healthsportsandfitness

So I’m trying to tone up and redistribute some weight from around the middle to the legs.  Question is do I head to the gym three to four days a week or should I spend a minimum 30 minutes a day jogging? 

Both options have advantages and, believe it or not, disadvantages.  The advantages of the weightlifing option are attractive; 1) the work will be done indoors and out of the weather 2)stronger muscles 3) a higher resting metabolism since muscle burns more energy at rest and thus I would be burning more calories in my spare time 4) the exercise is visibly rewarding within a few weeks.

However, the most recent research has shown that the increased amount of energy that the muscle gain causes is very small and if we look at the actual amount of energy being spent, aerobic exercise is where its at.  Ultimately, I have to consider how much energy (in the form of food) I am bringing in and how much I am using.  If I use more than I bring in, my body will be forced to use stored energy (fat and glycogen or glucose) thus depleting my fat stores.  By far the best way to spend some energy is with a pretty high intensity aerobic workout for a minimum of 30 minutes.

Next time we’ll look at some specific numbers involving both weight lifting and running.

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