It’s no secret everyone has personal preferences when it comes to workouts. Some individuals prefer the simplicity of cardio, while others like the repetition of strength training. So which one is a better workout? Christopher Lee, Buffalo, New York Fitness Trainer, explains the excellent health benefits of strength training and cardio in this article and why both are crucial to fitness and health.
Strength Training
Also referred to as lifting weights or weights training, strength training comes in two primary forms: high intensity and high volume. It’s recommended to focus on either intensity or volume during strength training since both can lead to injury or overexertion.
Whether you choose to approach strength training by intensity or volume, it gives you many benefits. For example, strength training helps to increase your metabolism for days after a workout. Of course, it will also improve your strength as you build muscle mass and train your nervous system to respond to heavier weights or more resistance.
Another excellent benefit of strength training is it can help your body prevent future injuries. When you build specific muscles around your shoulders, back, and hips, you’re helping your body function smoothly and prepare for whatever you may throw at it.
Christopher Lee, Buffalo Fitness Trainer, states that strength training is sufficient for most individuals two to three times a week, but each case can be different based on wants and needs.
Cardio
While strength training focuses on your muscles, cardio utilizes your heart, lungs, and blood vessels, known as your cardiovascular system. Most people default to cardio workouts such as cycling because they will burn more calories than most other strength training options. However, that’s not the only benefit to doing cardio.
Because cardio impacts your heart and blood movement, it improves your body’s ability to use oxygen. By doing this, you’re more likely to experience:
- Lower blood pressure
- Improved blood flow
- Lower cholesterol
- Stronger heart and blood vessels
- Lower resting heart rate
All of the above benefits ultimately assist your body in reducing your risk of many diseases or afflictions, such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and heart attack.
Not only does cardio exercise provide your body with an excellent way to stay healthy long term, but it is also highly cost-effective. There’s no need to invest in expensive equipment, you don’t need a gym membership, and you can still create a great deal of variety in your workout routines.
Cross-Training
Both strength training and cardio provide many benefits. Still, when you combine them as cross-training, you form a beneficial balance. Properly planned cross-training allows your body to build muscle mass while burning fat, all while lowering your risk factors for some serious diseases and injuries.
However, studies have shown that doing cardio before strength training and on the same day can actually negatively impact your body’s response to exercise. That’s why having a personal trainer or fitness expert help devise a workout routine for your particular case is ideal.
About Christopher Lee
Christopher Lee is a certified fitness trainer based in Buffalo, New York. He focuses on educating and supporting his clients in building a healthy, sustainable lifestyle. His training method emphasizes the importance of nutrition and injury prevention in achieving fitness goals.