Cardio vs. Strength Training: What’s Best for Your Fitness Goals?

An age-old question that every gym-goer asks themselves at least once: is cardio or strength training better for my health and overall fitness goals? The truth is both have their distinct benefits and both are great ways to boost your health.

How do you get the most out of each? With some advice from experts, Vacaville gym enthusiasts can create a balanced workout routine combining both for the best results on their fitness journey.

Let’s delve deeper into cardio and strength training, and see how they affect your body differently.

Is it better to do cardio than strength training?

This entirely depends on what you are aiming for, but both are effective at keeping your immune health and energy up. With a correct stretching session before and after a workout and proper use of equipment and tools, you can expect exceptional results by combining them. Let’s take a closer look.

Cardio explained

First of all, there is a common misconception that cardio equals weight loss. While it certainly helps a lot, cardio training primarily focuses on the health of your respiratory and cardiovascular system by exercising in a rhythmic, continuous manner. This most commonly comes from running, swimming, cycling, aerobic dancing, and other activities that keep your heart pumping faster.

Benefits of cardio training

Cardio provides many advantages, including:

Heart health: It helps oxygen delivery throughout your body, which brings nutrients to cells. It keeps your heart healthy and decreases the risk of chronic diseases.
Weight loss: It’s essential for burning calories. Combined with a healthy diet, regular cardio maintains a healthy body composition.
Lung capacity: Cardio training also helps with lung health and stamina. Over time, you’ll be able to do more activities with less fatigue thanks to better oxygen intake.
Mental well-being: Increased release of endorphins, the “feel good” brain chemicals, improves mood and helps with reducing stress.

Strength exercises explained

Strength and powerlifting exercises are focused on building muscle mass. Whether you are lifting weights, using your own weight, or relying on resistance bands, strength training will enhance and build up the muscles you already have and keep your bones healthy. Well-defined muscles look good, but this isn’t just about appearance.

Benefits of strength training

Just like cardio exercises, strength training has its unique perks too:

Muscle mass: Weight lifting and other strength exercises help you maintain muscle mass and fight muscle loss, especially as you age.
Boosted metabolism: More muscles mean a higher metabolic rate and more calories burned when you rest. This is especially important for long-term weight loss.
Bone density and joint health: Strength training boosts your bone density and growth, while at the same time it builds up muscle around your joints and keeps them safe from harm.
Everyday activities: With improved coordination and power, it boosts both athletic performances and everyday movement.

The bottom line

Balance is the key to a healthy workout routine.

If your fitness goal is weight loss, you can benefit from faster resting metabolism achieved by muscle build-up. And if your goal is powerlifting, heart health and lung capacity from cardio will keep your body up for the challenge.

The most recommended ratio is 150 minutes of moderate cardio exercise per week, combined with two days of strength training to build muscle, but we recommend you consult with a personal trainer for a personalized plan.

Where in Vacaville can I find a well-equipped gym?

Maximum Fitness is here to help everyone on their journey of improving their health and well-being through exercise and physical activities. Our qualified and educated trainers can help you design a specifically-tailored workout routine based on your specific needs and goals in mind. Whether you live somewhere close to Buckingham Charter Magnet High School or anywhere else in Vacaville, we are just one visit away from helping you reach your fitness goals!