Cardio and strength training are both important components of a healthy lifestyle, but is cardio or strength training better? It depends on your fitness goals. Here are some factors to consider.
If you’re looking to lose weight
If you’re looking to lose weight and improve your overall health, cardio training is the way to go. Cardiovascular exercise burns calories and increases your metabolic rate, so it’s great for shedding pounds if that’s what you need to do.
If you want to get ripped
If you want to build muscle mass and get ripped, strength training is the way to go. Strength training builds lean muscle tissue, which increases your metabolism so that you burn more calories even when you’re not working out. Plus, when combined with a healthy diet plan, strength training can help you gain weight in a healthy way—no bulking up here!
If you have a longer period of time
Cardio workouts are typically longer (such as running or swimming), and they’re designed to get your heart rate up for extended periods of time. These workouts are usually done at a moderate intensity level—not too hard and not too easy. The goal is to raise your heart rate so that you burn more calories throughout the day. The best part about cardio is that it’s great for your heart! Studies show that aerobic exercise can reduce your risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke by lowering blood pressure and reducing cholesterol levels in the blood.
If you want more than weight loss
Strength training burns more calories even when you’re not working out! It also increases bone density which helps prevent osteoporosis later in life. Strength training also improves balance, coordination, flexibility, and posture which makes it easier to do everyday activities like walking up stairs or getting out of bed without hurting yourself (which happens often when we get older).
Which should you do first?
We recommend starting off with strength training because it will help you develop good form for doing cardio exercises later on (and vice versa).
Is there a third option?
We’re not saying that cardio and strength training are mutually exclusive—in fact, we think they should be done together. But what we do want to say is that there’s one thing that both have in common: they’re not for everyone. That’s why we believe that you need to figure out what works best for your body before you start adding exercise routines into your life.
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