Fitness Friday: 5 Reasons to Add Weight Training to Your Cardio Workout

After my um, situation, at the amusement park and after countless work outs stopped midway because the kid’s were fighting, or needing something, I finally decided to join a gym. I did some research, and since money is always a key element I was super excited when I found Planet Fitness. It’s a budget friendly, and non judgmental gym for both ladies and gents. For $21 a month I have access to a 24/7 gym, fitness classes, and tanning beds. It was a no brainer I needed to sign up, which I did.

Tuesday was my first night of working out, and I’m always a bit nervous when I go to a gym. I don’t want to run into people I’ve known from the past (especially when I’m up a few sizes), and I always feel like I’m being judged. (Fat people need the gym more then you, Ms. Perfectly-toned). I was excited to see that everyone there was too busy working on themselves to notice me. As I walked on the treadmill I looked around to see men and women of all ages, and sizes. Everyone was doing something different, walking or running on the treadmill, riding the exercise bikes, or on the elliptical. But one thing I noticed with about 90% of the people there, is they all went for the weights after their cardio workout. I grew up in the era that cardio is what burnt fat, and weights were for men who wanted muscles. So I started to do my research, and I have completely changed my way of thinking. Weight Training is now a necessity  to my work out routine.

I  have read both sides of the spectrum – some people will tell you all you need is cardio, others that all you need is weight lifting. I see relevant points on both sides, but I stand somewhere in the middle. I think in order to lose weight and be tones, you need to do both for a full body workout (which is what I’m doing!)… and here’s a few reasons why you should incorporate it in yours as well:

• After weight lifting, your body continues to burn calories for up to 48 hours after your workout – compared to cardio, which your body stops burning calories after your work out has stopped
• For every pound of muscle you build, you burn an additional 50 calories just while resting – so imagine how much your burning as you continue to lift weights
• Cardio puts serious pressure on joints, ligaments, muscles and tendons – sometimes before you even realize it. With weight lifting your body has the opportunity to ‘tell’ your brain that something isn’t right so you can stop before an injury.  ****Also BONUS – you can do a lot of different weight lifting work outs with an injury. When my planters fisciitis acts up, I can still get a work out in!
• Cardio seems to increase your appetite – leading to binge eating, and a feeling of entitlement to eating that piece of cake, or cookies
• Diet = losing weight, cardio= breaking down the fat, lifting weights = toning the soft ‘skinny’ fat