The Basics of Weight Loss
When it comes to losing weight, there are two main things to consider: how many calories you consume and how many calories you burn. If you want to lose weight, you need to be in a calorie deficit, which means that you need to burn more calories than you consume. There are two main ways to achieve this: through diet and exercise.
Dieting is the most effective way to lose weight, but it can be difficult to stick to a strict diet. Exercise, on the other hand, can help you burn calories and also has many other health benefits. There are two main types of exercise that are commonly used for weight loss: strength training and cardio.
What is Strength Training?
Strength training, also known as resistance training, is a form of exercise that involves using weights or resistance bands to build muscle. This type of exercise is often associated with bodybuilding, but it can be beneficial for anyone who wants to lose weight.
Strength training can help you burn calories in two ways. First, it increases your muscle mass, which means that you will burn more calories at rest. Second, it can help you burn more calories during your workouts.
What is Cardio?
Cardio, short for cardiovascular exercise, is any type of exercise that increases your heart rate and breathing rate. Examples of cardio exercises include running, cycling, swimming, and jumping rope.
Cardio is often used for weight loss because it burns a lot of calories. The exact number of calories burned depends on the intensity and duration of the workout, as well as your body weight and fitness level.
Strength Training vs Cardio for Weight Loss: Which is Better?
When it comes to weight loss, both strength training and cardio can be effective. However, there are some differences between the two that may make one more suitable for you than the other.
Strength Training for Weight Loss
Strength training is often overlooked as a weight loss tool, but it can be very effective. In fact, a study published in Obesity found that overweight women who did strength training lost more belly fat than those who did cardio.
The reason that strength training is effective for weight loss is that it increases your muscle mass, which in turn increases your metabolism. This means that you will burn more calories at rest, even when you are not exercising.
Strength training also has other benefits, such as improving your bone density, reducing your risk of injury, and improving your overall strength and fitness level.
Cardio for Weight Loss
Cardio is often the go-to exercise for weight loss because it burns a lot of calories. For example, a 155-pound person can burn around 300 calories in 30 minutes of moderate-intensity cycling.
Cardio is also easy to do and requires little to no equipment. You can go for a run outside or do a workout video at home.
However, cardio does have some downsides. It can be hard on your joints, especially if you are overweight or have a history of joint problems. It can also be boring if you do the same type of exercise every day.
The Bottom Line
When it comes to weight loss, both strength training and cardio can be effective. The best approach is to do a combination of both types of exercise. This will help you burn more calories and also improve your overall health and fitness level.
If you are new to exercise, start with cardio and gradually add in some strength training. If you are already doing cardio, try adding in some strength training to your routine.
Remember, the most important thing is to find an exercise routine that you enjoy and can stick to in the long term. Whether you prefer strength training or cardio, or a combination of both, the key is to stay consistent and make exercise a part of your daily routine.