Last Updated on by Eat Better Move More
Cardio Power And Resistance
Most of the jobs in our society today are indoors. There isn’t much to do except sit and work on a desk 8-10 hours long. Physical movement is almost non-existent. As a result, our society becomes more unhealthy as time goes on.
It’s not just the physical health that is affected, but even our mental health also is deteriorating. Our jobs are always monotonous, just repeated cycles of doing exactly the same thing. And this is not good for anybody. So, how do we get out of this loophole? Is there a solution to this problem?
The solution is fairly simple, as long as you apply it, your life will change for the better. The answer is exercise.
Exercise Is Life-Changing!
Experts around the world frequently recommend adding exercise to our daily routine. They insist that it is good both for physical and mental health. Once you consistently do exercises, it is a guarantee you will experience better sleep and reduce the risks of chronic illnesses.
It’s not just that, but you will also experience an improved mood once you start exercising. You feel rejuvenated each morning after doing exercise. By starting the day right, you feel good through the rest of the day. You will feel good that you have improved a physical aspect of your life.
If you want to start doing exercises, there is no better time than now. No matter the age, young or old, exercise is a guarantee for improving your life. There is no such thing as being late to start doing exercise.
How To Start – Cardio Power And Resistance
If you are a beginner to exercise, you might wonder where to start? There are many exercise programs out there, and it can be confusing where to start. So let’s make sure that we start with knowing what your goals are.
For most people, they do exercise with the intent to lose weight. So if you have this goal in mind, you might be considering two options. Do you start with cardio, which is running, jogging, cycling, and swimming? Or start with resistance, which is lifting heavy weights or your own bodyweight? Which of the two is the most efficient thing to do?
This topic of which is better for losing weight is also highly disputed in the fitness communities. Each of the respective communities has their own stories to share on which is better. They make a point on which is better by basing it on their own experiences.
But what does science say? We will now explore which of the two is best for losing weight, cardio or resistance? But before we get to the main answer. We want to look into this subject deeper. Let’s first explore what cardio and resistance does to your body and how it will benefit you.
What is Cardio?
Cardio, or also known as aerobic, is an exercise that involves repeating the rhythmic process from low to high-intensity movements for long durations. This exercise raises your heart rate and the body’s use of oxygen.
Cardio or aerobic incorporates the utilization of oxygen to meet the body’s energy needs. So when you do a cardio exercise, your body is adjusting. It becomes more proficient in using oxygen and energy. The more proficient your body is, the less oxygen and energy your body will require.
There is nothing complex about a cardio workout, which means it’s great for beginners. Plus, you won’t have to find yourself any gym equipment either. All you need to do is find a big open space like a park to do laps of running on it.
Cardio is not just for weight loss, but it can also bring numerous health benefits. Its benefits are S improved cardiovascular health, better mood, better sleep, lesser risks of chronic diseases.
What Is Resistance?
Resistance exercise is any activity that applies an external weight to muscles making them stress and contract. The primary objective of resistance training is to increase strength and muscle mass. Most people recognized resistance in the form of weight lifting. While it is true, it isn’t limited to it.
Resistance training can also come in the form of bodyweight resistance, or commonly known as calisthenics. But the preferred way is through weight lifting since it produces results much quicker. By applying weight in weight lifting consistently, your muscle will need to adapt. As your muscles adapt, they will become stronger, and muscle mass will increase. Resistance can also be applied to only specifically target muscle or muscle groups.
One might think of resistance training as only for those bodybuilders. They picture these bodybuilders using resistance exercises to develop their strength and muscle mass for competition. Although the benefits of resistance training are worth the effort, it is not limited to it. Resistance training will also help you lose weight! We will explore more on this topic later on.
Which Is Better For Losing Weight?
So, which is better for your weight loss? Cardio or Resistance? What most people think is that cardio is the best way for weight loss. However, this isn’t the case, but it’s actually resistance. How come?
As I have said before, resistance training helps build muscles. As your body’s structure changes, your metabolism likewise changes. The more muscle you have, the more energy it wants to take in. It takes energy in the form of calories. Even when you are at rest, your body takes in more calories than it used to.
On the other hand, cardio involves a lot of running, and thus burning calories. However, the main fuel for cardio is not calories themselves, but rather oxygen. You can now see why cardio is not the most efficient way to lose some of those calories. But this doesn’t disregard the fact that cardio is still a good way to lose weight.
How Long Should You Do Cardio And Resistance?
The Center For Disease Control and Prevention recommends that you at least spend 150 minutes of moderate to intense exercise per week. For resistance training, you should do at least 15-45 minutes of it. But, this depends on the intensity of the workout.
Conclusion
Resistance training is the most efficient way to lose weight. Plus, you will also gain muscle mass while doing it! However, this doesn’t mean you should disregard cardio. Cardio can offer health benefits, and this makes it worth doing.
