Cardio Vs Strength Training

What’s better? Cardio or Strength Training?

Cardio is good for the heart. Everyone has a heart and it needs exercise to maintain good health.

Lifting weights (strength training) is about lean muscle mass vs body fat. Lifting weights builds lean muscles and impacts the longevity of bones and ligaments and tendons.

You need both!

Lifting weights is important. If you don’t maintain muscle, you lose it over a period of time. After the age of about 35, we start to lose 1/2 pound to 1 pound of muscle a year if we aren’t actively replacing it. Strength training is going to increase your metabolism, and keep muscles, ligaments, and tendons strong.

Lift heavy! Drop those 3 pound and 5 pound weights and use heavier weights. You need to break down the muscles in order to build muscle. How often should you strength train? Do what fits with your schedule. If you are sore after a strength building workout, take the next day off. This will give your muscles time to rebuild.

There’s no magic formula. The best solution is what fits into your lifestyle. Strength train at least 2 times a week (more is better if it fit into your schedule) and add exercises that get your heart pumping several days a week. You want to aim to move 150-300 minutes per week.