The best path toward health and fitness is different for different people. Some people feel it necessary to choose between strength burning by lifting weights or calorie burning through cardio. The reality is that for many people, it’s a mix of both that is going to return the best results for you. Each form of working out has it’s benefits and I’ll explain those to you below.
Benefits of Cardio: Many people like to work up a sweat when they hit the gym and feel like they aren’t getting a great workout if there isn’t sweat everywhere. Cardio will certainly work up a sweat. Whether you are hitting the treadmill, the stair master, or one of the other types of cardio machines at the gym, you can expect to work off between 400 and 500 calories per half hour to 40 minutes workout.
Benefits of Weight Training: There is no better way to build muscle than through strength training. While you aren’t directly burning as many calories as you do when you participate in cardio training, you will in the future. That’s because when you get stronger, your body is much more likely to burn fat regularly as muscle tends to burns calories as they tear themselves down and build themselves back up in your body.
Do Both of These: Your body is going to benefit from tricking your muscles and keeping them guessing. A good strategy is to work each part of your body once a week and to group like body parts. Do your biceps the same day you do back and lats. Do all your legs in once day and lift on your chest on the same day you lift on your triceps. Do 40 minutes of cardio at least twice a week.
Mixing it up is going to produce the best results for your body. Map out a routine that works for you and good luck in building a great body!