Many people believe that cardio is the ultimate solution to lose fat, because cardio burns more calories than lifting weights. However, this isn't always true. The reality is that you need to incorporate weight training in your routine if you want to get rid of those unwanted pounds and keep them off for good.
Here's why:
Cardio alone doesn't burn as much calories as you think it does - If we're talking about running on a treadmill at 8mph for 30 minutes at 120 bpm (beats per minute), then yes, it will burn around 500 calories for an average person weighing 180 pounds (82 kg). But let's be honest, most people don't run for 30 minutes straight without stopping or slowing down their pace! On top of that, there are other factors like elevation gain/loss which affect how many calories are burned during exercise; so unless you plan on running nonstop until your legs give out. you're not going to reach those numbers consistently anyway.
The Drawbacks of Only Doing Cardio for Fat Loss
The drawbacks of only doing cardio for fat loss are numerous. First, the physical strain on the body can be extreme and especially difficult for beginners. If you're new to exercise or you're heavy set (which most people who want to focus on fat loss are), your body will not yet be accustomed to being pushed so hard in a single workout session and if you're pushing yourself too hard during these sessions, it could lead to injuries, especially in your joints or burnout (which leads to you giving up and that's the worst possible outcome).
Secondly, many people find that they lose interest in doing cardio alone after just a few weeks because they don't see any results from their efforts. This is because when you only do cardio for fat loss without adding strength training into your routine or changing up how long or how often you work out each week (progressive overload), then no matter how much time passes by between workouts, even if it's just one week. You won't see any improvements where as with weights you will notice you are lifting more or you're adding in a new exercise and the more fun you can make training especially at the beginning the more consistent you will be and that is the main goal.
The Benefits of Adding Weight Training to Your Routine
Weight training is an important part of any fitness program. The benefits are numerous and include:
Building muscle. Muscle is metabolically active tissue, which means that it burns more calories than fat does. The more lean muscle you have on your body, the higher your resting metabolic rate will be and the easier it will be for you to drop fat and more importantly keep it off!
Overcoming plateaus. If you've been working out for a while but haven't seen any results or reached a plateau in terms of weight loss or strength gains, adding some resistance training into your routine could help break through that barrier by increasing the amount of lean mass on your frame so that more energy is required each day (which translates into burning more calories).
Improving appearance by targeting specific muscle groups such as your shoulders and chest can give the illusion of a smaller waist without having to drop so much body fat. This helps build up certain parts of our bodies which may not get enough attention during cardio alone due to lack of time spent exercising them specifically; for example: if someone wants better arms but doesn't do any arm exercises at all then eventually those muscles will become smaller than they should be because they aren't being used. Most people who want to lose weight are a little insecure about their body. So why neglect the main tool we have for building and changing how our body looks which is weight training.
Combining Cardio and Weight Training for Optimal Fat Loss
Combining the two is the best way to maximise your results. The most effective combination of cardio and weight training for fat loss involves a well-rounded routine that includes both high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and steady state aerobic exercise.
When you're building muscle, you don't want to overdo it with cardio! Instead, aim for 30 minutes of moderate intensity activity three days per week--or whatever amount works best for your personal goals and fitness level.
Conclusion
In conclusion, cardio alone is not enough for fat loss. If you want to build the physique you desire while maintaining your health and well-being, it's important to incorporate weight training into your routine.
In addition to increasing your metabolism and improving muscle tone, lifting weights will help increase strength and endurance which will lead to greater calorie burn even when resting or sleeping!
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