When it comes to weight loss it is a common
misconception that cardio training is the way to go.
While cardio is a great way to increase fitness
and burn some calories, it is not the most impactful form of exercise for
weight loss. There are a number of reasons why this is the case.
Firstly, any form of exercise only burns a
minimal number of calories per day, compared to what your body burns just to
sustain itself. This is called your basal metabolic rate (BMR). If you can
increase your BMR, you can more easily lose weight and keep it off.
Cardio will not increase your BMR, while
lifting weights will. Increasing muscle tissue by weight lifting increases your
BMR because muscle tissues uses energy to sustain itself. The more muscle
tissues you have, the more calories you burn regardless of what exercise you
do.
Secondly, while you might burn more
calories during the session while doing cardio, you ultimately burn more with
weight training. That’s because your body continues to consume calories after
you finish training to aid muscle recovery and rebuilding.
While you can have cardio in your routine for weight loss – it’s great for general health – the most effective form of exercise for weight loss is lifting weights.