Cardio Vs. Weight Training

It's a well-known fact that exercises are meant to burn fat, strengthen muscles and increase the metabolic rate. Cardiovascular exercises are aerobic process that includes vigorous activities to increase the metabolic rate of the body. Weight training is mainly to make muscles stronger and are also called strength training exercises. These two types of exercises have different effects on body.

Cardiovascular Exercises
The most effective cardio exercises are swimming, running, walking and bicycling. Aerobics work wonders on body to burn fat. Other cardio exercises include rock climbing, racquetball, rowing, skiing, elliptical trainer, sprinting, spinning and jumping. A proper training regimen helps to burn fat tremendously. Cardio exercises help lungs to process more oxygen, helps the heart to pump more blood, increases blood supply to muscles and increases body's overall metabolic rate. These aerobic exercises not only keep our body fit but also helps to burn calories.

Additional benefits of cardio are improved mental health, boosting immune system and increased stamina. Apart from weight loss, a regularly planned cardio schedule keeps to healthy and reduces chances of diseases and improves muscle health. These aerobic activities release endorphins that reduces stress, depression and anxiety of body. Risk of heart diseases are minimized and overall life span also increases.

Weight Training Exercises
Weight training exercises also burn body fat but the main function it to tone body muscles, strengthen them and increase muscular endurance. Using free weights, helps to achieve greater muscle mass than aerobic exercises. It puts the body into natural range of motion and strengthen the stabilizer muscles.

Weight training gives a perfect shape and stature to the body. It not only shape your body but improves your overall personality. Strong muscles carry minimum risks of weak muscles disorders like osteoporosis. Though body fat burns to some extent, it is a more effective strategy for muscle building rather than calorie burning.

Cardio Vs. Weights for Weight Loss
If comparison is done between cardio vs. weight training for fat loss, then of course cardio is more effectual exercise. If you are more focused on quick weight loss rather than muscle building, then invest your energy more into cardiovascular activities instead of weight training. When a comparison is made between cardio vs. weight training, results have shown than cardio helps to burn much more calories than weight training. A 40 minutes moderate cardio like swimming, walking or running burns 520 calories approximately while weight training only burns 140 calories. During strength training, the calorie burn is less because there is an overall gain in muscles while lifting weights. The body is unable to make up for the difference to lose the extra calories. Thus, instead of weight training you can spend some more time on cardio if you want to lose weight fast.

Points to Remember
Whatever exercise you do, you must be careful before performing it. Take guidance from trainer before doing vigorous cardio or else you might end up with extreme body fatigue, torn muscle and dehydration. Same precautions must be taken before weight training exercises as well. Do not go for heavy weights initially. Try to increase the weights gradually depending on your capacity.

Well, the conclusion is that cardio is more effective in losing weight. But don't you want to build your physique as well? Then why not combine both cardio and weight training in your workout regimen? You will not only lose weight quickly but also get a perfect build simultaneously.