Cardio Training vs Resistance Training in The Battle for Weight Loss

There are two different types of training methods that are involved in the pursuit of weight loss goals. They are Cardiorespiratory training and Strength or Resistance training. Each method has its own benefits and this article aims to show how they are to be incorporated into your weight loss program.

What is Cardiorespiratory Training?

Cardiorespiratory is made up of two very important words that we must take into account before beginning our exploration into the specific exercises involved. Cardio refers to the pulmonary system, i.e. the heart, veins, etc. It is the pumping of blood through our veins that carries important nutrients and minerals into the different parts of our body. The pumping of blood through our veins also carries and distributes oxygen throughout our system. This is helped by the Respiratory system made up of our air passages and lungs.

Cardiorespiratory training (CRT) is also known as Aerobic exercise because it helps our bodies take in oxygen and excrete the toxins that have built up in our systems. It involves the movement of large groups of muscles in our bodies, in a rhythmic manner, over a prolonged period of time.

Examples of cardiorespiratory or aerobic exercises: running, walking, swimming, jogging, Yoga, Pilates, dance, Kickboxing.

Aerobic exercises involve the supply of oxygen in our blood along with our stores of fatty acids and glucose creating ATP or adenosine triphosphate which is a form of energy. This energy allows us to sustain the necessary endurance required for engaging in any and all physical activity.

It is important to note that aerobic processes are still in action even when a person is at rest. The simple act of breathing creates ATP although this is stored for future use in aerobic exercises that produce even more ATP or anaerobic exercises that do not produce the required oxygen for the activity at hand.

What is Resistance Training?

Strength Training or Resistance Training (RT) is more direct and involves any exercise that requires you to pit the force of your own body against another force for a specific period of time.

Anaerobic exercises or those that do not involve active respiration fall under this particular branch of exercise. Stored ATP is utilized in lieu of the production of new ATP as is the procedure in CRT exercises.

Examples of Resistance Training include: bench-pressing, general weight-lifting, push-ups and other calisthenic exercises.

Resistance training helps to tone particular areas of the body although it should not be viewed as isolated developments since, as with all interconnected systems, if you move one body part, the others follow suit.

You Can’t Tone What isn’t There

Overall, Cardiorespiratory training is better for initial weight loss since it builds endurance and burns more calories as compared to Resistance training. It is important to get the body used to rounds of cardiorespiratory exercises before subjecting them to the rigors of strength or resistance training.

Before athletes enter the 500-meter dash they usually train by running longer distances first. This helps build their stamina and prepares their bodies for the more draining speed challenge ahead.

So take a page from their book and engage in a few rounds of cardio workouts to work off the excess weight before embarking on the toning part of the journey.

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