Weights or Cardio?

I don’t want to create a debate, because there isn’t one, and I always recommend varying your exercise…

However, a question I am asked regularly, “what’s best for burning fat, weights or cardio?”

In a 45 minute gym session, cardio will more than likely burn more calories than lifting weights.
HOWEVER… Hold that thought…

Once you step off that treadmill, crosstrainer or bike, the calorie burn immediately returns to normal levels.

45 minutes of lifting weights may burn less calories (remember how much time is spent resting between sets), but the repair and recovery process long after the session will have you burning calories for long after. Some people say up to 36 hours. It’s called EPOC (Excess Post-exercise Oxygen Consumption).

It is impossible to measure accurately, but 2 hours after your weights session you could be laid on the sofa burning up to 9x more calories than after a cardio session.

My recommendation? Do what you enjoy, but don’t under-estimate the effects of resistance training with a bit of cardio training thrown in.