The Answer to the Ultimate Question: Cardio vs Weight Training

Whenever the question comes up, Cardio or weight training? there are always two camps of people on either side of the debate. Those who follow this ideology think that you should focus on cardio because it’s more effective when it comes to losing weight, and those who follow this ideology believe that weight training is better because you build muscle and lose fat at the same time. What does science have to say about this debate?

What exactly are cardio and weight training?

With two different goals, cardio and weight training are as different as they come. But one thing most people don’t realize is that they’re actually complementary. While weight training builds muscle mass, cardiovascular exercise increases endurance and helps us burn more calories when we aren’t exercising. If you want to lose weight, try mixing it up by doing a little of both!

What do you think about when you hear cardio?

Running. Biking. Swimming. Rowing. Elliptical machines. Stair-climbing machines. These are all common forms of aerobic exercise, otherwise known as cardio because they involve activities that improve your cardiovascular endurance or conditioning.

What does cardio have over weight training?

You'll burn fat with both, but research indicates that cardio training is particularly effective at increasing resting metabolic rate (RMR). What's more, it can be easier on your joints than weight training. So if you're an athlete looking for a competitive edge or just want an easy way to drop pounds, adding regular cardio sessions to your workout schedule may be just what you need. What does weight training have over cardio?: It will help you get stronger and look better overall. After all, it has long been touted as one of a winning formula for great health. The routine triggers many beneficial changes in your body like increased muscle mass and bone density, which can help lower your risk of injury in other activities like running and cycling.

Why should you consider mixing up your routine?

The goal is to continue challenging your body. The biggest downside of doing one or just a few types of workouts, like only cardio or only weight training, is that you risk hitting a plateau in terms of results. If you're constantly pushing yourself past your limits, however, your body will not have time to adapt and recover for long periods at a time. Mixing up your routine keeps things interesting so you can continue improving without getting bored (or burned out). In fact, research shows that people who mix up their workout programs burn more calories than those who rely on just one type of exercise throughout their program.

Do any studies confirm the benefits of working out this way?

There is no study that states either cardio or weight training are more beneficial than one another. They both have their own advantages and disadvantages; it just depends on what you want out of your exercise. Also, based on how much work you put into it, they both can be considered as efficient workouts. If you're looking for fat loss and/or a healthy heart then I would recommend doing more cardio workouts because that's what will help your heart beat at a lower rate during rest and give you that good I've been working out lately look. If you want to gain muscle mass and get rid of body fat then I would do more weight training. A lot of people think that if they do lots of cardio workouts they'll lose all their muscle mass but don't worry about that! It won't happen unless you stop lifting weights which isn't even true! Lifting weights while doing tons of cardio won't make you lose any muscle mass, in fact it will help your muscles grow. As long as you eat enough protein (recommended amount is 1 gram per pound) then there should be no problem with gaining muscle mass while doing tons of cardio workouts.

How did I find my answer?

It all began during a run... I was running with one of my good friends, who happens to be a medical student. He was talking about his time at med school and told me that he had recently took part in a couple of research studies – which focused on cardiovascular exercise (aka cardio) and weight training. I asked him how they measured results, whether they compared cardio versus weight training directly, or if they merely looked at its relationship with body fat percentage? He gave me some surprising answers! Now it’s your turn...(spoiler alert): #Results: When comparing results from each study, what surprised you most about their findings?#Background info: Both cardio versus weight training group worked out 3 times per week for 6 months. The only difference between groups was that one did cardio first, then weights and vice versa. After 6 months, researchers found no significant differences between groups in terms of body composition or strength gains. However, both groups showed an increase in VO2 max after six months as well as an increase in lean muscle mass. #Conclusion: So there you have it... The answer to cardio vs weight training is neither. While both are beneficial for different reasons, when it comes down to losing fat and gaining muscle - neither is superior to the other.