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Why is Cardiovascular Training and Resistance Training Important?

By Machelle Lee

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Published: 10Nov2007
Word count: 767
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Cardiovascular Training
What is cardiovascular training? Cardiovascular training is anything that gets your heart pumping at an elevated speed. This includes: walking, jogging, bike riding, swimming, playing sports, dancing, roller skating, really anything that gets that heart pumping. The more muscles groups you are using, the harder the heart is working. Cardiovascular training is used to burn calories and to improve one’s overall conditioning.

Why should I train my cardiovascular system?
Walking , jogging, biking, dancing, swimming… they all seem to take so much effort! Why should I make myself do these types of exercises and activities? While cardiovascular training may seem like a chore, you will be more than willing to engage in cardiovascular training after reading the following benefits to cardiovascular training!

Weight Loss
Probably the most cherished side effect of cardiovascular training is losing those unwanted pounds! Since your body’s decision to store fat is based on the equation of Energy In vs. Energy Out, the more Energy Out that you have the less energy you will have to store on your waist, hips and thighs.

Conditioning
When was the last time you got winded walking up a flight of stairs? Not the greatest feeling was it? When you are wheezing and clutching your side ache you know without a shadow of a doubt that you are out of shape!

When you train your cardiovascular system you will begin to find that you don’t lose your breath as easily under strenuous activity. Your heart becomes conditioned to pump faster on demand without sending you into a wheezing fit. Your heart is the most important muscle in your body and if you want to enjoy the new body you are about to create, then wouldn’t you want to have a healthy heart along with it?

Disease Prevention
Heart attack, stroke, hypertension, and diabetes are just a few of the diseases that you would be defending yourself against with cardiovascular training. By losing excess weight and conditioning your body, you arm your body against these and many other ailments.

Resistance Training
What is Resistance Training? Resistance training is anything that gives resistance against your muscles. The most traditional resistance training is dumbbells or barbells, but it can take on many other forms as well. Cable machines and pulley systems give great resistance, as do elastic bands. Using your own body weight is another way to give your muscles resistance.

Today you have many options when it comes to resistance training- but they all have one thing in common… it will change your life!

Why should I lift weights?
Weight lifting… isn’t a macho guy thing anymore! The last time I checked my most successful clients haven’t been registered for any upcoming body building shows. “But I don’t want to look muscular and bulky.” I cannot tell you how many times I hear this comment from women when I encourage them to lift weights. The critical thing here is that in order to be fit and toned you NEED TO lift weights or do some type of STRENGTH TRAINING. Resistance training can literally change your entire body, let alone your self confidence and self esteem, but most importantly, resistance training could possibly be the best thing that you will ever do to keep your body looking and feeling 10 years younger.

Metabolism
Resistance Training is the one thing that we do that elevates our metabolism for hours after a workout. Cardiovascular workouts are effective and necessary, but, after an hour of running, your metabolism is only elevated for less than an hour before going back to normal. On the other hand, resistance training will literally raise your metabolism permanently. This happens because weight lifting is actually a process of breaking down muscle tissue and re-building it back stronger, firmer and with more tone.

This process takes time and energy AKA calories. Once you have added muscle tone to a given area on your body it now takes even more energy to maintain this muscle.

So here is the run down on why resistance training is such a metabolism booster:
When you weight train you break down muscle fibers, which takes energy to rebuild. When these muscle fibers have been rebuilt they are tighter, firmer, more toned and now take more energy to maintain.

Hence: a higher metabolism all day long. Simple, yet so effective!

1 lb muscle burns about 50 calories a day
1 lb of fat burns about 4 calories a day

You need regular challenging exercise in order to achieve and maintain results. It's as simple as that.

Machelle Lee owns and operates The Invisible Gym in Santa Cruz, CA. Her mission is to inspire people to become physically active and enjoy the benefits of a balanced, healthy lifestyle. For more information and questions you can visit her website. http://www.the-invisible-gym.com/

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