FITNESS FOR WEIGHT LOSS [Cardio vs. Weightlifting]

by Beverly Hills Posture Staff

If you have finally worked up enough motivation to start a fitness program, congratulations!

Now for the myriad of questions about how to best go about getting the results you are looking for.  One of the key elements that Walker Ozar has built his practice upon is helping his patients achieve balance in the body so that it can operate as it was designed to.

The fitter and stronger his patients, the better able they are to achieve positive results from the treatment they receive at Beverly Hills Posture.  As always, before embarking on a new fitness regimen, it is important to get advice from the proper professionals.

One of the first questions people usually ask themselves when attempting to lose weight with a new exercise program is; cardio work or weight work?

Before we answer that question, it is important to point out the importance of diet in your fitness goals. So no matter what path you choose with regard to your fitness regimen, remember the saying: “You cannot out train your diet”.

Back to the issue of cardio versus weights. As is often the case when discussing fitness options, the answer is both. But there are a few things to keep in mind when thinking about how to allocate your time between cardio workout and weightlifting workout.

Cardiovascular conditioning is certainly an effective way to burn calories and subsequently improve one’s fitness level. It has a host of other benefits as well, not the least of which is a stronger heart and a more efficient respiratory system. Training in an elevated target heart rate range for at least 30 minutes 3-4 times a week is a great place to start (assuming again that you have consulted with the appropriate health professional).

Weight training is also a very effective way to expend more energy and thus burn more calories.  There is an added benefit from weight training however that is not necessarily a component of cardio work.  Weight training has the effect of increasing muscle mass.  Increased muscle mass means that your body will burn more calories throughout the day, even when you are not exercising.  Why?

Muscle requires energy to maintain itself.  Fat does not.  So while cardio work will most certainly help you burn fat, lifting weights will help you maintain your desired body weight 24 hours a day.