Strength Training And Cardio Workout Combinations For Maximum Success

By Cathy Fatherel

There are many strength training and cardio workout options, but which one is right for you? Whether you are new to exercise and don't know where to start or have been working out for awhile without getting the results you really desire, there are some things to consider when it comes to setting up an effective workout program.

The goal of a workout program is to get your body in shape without allowing you to burn out. You want to keep going long enough to achieve those rock hard pecs or that totally ripped six pack, right? That means you have to give up the marathon workout sessions and workout out smarter.

If you are just now starting out, aim for about a half hour a few days a week. With time, your body will get stronger and you will need to increase the intensity of the workout, go for a longer period of time, or perhaps add in another workout per week. Stay at your current level of fitness and then gradually increase the demands on your body.

So, what exactly should you be doing with the time you devote to working out? Some people will tell you that strength training is more important, but someone else will claim that you have to get in lots of cardio to lose weight. Most people just get confused here, but the truth is you really need to do them both. Cardio is excellent for burning off excess calories and burning real fat, but you need strength exercises as well to tone up your muscles and develop new muscles.

Strength training will develop your muscles, but you need cardio to burn off the fat that is currently hiding those muscles! You will never achieve the body of your dreams while doing only one or the other.

The good news is you can do it all without spending tons of time working out!

The most time efficient way to get in your strength training and cardio workout obligations is to do them together! Interval training has now been developed to allow those with less time to spend in the gym a way of getting a complete workout in a short period of time. It is now one of the best ways to workout for everyone.

You basically go through various strength training moves and cardio moves, moving directly from one to the other without pause. This keeps your heart rate up from the bursts or cardio while strengthening your muscles.

At first, this type of workout may feel a little like cheating. This is because most people think you have to do one or the other in order to get a thorough workout, but that simply is not true.

The purpose of a cardio workout is to keep your heart rate up for an extended period of time, burn off calories, and force your body to burn off stored fat supplies. The point of strength training is to condition your muscles. If you can do them both at the same time with strength training and cardio workout combinations, why not go for it? - 31525

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