Cardio Vs. Resistance Training
Don’t fear resistance training. I see it all the time. People again and again feel like cardio is the only way to get the results they want, but I believe it to be quite the contrary. Have you ever seen that girl at the gym that’s on the treadmill or the stair stepper every single time you go, and months later, SHOOT, YEARS later, she still looks the SAME? Maybe you ARE that girl. One word: cardio.
The Important, Results-Altering Difference Between Cardio and Resistance Training
Cardio (aka running, using machines like the treadmill/ elliptical/ stair stepper) burns calories WHILE you are doing it. That’s it. If you do a high intensity, cardio DVD at home (like I do), for 30 minutes, then that day, you are burning calories for 30 minues. Great, right? But wait, there’s more. The magic behind resistance training (aka weight training, using dumbbells, bands, your own body weight, etc) is that it builds muscle. And muscle burns calories ALL DAY LONG, even when you are sleeping! Want to pump up your metabolism, turn your body into a calorie scorching machine? Add in resistance training.
I Don’t Want to Bulk Up
This photo is too much. Ha! I can GUARANTEE you that if you add in resistance training, you will NOT come out looking like this! I know this is a big concern of females especially. Most physiques that are crazy bulky are only achieved thru extreme supplementation. Females don’t have the natural testosterone in their bodies to produce these types of results naturally. But rather, muscle will help lean us vs bulk us. Myth DEBUNKED! Here’s a motivating, fun tip: For every pound of muscle you gain, your body burns an additional 50 calories every day. SCORE! For me personally, I love using my own body weight as resistance or light weights (like in Focus T25). I never lift anything over 10 pounds and I have lean muscle to show for it and eat A LOT (ha!), so my metabolism is on point!
Cardio is No Longer My BFF
P.S. Join my next accountability group by messaging me at jessica@jessicabowsernelson.com.
Digging Deeper, Jessica Bowser Nelson