Lifting Weights or Cardio to Lose Weight?
No matter who you are or where you come from it can be a struggle to lose weight. Some of us go on binge diets and others exercise and we still do not see the results we want. There comes a time when we realize that there is no one perfect way to lose weight. We must learn what works best for us because we are all individuals. What works for your friend may not work for you. The key is not to give up but find what works and what doesn’t.
Cardio
Cardio exercising is the kind of exercises that work both your heart and lungs. Several types of cardio exercise can be the following.
• Jumping rope
• Jogging
• Swimming
• Running
• Zumba
• Basketball
• Hip hop dance and more
When beginning a cardio exercise routine to lose weight it is important to consult with your doctor. Also, when beginning your new routine, you will want to take it slow. Do not overdo the exercising the first few times so your body can adjust. If you are overdoing it, you will feel it in your joints and knees. Overdoing it can also cause your metabolism to slow down and this is the last thing we want. This is not to say that cardio exercise is not good for us. It just means that we cannot immediately jump in and exercise like those who have been doing it for years.
There are many people who have reached their weight goals by using cardio exercising. The thing is, it doesn’t always work for everyone. There are people who can use cardio exercise for years and their weight will not budge.
Weight Lifting
Weight lifting takes discipline just like a cardio routine. But it does work for some people to control their weight. As with any other type of exercise we know that to lose weight we have to raise our metabolism. Weight lifting manages to raise your metabolism and keeps it raised for a good length of time even after you finish your routine.
Weight lifting will help you to develop those muscles that have been underdeveloped. Your muscles play a crucial role in raising your metabolism. A pound of fat will burn about 5 calories a day whereas a pound of muscles will burn about 20 calories a day. This is a substantial difference when it comes to controlling your weight. Weight lifting can also help with bone strengthening which is important for all of us. If you are also looking to increase your endurance this is a wonderful way to do it.
The idea with weight lifting is to try to make sure that you are increasing the weight that you are working with. This will help you to build muscle and increase your metabolism. When first starting out with a weight lifting regime it is important to start off slow and work your way up. The first couple of times you will probably be sore. Prepare for that.
Both weight lifting, and cardio exercising is good for losing weight. The idea is to find which is going to work the best for you. There are many who incorporate the two to stay in tip-top shape.
If you have questions about getting started with a weight lifting routine, please stop by the front desk and you can setup a consultation with one of our trainers. They will help you pick the best workouts so you can hit your fitness goals!