Get Healthwise with Danny: Strength Training vs Cardio

DannyKnowsGraphic2Danny Gonzalez, RN for St. Mary Medical Center and Health and Wellness Coordinator for the Portage Township YMCA is here to answer all of your health-related questions. It's hard to know where to start when taking steps to better your health these days. Asking the questions are easy, but find the answers...that's another story. Lucky for us, Danny makes it easy with his clear and concise (and humorous) answers to our tough health questions. Get ready to get some knowledge dropped on you!

This week's question: Strength training vs cardio - what are the benefits?

Danny G.: Strength training and cardio are different, but go hand in hand. The old thought is that cardio just helps with fat loss and strength training just helps with becoming stronger. But here are some additional benefits and facts that you probably don't know. Yes, cardio helps lose weight, but it will only carry you so far because cardio by itself is limited in how much it can push your body. Sometimes you need to do a lot of sustained cardio, but sometimes you need to do shorter, more intense cardio to hit all parts of your body. Mix up your cardio for the best results, which would be like running for 20-30 minuntes one day at a steady pace and doing 10-15 minutes of sprints another day. A variety of cardio will help with fat loss, but also aids in recovery, builds stamina, helps strengthen heart and lungs, improves your metabolism and helps with injury prevention.St-Mary-Logo

Strength training is often underutilized and highly misunderstood. Yes, strength training builds muscle strength. But did you know that is also increases bone density, improves muscle tone, helps with tendon and ligament strength for joints, aids in recovery, AND even burns fat? How can this be?!

Let's put it this way: if I asked you to squat 100lbs as many times as you could vs. squatting your body weight as many times as you could, which could you do more of? The body weight squats of course, because it is a less intense activity. But, because it's less intense it also misses challenging your body. Just as with cardio a variety in your strength training is key. Sometimes you need to lift less weight for more reps, sometimes you need to lift heavy weight for less reps. But if you don't embrace both parts of that strength training you will only go so far in your fitness.

Do you have a question for Danny? Send your questions to share@ideasinmotionmedia.com with the subject title: Attention Danny G. You can also contact Danny at the Portage Township YMCA by calling 219-762-9622.

 *Disclaimer: The information in this article is for informational purposes only and not intended as medical advice.