Your Combination For Fitness Success!
When it comes to exercise, what comes to your mind, cardiovascular activities or strength training? I hope that you are thinking about both! Cardiovascular activity will really help you melt that stubborn fat around your belly if combined with proper nutrition.
However, that alone will not tone and build a beautiful body.
If you continue to work just the cardio portion and skip the strength training, don't be surprised when summer roles around and you don't look the way you wanted to in that skimpy bikini and tank top.
Guys, same for you, except switch some shorts for the bikini and tank top.
I know you want to see some definition in those arms, legs and abs.
That is why you need to combine strength training in with your cardio activity.
Strength training spikes your metabolism during and after your workouts.
Why is this important for you? It means that after your strength training your body is still at work for you and you will still be burning extra calories for hours at rest.
When you get to a point where you can start pushing yourself with heavier weights and smaller breaks in between sets (circuit training sessions are great for this), your body will turn into a furnace and you will burn even more calories.
Simply, your muscles take more energy to sustain, so the more muscle you build, the more your body will work for you.
For every 3 pounds of muscle you build you burn an extra 120 calories per day.
Now doesn't that make you want to add strength training to your exercise program? My Tips for You to Combine both Cardiovascular and Strength Training: - Always start with a warm up to loosen up your muscles and improve range of motion.
- I recommend a minimum of 5 minutes to 15 minutes.
Make sure you at least concentrate on warming up the muscles that you will be strength training that day.
Start slow and gradually increase intensity.
- I personally change up my warm ups depending where I am working out.
For instance If I am in a hotel gym that is relatively small I might hop on the elliptical for 5 min - 10 min.
and do some very light stretching.
If I am working out in my personal studio which has more space, I will do a routine that has a variety of full body movements mixed in with light stretching.
- Now that you are warmed up, you are ready for the strength training portion of your workout.
Now be careful, even though you did a great warm up, don't jump into lifting as heavy as you can right away.
I always do a very light set of reps that will warm up the particular muscle I am working out.
This way I reduce the risk of injury.
- Now that you finished your strength training, this is a great time for some cardio activity as this will also now help you get rid of some of the lactic acid build up from your strength training.
Basically, it will reduce the feeling of hardly being able to move the muscles you worked on the next day.
Guys don't forget to mix in some cardio activity, and ladies don't be afraid to hit the weights as you now both know the combination of both will have you looking sexy in no time!
However, that alone will not tone and build a beautiful body.
If you continue to work just the cardio portion and skip the strength training, don't be surprised when summer roles around and you don't look the way you wanted to in that skimpy bikini and tank top.
Guys, same for you, except switch some shorts for the bikini and tank top.
I know you want to see some definition in those arms, legs and abs.
That is why you need to combine strength training in with your cardio activity.
Strength training spikes your metabolism during and after your workouts.
Why is this important for you? It means that after your strength training your body is still at work for you and you will still be burning extra calories for hours at rest.
When you get to a point where you can start pushing yourself with heavier weights and smaller breaks in between sets (circuit training sessions are great for this), your body will turn into a furnace and you will burn even more calories.
Simply, your muscles take more energy to sustain, so the more muscle you build, the more your body will work for you.
For every 3 pounds of muscle you build you burn an extra 120 calories per day.
Now doesn't that make you want to add strength training to your exercise program? My Tips for You to Combine both Cardiovascular and Strength Training: - Always start with a warm up to loosen up your muscles and improve range of motion.
- I recommend a minimum of 5 minutes to 15 minutes.
Make sure you at least concentrate on warming up the muscles that you will be strength training that day.
Start slow and gradually increase intensity.
- I personally change up my warm ups depending where I am working out.
For instance If I am in a hotel gym that is relatively small I might hop on the elliptical for 5 min - 10 min.
and do some very light stretching.
If I am working out in my personal studio which has more space, I will do a routine that has a variety of full body movements mixed in with light stretching.
- Now that you are warmed up, you are ready for the strength training portion of your workout.
Now be careful, even though you did a great warm up, don't jump into lifting as heavy as you can right away.
I always do a very light set of reps that will warm up the particular muscle I am working out.
This way I reduce the risk of injury.
- Now that you finished your strength training, this is a great time for some cardio activity as this will also now help you get rid of some of the lactic acid build up from your strength training.
Basically, it will reduce the feeling of hardly being able to move the muscles you worked on the next day.
Guys don't forget to mix in some cardio activity, and ladies don't be afraid to hit the weights as you now both know the combination of both will have you looking sexy in no time!
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