Cardio Benefits Without Cardio

By Cedardale Wellness Coach Kelly Betts, B.S Nutrition & Health

Are you one of those people who dread spending 30 minutes on the treadmill? What if I told you that you can get the same benefits and more from doing strength training? Guess what, you can! Strength training when done correctly has the most benefits of anything you do in the gym. It helps you build muscle while strengthening the heart which is the most important muscle in the body. It also provides what experts call the afterburn effect. This is the calories that you burn after your work out is over. The afterburn effect is much greater after strength training than from traditional cardio.

So what exactly is cardio? Cardiovascular exercise is any activity that is sustained for a prolonged period of time that improves the function of your heart, lungs and circulatory system. This could be jogging, using the elliptical, stair master or stationary bike. The key word here is prolonged.  We all have busy schedules that can prevent us from making the healthiest of choices. We get it. Life sometimes gets in the way. So when you are here, let’s use that time effectively.  Let’s do a quick comparison between strength training and traditional cardio.

As you can see, the pros speak for themselves. Although strength training does require some more knowledge and skills, the benefits of it are MUCH greater.  Recent research done by McMaster University in Ontario proved that high intensity strength training can offer substantial cardio benefits including improving the size, strength and functioning of the heart. So why not kill two birds with one stone and incorporate more strength training in your routine!

Are you putting in all that hard work and not seeing the results you’re looking for? Let one of our trainers show you the benefits of strength training and set you on a great path for success!