Which is Better: Cardio or Strength Training?

When you want to lose weight and get in shape, you have two options for exercise: Cardio or strength training. Cardio includes all the exercise you do to get your heart pumping, like running, cycling or swimming. Strength training involves not just lifting with weight, but any kind of resistance training, including body weight exercises and rope exercises.

If you are trying to lose weight, you may get conflicting advice about what type of exercise is better to meet your goals. Here’s what you need to know about how cardio and strength training compare for weight loss:

Cardiovascular exercise burns more calories when you do it. You can burn up to 12 calories per minute when you’re doing cardio, whereas you’ll only burn up to 10 calories a minute lifting weights. It might seem like a small difference, but when you add up all those minutes in the gym, it can make a big impact on the expediency of your weight loss.

Cardiovascular exercise is also better for your overall health. It strengthens your heart and helps to lower your cholesterol. It can protect you against a number of diseases.

Though you may burn fewer calories while you are engaged in strength training, you will build more muscle, which will help you to burn more calories no matter what your body is doing. A pound of muscle burns more calories than a pound of fat, so even when you are at rest, your body is using up more energy.

Though you may not lose weight as quickly with strength training, you will lose fat more quickly. You'll tone your body and change your shape, helping you to get the body you want much faster.

You don't have to choose between cardio and strength training. Both have benefits for your health and weight loss. Choosing an exercise like Rope Fit can help you to get in both cardio exercise and strength training, helping you to reap the benefits of both in one workout.