In the Forum - Strength Training or Cardio?
Tuesday December 23, 2003
One forum member wants to know: Is it better to do strength training or cardio to lose weight faster? You probably already know my answer (both! and losing weight doesn't happen quickly!), but add your two cents by joining the discussion.
Comments
Well, I would say weight training. Building muscle requires more energy, and also takes more energy. Cardio is still very important for fitness, but for weight loss (or at least fat loss) then weight training. One of the aims of weight training is to build muscle, which weighs more than fat, so really a successful bodybuilding program should really aim to reduce fat and increase muscle, rather than lose weight. Although the weight loss will also occur.
Weight training does help build muscle, which weighs more than fat, however it will give you the slimmer look. That is why you are able to fit into your clothes, even though the scale doesn’t reflect that much of a change. Being a fitness director, my biggest challenge is to get my clients to stop looking at the scale, but rather see how they fit into their clothes. I tell my clients, for the biggest benefit, lift weights first and the hit the treadmill for some cardio. By lifting the weights, we are burning the sugar that is in our muscles, then when we hit the treadmill, our body needs to get energy from somewhere so it goes to the stores of fat in our body.