31. "Cardio vs. weightlifting: which is better for weight loss?"

Hey there, dear friend! It's Mike again. Thank you for taking the time to read my last blog post on "The importance of proper form in strength training." I'm thrilled to be back writing, and today I'll be sharing an explanation about "Cardio vs. weightlifting: which is better for weight loss?" Remember, I value your opinion, so please feel free to share your experience with strength training in the comments section below!

Let's start with the short answer, my friend: If you want to lose weight, I'll choose weightlifting. Obviously, there are more components to include. I know that maybe you have been reading about the benefits of doing cardio when you are in a calorie deficit, but this idea was discarded a few years ago.

 

To better understand this concept, I'm going to explain the principal factor when it comes to losing weight. You must eat less and move more to create the famous "calorie deficit." This happens because your body doesn't have enough energy from your meals, so it starts utilizing energy from your reserves.

 

A typical idea to increase your calorie deficit is to do more exercise, such as cardio. However, this is not the best approach. Cardiovascular training is important when we start a workout program because it strengthens our heart and blood vessels and improves our overall physical condition.

 

However, recent papers and investigations suggest that you should focus more on weightlifting if you are trying to lose weight. When we train with dumbbells and barbells, we activate different mechanisms in our muscles (hypertrophy and hyperplasia). Thanks to these results, our body will not only look better but also experience more benefits in our system.

Both methods are necessary in a workout program, so please don't forget about your cardio during your training season. I don't know your specific context, but I want to ask: What happens when all your fat is gone? You may appear skinnier and not have big muscles, which is why we should prioritize this type of workout.

 

Feel free to ask me more questions in the comments section below. I'll be very happy to answer them, and perhaps I can write a blog post about planning as well.