Is there a need to engage in strength training if my target is just being lean and fit?

When you go to the gym, you almost always have a specific goal to accomplish, unless you are the type that follows the company of others without your own objectives, but that is for another day. Individuals enter the gym with different goals. Some want to really bulk up. In my region, they will call you a “bazu,” a term that is a reference for a big man with lots of energy. For some individuals, and this is the case for most women and a significant number of guys, their objective is to get lean and fit without having to add up muscle mass. It is understandable to want to remain ‘thin and lean’ because of the fear that the muscle mass makes you look too big or could hamper your mobility if you engage in other sporting activities, such as soccer, basketball, American football, running, etc.

The fears surrounding gaining muscle mass have made individuals at the gym avoid lifting weights totally. Instead, they focus on the treadmill. There is no denying that cardio exercises have been linked to healthier cardiovascular and respiratory systems, justifying people’s concentration on them rather than the strength training activities. However, did you know there is a catch? While the use of cardio exercises will contribute to you losing weight, the strength training exercises will actually make you lose weight faster. Strength training exercises make you add muscle mass, which raises the metabolism of your body significantly. One is able to burn their calories so fast because they continue to burn their body fat for up to 48 hours. The raised metabolism due to the added muscle mass remains for up to two days. So, in some way, one session of strength training is like a two-day workout.

It has also been noted that there is an overlap between cardio and strength training. While cardio enhances the performance of your heart and respiratory system, strength training helps people’s insulin sensitivity to improve, which helps people with diabetes regulate their glucose levels more effectively. Besides, strength training is equally effective in regulating high blood pressure.

I would say that the combination of the cardio and strength training exercise will give you the best outcomes. I am sure you have heard that already, but at least now you understand the science behind it.