Science has proven that to get that healthy, lean body you want, your best plan of action to have a combination of cardio training AND weight lifting. So if you’ve only been doing the elliptical or the treadmill, it isn’t going to get you where you want with that chiseled, defined, lean look. And there isn’t a set amount of either one that will do the trick either. You will need to get both cardio and weights at the same time, sweating at them both at the same time.
Allowing to circumstantial evidence and scientific findings, your body will benefit more to first train with weights because there is sufficient energy in your body for the challenging repetitions. One study found that those who do weight training and no cardio first, were able to complete the reps successfully. And those who did cardio training first were not able to complete their weight lifting session successfully.
Cardio Fatigues The Muscles
One reason this happened is because cardio will fatigue your muscle, which is what you need for weight training. If you muscles are fatigued, then your energy levels and formation will suffer. Now that isn’t saying that bike time or ellipticals are useless. Cardio workout is important in helping you slim down faster but you need the weight training to add muscle and increase your metabolism.
What If You’re Capped In Cardio?
Some people will cap out their cardio capacity, meaning they just aren’t doing any more good than what they have already. It is time then to add something like long-distance running to your workout routine. Or if you are having twitching muscle fibers that make your anaerobic exercise feel like your lifting weights, you may need to switch to doing curls on a traditional bench press. Or add kettlebells for a more intense workout.
Remember …
To get that lean and muscular look, you need not only the proper training, but proper dieting too. Good foods will work with your cardio workout and you weight training to get that look. The heavy weights are going to be good for building muscles, the cardio workout is good for getting your body going on the inside, but you must have a low calorie, high protein diet for all of that to work together.
Changing your workout routine too often, or going from diet to diet every week isn’t going to get you want you need or want. You have to get a workout routine time to work and you have to give a diet time to work too.
