture.
It can also help recover from back pain or other injuries by strengthening the affected area.
If you are looking to lose weight, you can incorporate Pilates into your wellness plan. For best results, practice Pilates and maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle.
Always consult your doctor before starting a new exercise program.
Can you lose weight doing Pilates?
Doing Pilates Every Day Helps You Lose Weight: Does It Work?
When you think of weight loss, Pilates is probably at the top of your list. Cardiovascular workouts and strength training sessions to build muscle probably occupy that position.
Your mind also likely drifts to strict diet plans and supplements that reduce your calorie intake and help you burn fat, such as when you use CBD for weight loss.
Doing Pilates Every Day Helps You Lose Weight
Pilates is a low-impact workout that can help you improve your posture, burn calories, tone your muscles, and ultimately lose weight.
You may not see dramatic results immediately like you do with cardio, but with consistency you will see results fairly quickly.
Unlike high-impact exercises that work multiple muscle groups simultaneously, Pilates offers a more relaxed approach to exercise.
You may not get the dramatic results you might get with high-intensity exercise, but a regular Pilates practice could help.
When it comes to achieving weight loss results with your Pilates fitness program, consistency is key. If you enjoy your Pilates classes, it shouldn't be too difficult to get to them every day.
You should start to see the number on your scale go down pretty quickly when you do pilates every day.
A study of a small group doing pilates daily noted weight loss, toned bodies and a lower BMI.
This study suggests that Pilates may be effective for you too.
How Pilates Works on Your Body
Pilates typically uses a series of slow, precise movements to strengthen your muscles and improve your posture and alignment.
You can observe that Pilates often targets the core and abdominal muscles. However, it is not limited to the midsection alone and can also involve other parts of the body.
Even though your movements during Pilates class may not be intense, you're still burning calories and that can help you lose weight.
A typical pilates session, lasting 45 to 50 minutes, can help you burn 175 calories, while for an advanced class you can burn up to 254 calories.
To lose each pound, you need to burn about 3,500 calories. Therefore, it may take some time before you start seeing weight loss results with Pilates.
However, in combination with other exercises and a proper diet, you may find that Pilates helps you lose fat.
Consider incorporating a few days of high-intensity exercise, such as weight lifting and aerobics, into your schedule.
A moderate reduction in your daily calorie intake could also help you see results faster.
Make sure you continue to eat properly despite the calorie deficit. Adequate amounts of lean protein and high-fiber foods, such as grains and vegetables, should be on your plate.
The Pilates program is excellent for relieving stress and fatigue.
So, your attendance at pilates classes could help you commit to other workout programs.
The form you adopt during exercises can influence the impact they have on you. Pilates can help you with this.
The benefits of Pilates, such as mobility, balance and stability, can help you improve your form during other exercises to achieve better results and reduce the risk of injury.
A positive mindset is essential if you want to stay consistent with your exercise and diet routines.
Pilates doesn't just improve your body. Pilates can help reduce signs of anxiety and depression by encouraging the mind-body connection.
Pilates Exercises for Weight Loss
The right combination of Pilates exercises will not only tone your body and muscles, but will also help you lose weight.
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Swimming
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Plank jacks
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Knee jumps
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Jogging knees
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Pilates Pumps
1- Swimming
Swimming in a pool is a great workout in itself, but that's not what we're talking about today.
As part of Pilates, swimming is also great for toning your core muscles. For this, you will need your yoga mat.
Here's how to do it:
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Lie flat, face down
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Extend your hands and legs with your feet pointed and your palms facing down.
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Lift your hands and legs off the floor and hold your position.
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Alternate between right arm/left leg and left arm/right leg.
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Make sure to breathe normally during this process.
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Repeat several times.
2- Plank Jacks
Plank Jacks look like a mix of jumping jacks and planks.
It's also easy to do and you will need an exercise mat. Participating in a plank competition can help you get into this exercise routine.
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Stand at the foot end of your mat, facing the mat.
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Inhale, raise your arms, lengthen your waist and squeeze your thighs.
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Exhale slowly as you bring your head and arms forward.
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Make sure your arms are shoulder-width apart as you place your hands on the mat by curling your spine, not bending at the hips.
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Take about 3 1/2 steps with your hands forward until you come to a rigid plank position, making sure your shoulders are past your wrists.
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Balance on your tiptoes in this plank position.
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Jump into open-legged and closed-legged positions as you would with jumping jacks about six times.
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Step back with your hands and return to standing.
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Repeat the whole process about three times.
3- Side knee kick
The kneeling side kick is another great Pilates exercise for burning fat.
Get on your exercise mat and let's go:
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Kneel in the center of your mat
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Place your right palm on the floor, to the side, in line with your hips.
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Extend your left leg out to the left side at hip level.
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Place your left hand behind your head
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Inhale and powerfully swing your left leg back.
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Exhale and rotate your left leg forward.
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Repeat this rocking motion about eight times, making sure your hips and chest do not change position.
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Switch to the other leg and repeat the same movement.
4-Knee jogging
You will need to stand for this exercise.
It works multiple muscle groups to help you burn more calories.
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Stand up straight with your elbows at your sides.
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Pull your abs in and lift them up.
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Raise your knees to his level while you jog.
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Without stopping the movement, after about eight hip lifts, move on to kicking your legs with your heels while jogging.
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Repeat the leg kicks about eight times.
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You can move on to another cycle of kneeling jogging by reducing the number of repetitions in each cycle.
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So you go from eight to six, then to four, and finally to two reps.
5 Pilates Push Up
The Pilates push-up is a total body workout but it can be difficult to perform correctly.
Developing the stability, core, and arm strength you'll need to perform this exercise may take some practice.
Don't get discouraged. Doing pilates push-ups every day is great for burning calories and building strong muscles.
Here's how to do it:
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Start in a standing position, facing your mat.
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Inhale as you raise your arms above your head.
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Exhale as you place your hands flat on the mat.
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Take three steps with your hands to come into plank position, making sure your hips, shoulders, heels and ears are aligned.
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Bend your elbows so that your arms brush your ribs as you lower yourself to the mat.
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Lift your body in one movement from the mat.
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Step back with your hands and slowly return to standing.
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Repeat this process about five times.
Conclusion
If you already enjoy pilates, you might be excited to learn that it can help you burn fat and lose weight.
To achieve the best weight loss results, you should try to combine your pilates exercises with cardio and other strength training exercises.
Eating healthy and taking supplements that promote weight loss are also a great idea.
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