When it comes to fitness, the debate between cardio and weightlifting has been going on forever. And cardio definitely has its place, especially when it comes to heart health. But if your goal is to transform your fitness, boost your strength, and actually see long-term changes, weightlifting is where the magic happens.
We get it. When you’re struggling with your fitness, it feels like you’re always tired. Your body feels stiff, and everyday tasks like climbing stairs or playing with your kids feel like they take everything out of you. It’s frustrating, and it can be downright disheartening. What really stings is when you’re not seeing progress, but it feels like you’re putting in effort day in, day out, for nothing!
But just imagine, six weeks into a strength training program, you actually start to feel different. You’re actually stronger. The stairs don’t feel like the Travelator from Gladiators and carrying the food shop from the car into the house isn’t a full-on cardio workout. Niggles like that lower back pain you kept having is gone. You’re walking taller, feeling more confident, and you’re finally seeing some changes in the mirror.
Cardio vs Weightlifting: What Are The Health Benefits?
So, cardio is great for your cardiovascular health. It strengthens your heart and lungs, improves endurance, and can help reduce the risk of heart disease. It can help towards managing weight because you burn calories obviously.
According to the Mayo Clinic’s top 10 reasons to get physical,
“Aerobic exercise reduces the risk of many conditions. These conditions include obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, stroke and certain types of cancer. Weight-bearing aerobic exercises, such as walking, help lower the risk of osteoporosis.”
Weightlifting, on the other hand, offers a whole host of benefits that go way beyond just burning calories. When you lift weights, you’re not just building muscle, you’re also improving your bone density, boosting your metabolism, and promoting better joint health. Muscle is metabolically active, which means even when you’re at rest, your body is burning more calories. Weightlifting can also improve insulin sensitivity, which is huge for managing and preventing conditions like Type 2 diabetes.
And it’s not just physical. Weightlifting can change your mental game too. There’s something empowering about picking up heavy weights and putting them down. You build mental resilience, discipline, and focus. And let’s be honest, there’s nothing like the rush of hitting a new personal best or seeing muscles you didn’t know you had.
How You’ll Feel After Six Weeks of Weightlifting
We’ve seen it time and time again - people come into the gym feeling defeated, out of shape, and stuck in a fitness rut. But after just a few weeks of consistent weight training, things always change. Your body adapts quickly. You’ll find yourself with more energy, better posture, and a noticeable improvement in your strength.
You’ll also start to see that what you do in the gym carries over into your everyday life. You’ll feel stronger doing household chores, your stamina will improve, and even your mental health will get a good boost. Weightlifting releases endorphins, those feel-good hormones that help reduce stress and anxiety – in fact all exercise promotes this, so if that’s not a reason to get moving, we don’t know what is.
We’re Not Knocking Cardio!
We incorporate cardio into our workouts because it’s an important piece of the puzzle. Short bursts of cardio in between sets, or conditioning at the end of a workout, are great for contributing to keeping your heart healthy and improving endurance. The difference is that when we schedule cardio into a workout at Challenge Fitness Oswestry, it’s purposeful. It’s about creating a well-rounded program that complements your strength gains, not taking away from them.
So, what’s stopping you?
If you’ve been doing nothing but cardio and you’re not seeing the results you want, it’s time to change things up a bit. Strength training offers benefits that cardio simply can’t match. You’ll get stronger, feel more capable, and set yourself up for long-term health and fitness. You’ll also avoid the plateau that often comes with traditional cardio routines.
If you’re new to the gym or looking to take your fitness to the next level, our gym in Oswestry is here to help. Our programs are designed to incorporate the best of both worlds, focusing on strength and conditioning to give you the best results possible. Come in, lift some weights, and see for yourself how powerful strength training can be.
Challenge Fitness Oswestry specialises in Strength Training, Olympic Weightlifting and Progressive Fitness Training for all abilities. Helping you achieve your fitness, confidence and body goals.
If you have any questions, contact Head Coach Claire on 07393 195353.
To book a session click HERE