There are some debates which keep raging on and on.
And whichever way you look, you will find people coming up with their own arguments.
A prime example of this is the seemingly eternal battle between cardio and strength training, for the crown of the most effective exercise.
The balance keeps titling in favor of one and then the other.
So who's really the winner? The latest developments in the world of fitness suggest that strength training is on a high at the moment.
Cardio has taken a backseat and some fitness experts are even advocating that you can do without cardio! While that may be quite radical, a fair judgment can only be arrived at when you consider the efficacy of each exercise in helping you attain specific fitness goals.
1.
When your goal is to lose fat forever: Cardio helps you lose 10-12 calories per minute, while you can lose 8-10 calories every minute by lifting weights.
But weight lifting spikes your metabolism and thus you lose up to 20% of the calories you lost while you were working out, up to an hour after you stopped doing so.
Moreover, this increase in metabolism helps you lose up to 120 calories per day, even when you are at rest! Bottomline: Strength training wins! 2.
When your goal is stress reduction: Just 15 minutes of cardio for two or three weeks can help you reduce anxiety and fatigue significantly.
This is because cardio ups the level of serotonin (a neurotransmitter) in your brain.
It is serotonin that causes a 'feel good' emotion in humans.
Lifting weights has been known as a confidence booster and outlet for frustration, but the exact extent is yet unknown.
Bottomline: Cardio wins this one hands down! 3.
When your goal is to boost confidence via exercise: Cardio has been a proven tonic for non-athletes, who feel good just by completing a challenge.
Sports psychologists vouch for this effect of cardio.
Weight lifting can give you a different level of confidence altogether.
Don't you love to stare at yourself in the mirror after an exhausting weights session? It's not just the looks but the fact that you feel stronger, that makes strength training a massive confidence tonic.
Bottomline: You guessed it! Strength training takes the cake here! 4.
When your goal is to fortify your body against injury: Cardio being repetitive by nature, puts a lot of pressure on joints, ligaments and tendons.
So, your chances of getting injured are quite high.
Strength training on the other hand, helps you develop muscle contractions which are quick enough to avoid injuries even when you are into athletics.
If choose a good personal trainer and develop your core strength, you will hardly ever suffer from sprains, aches and twists, in your day to day life at least.
Bottomline: It's a no-contest.
Strength training wins! Going by what you've found out so far, you may be tempted to stop your cardio routine for good.
But the right approach may be to do more strength training than cardio, without saying goodbye to it!