I see questions online from men and women wondering why they
are not losing weight even though they are logging hours on the
treadmill weekly. They are asking: Why isn’t cardiovascular training
enough?
It is true that cardio burns more calories than
weight training and has positive effects on the body such as stronger
heart and lungs. Cardio also reduces stress and the risk of heart
disease. However, cardio alone is not the best method for weight loss.
A
great deal of emphasis has been placed on cardio and diet for weight
loss. The benefits of incorporating strength training (also referred to
as weight training) have not been given enough attention. When you focus
only on cardio and diet, you run the risk of losing muscle mass.
Strength
training will help reduce body fat by increasing lean muscle tissue,
which raises your metabolism. Therefore, the more muscle you have on
your body, the more fat your body burns, even when you are at rest.
If
weight loss is one of your fitness goals, strength training along with
cardio and a healthy diet can help you shed fat and increase muscle
tone.
One effective method for losing weight is circuit-style
strength training, which elevates your heart rate, burns calories and
builds muscle all at once. This involves doing strength exercises and
working in short bursts of cardio exercise between each set.
For
example, you could do 15 pushups and then do a lap around the track or
jump rope for three minutes, followed by another set of strength
exercises.
It is important to remember to consult your physician before beginning a fitness program.
Suzanne Pickens is a health information consultant at Sutter Gould Medical Foundation.
March 15, 2014
Read more here: http://www.modbee.com/2014/03/15/3239800/bee-healthy-cardio-vs-weight-training.html#storylink=cpy
