Cardio vs. strength training: What you need to know

By rjoachim | April 16, 2022

Known as anaerobic exercise, where your body requires immediate energy, strength training is key to building your muscles. Strength training involves a variety of moves in which you are, well, lifting weight! 

Lifting light weights and lifting heavy weights have a different effect because you are activating different muscle fibers. When strength training, it is good to switch it up and incorporate moves that require different weight amounts.

Let’s say that 5-lb. weights are where you feel challenged when doing overhead presses, but when it comes to flys you need to lower the weight in order to maintain proper form. Not a problem. Over time you will get stronger, so don’t give up. It’s best to get the form right with a lighter weight than a super heavy dumbbell and doing it wrong! 

Benefits of Strength Training

  • Builds up your core which helps support your body weight
  • Burns more calories over time – higher metabolic rate
  • Helps prevent injuries
  • You get stronger overall!.

Cardio is known as an aerobic exercise. During aerobic workouts, oxygen is your main energy source. Your fitness goals should help determine whether you should participate in aerobic or anaerobic exercise. If you’re new to exercise, you might want to start with aerobic exercises to build up endurance.

Since your heart rate is up and beating faster, both oxygen and nutrients are carried to your cells. You are basically helping your body function! Plus cardio workouts help you build a stronger and healthier heart. Who wouldn’t want that? 

More Benefits of Cardio

  • Burns more calories in a session
  • Increases longevity
  • Elevates serotonin levels, improving your mood
  • Improves lung capacity

Grab your water and get ready to feel the burn with these cardio workouts!  

1. Intense Fat Burn – Sweaty Cardio. This 10 minute video is perfect to use at the beginning of a workout to get your heart rate up and blood pumping.

https://rebecca-louise.com/blogs/fitness/strength-training-vs-cardio-difference-benefits

Posted in Exercise & Fitness