.: Cardiovascular Exercise vs Weight Training
Category:Home / Fitness / Weight Loss
All exercisers, whether beginners or old hands, will ask themselves at some point if they should switch to an all-cardio or all-weight training program. Trainers are asked this question every day in gyms across America and more curious folks write in to fitness columns to pose the query. Does it really matter if you do all-cardio or all-weights? The short answer to this question is yes, it does matter.
Cardiovascular exercise primarily focuses on developing and strengthening the cardiovascular system through aerobic training. This means strengthening your heart, lungs, and blood vessels so that they all work more efficiently, both together and individually. By training the body to meet higher and higher levels of aerobic endurance, you increase the efficacy of your system. This is a fantastic move to make your present life easier and more pleasant, but it’s also a smart move to prepare for later life. Research proves over and over again that adults who maintain a high level of fitness throughout early and middle life end up living fuller, more productive lives as seniors. That’s in addition to living longer than people who don’t exercise. The benefits of cardiovascular exercise are nearly too numerous to list: lower blood pressure, lower ‘bad’ cholesterol and higher ‘good’, decreased incidence of heart attack and stroke, decreased risk of osteoporosis, overall decreased risk of most cancers, increased life span and more. Cardiovascular or aerobic exercise is the smartest choice around – or is it?
Weight training aims to strengthen the muscles by lifting weights. By increasing the overall strength of the muscles in the body, the support of the body is increased and plans for greater ease of living. Since the muscles connect to each other and all essentially hold up the skeleton, without them there could be no way to move to exercise. People who lift weights are shown to have some of the same characteristics as those who engage in cardiovascular exercise. Weight-lifters also experience a decreased risk of bone fractures since the weights help build bone through the resistance. Lifting weights is surely the best approach to fitness – right?
In reality, the number one way to achieve ultimate fitness in your life is to combine the two approaches of aerobic exercise and strength training to boost your health to the optimum level. The two methods, though targeting various systems, form a beautiful relationship that works together to develop and build all aspects of the body to create the strongest, healthiest body possible. Cardiovascular exercise strengthens the lungs and allows the body to build up stamina. Weight training uses that stamina to build muscles for longer periods of time. The muscles then act in their roles as support team for the skeleton and organs, and can work more efficiently. The increased efficiency of the body means that it can develop greater aerobic capacity through exercise – and you see how the cycle begins again. Cardio and strength training feed off each other to develop your best body ever.
The next question should be obvious: what’s the best combination aerobic and strength training workout? The answer to this is swimming. Swimming is the ultimate aerobic conditioner as well as muscle builder. Thanks to the buoyancy you experience underwater, your muscles can concentrate more on working than on supporting your body. Doing all those laps, though, requires a ideal deal of aerobic stamina. Thus all of your body’s systems get a thorough workout when you swim. One recommended program is to swim a certain number of laps in the pool but on each lap, swim a different style. On your first lap, swim freestyle to get into the groove and warm your muscles. On your second lap, swim breaststroke. Do backstroke on the third. Rotate the strokes so that your muscles are continually surprised and challenged. Do this as your swimming workout four to five times a week and you will be amazed at the change in your body both in shape and in endurance.
The smart exerciser knows that there’s no choosing between cardiovascular exercise and weight training. The best programs always incorporate a variety of the two to give maximum development and strength. Begin adding your own combination workouts to your schedule and be delighted as your body starts to truly reinvent itself.
Article keywords: fitness, fitness health, fitness training, fitness trainer, fitness workout, fitness equipment
Article Source: http://www.articles32.com
Michael Plante owns and operates several quality article content directories.
Check out our in-depth fitness health article series at
http://fitness-health.reasoned-logic.com
.: New Weight Loss Articles
1). Tips On Dieting And Fitness To Lose Weight
One program that could make the person have great abs and lose weight is called the Abs diet. Mr. David Zinczenko, author of the book "The Abs Diet Eat Right Every Time Guide" is the person who designed the abs diet. Thos who want to try this should commit to the program over a 6-week period. After which the individual will see a dramatic change such as flatter abs and weight loss.
2). Surgery for the Obese - Desperate Measures
The figures are in. The number of overweight Americans is a startling 55% of the population. And, eight million people in the country are morbidly obese.
3). Mayo Clinic Diet - Weight Loss Wonder or Fraud ?
Can the Mayo Clinic Diet really help you lose weight or is it all a fraud ?
4). LA Weight Loss - Overview and History
If you know anything about LA Weight Loss, then you may know that it is one of the biggest weight loss centers in the world.
5). Facts About Weight Loss Surgery
Weight loss surgery is a treatment for those who are extremely obese and is a very severe treatment. Weight loss surgery should only be used as a last resort for obesity and should only be used if all other weight loss methods have totally failed.
6). Get Abs Without Gym
How to get abs if you do not have access to a gym? Do not get frustrated! There is still another way and hundreds of others are doing it and still get awesome results!
7). Avoid These Dangerous Weight Loss Methods
Everyone wants to find that magic weight loss program that allows him or her to lose weight easily. Often you will find that you have to give up something to lose weight, however, you should never have to give up your health. Some weight loss methods can be very hazardous to your health.
.: Top Weight Loss Articles
1). How To Drop Weight and Become Healthier Using These 7 Simple Everyday Life Tips?
These days more and more people are getting intellectual instead of physical jobs. Sitting in the office chairs all-day long has become a norm for many of us. Stress, busyness and rush make us forget about regular food and stuff our stomachs with cheeseburgers and sodas, which don’t do anything good for our bodies.
As a result of such crazy life rhythm, we rarely find time for exercises, gyms or balanced nutrition.
2). Worst Foods You Can Eat
What are the worst foods you can eat? Find out what others are saying.
3). Weight Loss Myths Exposed
It probably won’t come as a surprise to hear there is a great deal of confusion around nutrition. In fact, many people reading this article will have only a scant idea about the different food types and what our body actually needs to keep healthy.
One of the simplest systems I’ve encountered is this. If the food tastes good, then it has to be ‘bad’ for you! And then there’s its counterpart, “If the food tastes ‘bad’ then it must be ‘good’ for you”.
4). Painless Tips for Reducing Cellulite
Add these easy ideas to your weight loss and cellulite reduction plan.
5). How To Get Rid Of Love Handles
Many people out there are currently battling their own personal bulge-- namely, a very high percentage of Americans wish they could loose some weight. I was one of those people once. I was always wearing baggier clothes to hide my beer belly, and I always despised shaving in the morning because I would have to shave around my obtrusive double-chin. I was always tired and generally never felt good about myself.
6). Daily Calorie Intake Control
Your ideal daily calorie intake depends upon various factors such as your age, activity level and whether you are trying to lose, gain or maintain weight. During the past two decades obesity has doubled in the United States and much the same is true of other countries. If people do not start taking action now they will experience reduced life expectancy.
7). Every Diet Gets Harder - The Self-fulfilling Prophecy Of Failure
The two reasons why every diet gets harder, and what to do to about it.