Q & A: How do cardiovascular (aerobic) and weight training work together to achieve results?

Q. How do cardiovascular (aerobic) and weight training work together to achieve results? Are both important and why?

A. Cardiovascular exercise and weight training are both essential components of a well-balanced workout. On the health front, cardiovascular exercise is important for helping create and maintain a strong and healthy heart and lungs. Cardiovascular exercise also helps decrease body fat. Overweight individuals are at a higher risk of developing high blood pressure, heart decease, and even some forms of cancer.

Weight training, on the other hand, helps you develop more lean muscle tissue, which, in turn, burns more calories than fat tissue. Weight training also aids people in maintaining bone density, reduces the chance of injury, and adds to the quality of life.

On the cosmetic side (the reason some people exercise), weight training helps tone and define your muscles while cardiovascular exercise helps get rid of unwanted body fat so you can see those shapely muscles. If you’re doing one without the other then you’re missing out on some great health benefits and will probably not achieve the results that you’re looking for.