A lot of us don't mind heading to the gym to hit the treadmill or take a class, but our dedication ends when we come face-to-face with the weight room.

But strength training is essential, according an article on FitSugar.com.

"Your muscles need energy to work, so the more muscle mass you have, the more calories you burn over the day," according to the article. "For every pound of muscle you gain, you will burn 35 to 50 more calories a day."

Check out the full article, as well as a host of exercise videos.

-- Amanda Barrett, amNY.com