Are Aerobic Exercise and Weight Training Equal in Importance?

Getting regular physical activity is a part of reaching and maintaining optimal health. With better physical fitness comes more energy, less pain and discomfort, and a wealth of other benefits. Aerobic exercise and weight training both offer benefits, so including both activities in your regimen can give you the best of both worlds.

Our team at Nova Physician Wellness Center is equipped to help you meet your physical fitness goals with a customized exercise plan. If you’re new to exercise, it’s common to wonder which type of exercise is best for you.

You may have heard that aerobic exercise is great for heart health and weight loss, while weight training is an excellent way to build strength, increase lean mass, and improve body composition. 

Both types of exercise are incredibly beneficial, and along with flexibility, these core fitness areas are key for maintaining peak physical fitness. We share more about the benefits of both types of exercise.

What type of exercise is best?

We generally focus on three core areas when creating a customized fitness plan: aerobic fitness, muscular activity, and flexibility. 

Aerobic fitness is vital because it keeps your heart strong and improves the way your body uses oxygen. Muscular fitness keeps your muscles strong and functioning optimally, and flexibility enhances and protects the movement of your joints and allows you to move with a full range of motion.

All three components of physical fitness are interconnected. Walking, which is largely an aerobic activity, is an excellent example. 

However, your capacity to walk is determined by your muscular condition and hip flexibility. If you have stronger hip and leg muscles, your body can carry you farther and faster without getting tired. A well-rounded exercise program incorporates these three areas. 

Additionally, our obesity medicine physicians will evaluate your body composition. The ratio of lean mass, water, and fat impacts your health. Carrying excess body fat puts you at risk for a range of chronic health issues like diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure. Extra weight also puts a strain on your joints and reduces physical fitness. 

Exercise is like a savings account: the more you put into it, the more you get out of it. It’s an investment that’s well worth it and pays for itself in health benefits that protect you as you age. 

What is aerobic exercise?

Aerobic exercise is any activity that causes your heart and lungs to work harder than they normally do. Most aerobic exercise keeps your entire body moving in a rhythmic and continuous manner. Walking, riding, dancing, skating, and rowing are just a few examples.

Regular aerobic exercise improves the efficiency of your heart, lungs, and blood vessels, making it easier for your heart to pump blood and oxygen throughout your body, which is especially important for working muscles. Don’t worry if you tire easily initially. You’ll find that your stamina for aerobic exercise increases as you continue to engage in regular aerobic activity. 

Aerobic exercise has numerous health benefits, including lower blood pressure, a lower risk of heart disease and diabetes, improved mood, increased energy, better sleep, and enhanced self-esteem. 

What is strength training?

Strength training involves weight lifting or the use of strength training machines and equipment. Weight training isn’t just for athletes. Strength training has many benefits as part of a well-rounded fitness program.

Strength training improves and helps to maintain bone density, which keeps your bones strong, especially as you age. People who engage in strength training as part of an active lifestyle are also at a lower risk of injury. 

Strength training also increases muscle strength and endurance. Muscle is more metabolically active than fat. The more muscle you have, the more calories you burn and the better your body composition. 

Exercise for optimal health

You can reap the most benefits with a combination of aerobic activity and strength training. Both types of exercise are important and complement each other. If you’re new to strength training, our team will go over the correct technique to ensure that you are getting the most out of your exercise program. 

Rely on our experts at Nova Physician Wellness Center to help you transform your body and boost your overall health and well-being. Give us a call to schedule a visit with one of our top-quality providers at the office nearest you in either Fairfax, Ashburn, or Vienna, Virginia. New and existing patients can also book telehealth appointments.