How to Combine Cardio with Strength

Experts say that cardio and strength training work best together in order to burn the maximum amount of calories. Usually, people do either cardio or strength training to work their body, but if you combine them you will receive better results. Although cardio exercises are preferred by most people because they fit in a daily schedule easier, the best way to follow a successful fitness program is to add some weights. So, if you want to get to the next level and improve your workout routine, read the article below and see how to combine cardio with strength training.

Cardio Benefits

First, let’s see what cardio means and which are the benefits of this exercise. Cardio refers to all sorts of activities that raise your heart rate and they involve large muscle movement for a sustained period of time. Some examples of cardio exercises are aerobic workouts, swimming, bike riding, running or even walking. There are many benefits of cardio exercises such as the fact that they help you burn more calories, strengthen your hard, increase the blood flow and so on.

Strength Training Benefits

Strength training is meant to increase the lean muscle tissue with the help of free weights, weight machines or even the person’s own body weight. Besides the fact that this type of exercise helps you shape your body, it also brings you many health benefits. Some of the most important ones are the fact that strength training develops strong bones, improves the quality of life and improves the overall strength.

How to Combine Cardio with Strength Training

In order to benefit from both types of exercise, the best way is to combine them so that you can burn more calories. So here are some examples of how you can successfully mix these two amazing exercises.

• Combine a full-body strength workout with a short cardiovascular mixed so that you can receive the maximum effect of your training session.
  Start with a low-intensity cardio workout for 30 minutes, for example running on a treadmill, and then continue with lifting weights for at least 30 minutes. Make sure that you do exercises for all muscle groups.
• Also, if you want to build nice abs you just have to contract the abdominal muscles prior to the beginning of your cardio exercise and continue to hold them contracted during the entire duration of the workout, such as running or walking. Nevertheless, if you can’t hold them for the entire workout, you can gradually increase this ability in time.
• Another great idea is to perform boxing moves while you’re running or you’re walking. Although it may seem a little difficult at the beginning, you just have to be patient and work on your coordination. In time, you can add arm weights if you want to benefit from a great cardio build muscle exercise.
• If you want to work on your lower body during the aerobic workouts, you can easily include some sprints to you training. By doing this, you will increase the size of the muscles in your lower body. For best results, you can sprint as fast as you can and as far as you can and then to jog until you are ready to sprint again. Repeat this several times.