Strength Training

Strength training is not just about lifting weights which is what scares a lot of people away from this kind of training. You need to have a good level of strength to be able to complete everyday tasks such as lifting the shopping or getting in and out of chairs. To be a fully healthy individual you should include some strength exercises into your daily routine or exercise session. Strength training has a lot of benefits and is often considered to be better than CV training. The main benefits are:

• Weight Maintenance - working the major muscles of the body (legs) burns calories for up to 48 hours after you stop training so it can cause you to lose more weight than running on a treadmill
• Increase muscle tone/strength - using your bodyweight or weights to train will increase the amount of muscle you have
• Increase bone density - It is essential to maintain the density of the bones to avoid the risk of osteoporosis

Types of strength training can vary much like CV - you can lift weights or use your own bodyweight to improve your whole body strength. A good sample workout would be to use a combination of both in a circuit which can be done at the gym or at home using exercises such as squats, sit ups, plank, press up, squat thrusts etc. Strength training has many benefits and is a very important way to train.

Mixed Martial Arts

A relatively new and more popular method of training is mixed martial arts (MMA). MMA uses a combination of strength and cardio methods to improve the body as a whole.

There are lots of centres that offer these clasees to beginners right through to professionals for any ages to get into the sport or become healthy. A major centre in New York is Ronin Athletics who deliver a huge range of classes for all abilities - and in my opinion getting involved in a class or sport is the best way to make exercise habitual and not just a chore.

See Also: Facts and Myths About Strength Training

So Which is Best?

There is no wrong or right answer to this question. Both CV and strength type training have many health benefits and have their own positive and negatives.

Cardio and strength training serve different purposes, and the "better" choice hinges on individual goals. Cardio, involving rhythmic activities like running or cycling, strengthens the heart, burns calories quickly, enhances endurance, and offers mental health benefits through endorphin release. It's ideal for weight loss and building endurance, especially when preparing for events like marathons.

On the other hand, strength training, using resistance like weights or body weight, focuses on building and toning muscles, increasing bone density, boosting resting metabolism, and improving daily functional fitness. It's preferred for muscle building, enhancing athletic performance, and post-injury rehabilitation.

As for negatives, for example, a negative to CV training is it can be quite boring and personally I hate running! And strength - a downside is you need to use equipment to see rapid gains which can become expensive or requires gym membership.

Finding an activity such as MMA is a great way to get a combination of both strength and cardiovascular training - and its really important that you do a bit of both to become an all round healthier person.