Lifting Weights vs Cardio
If you’ve trained with me at our Peterborough or Market Deeping gym, you already know where i stand – I’m a big fan of weight training. And not just for you, but in my own training as well.
This isn’t to say cardio doesn’t have its place (it does!), but when it comes to transforming your body and burning fat effectively, resistance training is the winner – and here is why…
Muscle Burns Calories (Even at Rest)
For every 1 lb of muscle on your body, you burn roughly 50 extra calories per day doing nothing. That means if you gain 101 lbs of muscle, you’re automatically burning 500 extra calories every day, just by existing.
Now let’s compare that to cardio.
During lockdown, i went for a 5K run. It was slow, I’ll admit – but i still burned just under 500 calories. For reference i am 6″1 and 92kg (about 14st 7lb). The run burned around the same amount of energy my existing muscle mass already burns for me daily.
Cardio isn’t the enemy (But it’s not the only answer)
Don’t get me wrong – I’m not anti-cardio. There are some fantastic reasons to include it in your routine.
- It’s great for heart health
- It’s great for heart health
- It helps with overall calorie burn
What i am against, is the belief that you have to run every day to lose weight. That’s simply not true and for a lot of people, it’s not even enjoyable or sustainable.
The power of lifting weights
Here’s what happens when you focus on resistance training:
- You build lean muscle
- You burn calories during your session (300-500+)
- You can change the shape and tone of your body.
- You continue to burn calories after your workout
It’s not just about the scale – you’ll look and feel stronger, more athletic, and more confident. Training 3-5 times per week with weights will completely transform your body composition.
So, What’s the best approach?
A mix of both. If you enjoy running, cycling, swimming – keep it going! Cardio has amazing benefits. But if your goal is fat loss, body recomposition or to feel good in and out of the gym, then resistance training should be your foundation. And trust me, you want muscle. It’s your body’s secret weapon for long term fat loss, strength and metabolic health.
Conclusion
There’s no one-size-fits-all, but lifting weights give you more bang for your buck when it comes to fat loss. Muscle doesn’t just look good – it works for you 24/7. You don’t get that kind of return from cardio alone.
So, if you’re ready to get stronger, leaner and feel amazing, let’s get training. Our personal training and group fitness classes in Peterborough and Market Deeping are the perfect place to start.
Eyre Athletic 