Cardio vs Strength Training Difference

We have all heard about cardio training. Any exercise that results in an increase in your heart rate. Hoping that you know that your heart is a muscle. This means that once you do exercises you make it stronger and therefore at last your heart will be able to pump enough blood because the system will be very strong ensuring that blood reaches every cell thus ensuring that every cell gets enough nutrients and oxygen.

There are various ways of doing cardio training. They include walking. There are also elliptical exercises which ensure a high-calorie burning while reducing the movements around the joints especially the knees and the hips. Running is another way that helps to do the cardio training efficiently. Others include doing bike riding and using a jump rope.

Strength training, on the other hand, means doing a lot of physical exercises to ensure that the skeletal muscles remain strong and have an increased tone.

In this article, I will be telling you more about cardio vs strength training difference. You will always find yourself stuck between which method between the two you will use for weight loss. I will be teaching you more on this and therefore, at the end of it I hope it will be easier to make a choice.

Cardio vs Strength Training

Cardio burns more calories

It has been shown through research that the two training sessions result in a different caloric burn. Usually, the number of calories lost during an exercise will depend on the intensity of exercise and also the weight of the body. It has been shown that generally, that cardio exercise will ultimately lead to burning of more calories when compared to strength training.

Cardio training for general health

Cardio training has been shown to be better in ensuring your health for a lifetime. This is according to research that has been done. This is because it will help to strengthen the heart and at the end of it all it will ensure that you are protected from various conditions such as cardiac diseases, heart failure, hypertension, diabetes, and obesity. However, even if the two types of training show some differences, it will be good for you to note that both the two types of training are important and therefore, they should be considered whenever you are thinking of leading a lifestyle that will help your health.

When it comes to choosing between the two forms of training I prioritize strength training over cardio unless you are preparing yourself for a marathon runner. Though I also run in summer time… (Refer to strength training article if your goal is to lose fat and build muscle)

Benefits of cardio training

Cardio training has several benefits that I will be explaining to you. Therefore, I hope this article will benefit you a lot. Therefore, at the end of it all you will have the right information that will help you make a decision on whether you will do some cardio training. Some of the benefits of cardio training are well explained below.

Heart health

As the name goes, cardio training will help a lot in ensuring that your heart has utmost health. It is very important that you understand that your heart is usually a muscle. It will therefore, require good and enough exercise for it to keep on functioning at its maximum. If you don’t ensure that the heart muscle is well exercised you might be predisposed to heart conditions later in life because of not exercising the muscle.

It leads to improved metabolism

One of the major benefits that you will get from doing cardio training is to have a high level and optimum metabolism. This means that the more you do cardio training the more you will have better metabolism and increased metabolic rate.

The hormonal profile advantage

Doing cardio training will help you a lot in ensuring that your hormonal profile is well improved. Training the heart muscle is very important because it will ensure that you produce various hormones that help in releasing good hormones that will help in relieving stress and also ensuring that you get rid of fatigue. It also helps in reducing your appetite and therefore, it leads to good health generally.

It causes recovery ability

Cardio training, as I will explain, has been shown to have an advantage in reducing the time that you will use to recover from intense strength training.

Has a role in diabetes management

Cardio training will help you in ensuring that you have a life that is protective of developing diabetes.

Types of cardio training

HIIT

This is a type of cardio training that usually means high-intensity interval training. It is usually carried out by doing intense exercise and then later follows it with a period of rest.

MIC

This is a kind of cardio training that will ensure that your heart rate will be between 120-140 beats per minute. This will ensure that you are able to achieve a fit body.

LISS

This means a low-intensity steady state. It will involve doing exercises usually, of low intensity without such periods of rest.

How much training should you do?

This will depend on a number of factors such as time, experience and goals but I recommend that you do moderate-intensity training for 30 minutes five times a week or 20 minutes of intense cardio for about three times a week.

Thank you for reading the cardio vs strength training difference article.