There are many strength training and cardio workout options, but which one is right for you? Whether you are new to exercise and don’t know where to start or have been working out for awhile without getting the results you really desire, there are some things to consider when it comes to setting up an effective workout program.
The ultimate mark of a successful workout program is that it gets you into the best shape of your life, without allowing you to burn out. That means if you quit the entire program out of frustration before your abs get ripped or pecs are rock hard, your program has let you down. This means you need to workout smarter, rather than working out longer.
A half hour a few days a week is enough for those just starting out. With time, you can start going for longer periods of time, adding an extra day, or just increasing the intensity of your workouts during the same timeframes. The trick is to ensure you are constantly challenging your body as it becomes stronger and needs more stimulation to continue getting leaner.
So, what exactly should you be doing with the time you devote to working out? Some people will tell you that strength training is more important, but someone else will claim that you have to get in lots of cardio to lose weight. Most people just get confused here, but the truth is you really need to do them both. Cardio is excellent for burning off excess calories and burning real fat, but you need strength exercises as well to tone up your muscles and develop new muscles.
You have to do strength training to tone your body and look smaller, but you need to do cardio as well to actually burn off your stored fat reserves. One without the other is simply ineffective.
The good news is you can do it all without spending tons of time working out!
The most time efficient way to get in your strength training and cardio workout obligations is to do them together! Interval training has now been developed to allow those with less time to spend in the gym a way of getting a complete workout in a short period of time. It is now one of the best ways to workout for everyone.
You basically go through various strength training moves and cardio moves, moving directly from one to the other without pause. This keeps your heart rate up from the bursts or cardio while strengthening your muscles.
At first, this type of workout may feel a little like cheating. This is because most people think you have to do one or the other in order to get a thorough workout, but that simply is not true.
The purpose of a cardio workout is to keep your heart rate up for an extended period of time, burn off calories, and force your body to burn off stored fat supplies. The point of strength training is to condition your muscles. If you can do them both at the same time with strength training and cardio workout combinations, why not go for it?
