We all know that lifting weights builds up muscles, but a growing number of studies have shown that it also reshapes your metabolism and your waistline. Resistance training by weight lifting immediately increases fat burning, and it continues for at least 24 hours afterward. According to the latest research this is caused by a reaction at the molecular level. After weight training your muscles release genetic material into the bloodstream that stimulates the process of breaking down fat into fatty acids. Other cells then use this as fuel, thus reducing the amount of stored fat in your body. The study concluded that, “Muscle mass is vitally important for metabolic health, and we contribute to that process every time we hoist a weight.”