Cardio vs. Weight Training

Cardio vs. Weight Training

Often times my female personal training clients are mainly interested in losing weight and believe they can get the body they want by doing cardio alone.  While cardio is effective for burning calories, is it more effective than strength training?    

The misconceptions amongst some women are that to burn fat and lose weight you do cardio and to build muscle and put on weight you strength train, but this is not quite true. Building a lean, shapely, well-proportioned physique requires strength training and this is why.

• Strength training increases the metabolic rate.  Although cardiovascular exercise burns calories during the activity, strength training will cause the body to continue to burn calories even after the workout is done.  This is because building lean muscle mass increases the metabolic rate resulting in a boost to the metabolism and an increase in calorie burning for up to 36 hours after a workout.
• Strength training shapes the body.  While cardio will help you burn calories, performing cardio alone will not necessarily result in an attractive physique.  Once the excess fat is removed, attaining a lean, toned look to the body can only be accomplished if strength training has been incorporated.  Strength training will allow you to reshape the body. Without it what results is a soft, smaller version of your previous self.
• Strength training improves hormonal response for fat burning.  An increase in lean muscle mass creates a hormonal environment in the body that promotes lipolysis which is a technical term for fat loss.  On the other hand, too much cardio causes the body to secrete the hormone cortisol which is responsible for an increase in hunger and accumulation of fat in the abdominal region.

While cardio does have its benefits for both cardiovascular health and burning additional calories, incorporating strength training is the most effective and efficient way to not only lose that excess fat but also attain that lean, attractive body that women strive for.

For more information about strength training, sports specific training, fitness, and health, or if you’ve been thinking about hiring a personal trainer, contact us.