What is the difference, and which training should be prioritized?
Aerobic training or cardio is a type of cyclic activity such as running, swimming, walking, cycling, dancing, hiking, carried out over an extended period. It has a positive impact on our heart, lungs, and blood vessels.
Aerobic training is more effective for fat loss, while anaerobic training or weight training has a better impact on gaining strength and muscle mass.
However, there's a common issue we often see. People at the beginning of their journey to their desired physique or weight mostly focus exclusively on cardio, thinking it's the only solution in their battle with weight or the only way to reach their goals.
What happens with excessive cardio activity?
- The body adapts to this type of exercise over time and becomes more energy-efficient, meaning it uses significantly fewer calories for the same amount of work.
- The body adapts, and over time, lowers the levels of enzymes and hormones that support the release of fatty acids from fat cells. In simple terms, our metabolism slows down over time.
Does this sound familiar?
We often observe this phenomenon with extremely restrictive diets. Initially, there's progress, but over time, there's stagnation regardless of how little one eats. Why? Because the body gets used to reduced calorie intake and "saves" them only for basic functions, with weight loss not being one of them.
Weight Training
The proper way to change your body and lose fat while radically increasing your metabolism is to make weight training the primary form of exercise, along with a nutrition plan aligned with your goal.
By increasing muscle mass, you significantly impact the speed of metabolism, something cardio activity alone cannot achieve.
The total amount of muscle mass you carry is directly linked to the number of calories you have available for use.
A classic comparison would be between a Fiat and a Ferrari. Which one consumes more? Which one needs more fuel? Well, the faster and stronger one, the Ferrari, logically.
Conclusion?
Prioritize weight training, and let cardio be another tool for additional energy expenditure (calories)! Through a smart combination of both types of training, your results will come.
