By Ada Mendez
MiamiDadeHealth.com
The number of calories you burn during exercise depends on your body size and how intensely you exercise. Typically, a cardio workout burns more calories than a weight training workout of the same duration.
Weight training is more effective than cardio at building muscle, and muscle burns more calories at rest than some other tissues, including fat.
So, after the weight session, you will spend more calories than after the cardio session. For this reason, many trainers say that building muscle is the key to accelerate your resting metabolism.
Cardio is more effective than weight training at decreasing body fat if you do more than 150 minutes per week. Weight training is better than cardio for building muscle.
A combination of cardio and weights may be best for improving your body composition.
Maybe you want to combine both exercises. Which one to perform first?
Start with a gentle warm-up of no more than 5 minutes. Then do your weight session trying to reach your limit every day. Once you’re done, 30-45 minutes of cardio. You have the best of both worlds: more muscle and less fat.
But these are general recommendations. For a tailor-made exercise plan that takes into account your weight, age, and goals, it is best to make yourself available to a good trainer.