At The Zoo Health Club, we often hear the question: "Should I focus on cardio or strength training?" The answer is simple—you need both. While each offers unique benefits, combining cardio and strength training is the most effective way to achieve long-term fitness, health, and well-being.

 

Cardiovascular exercise—such as running, cycling, rowing, or using the elliptical—gets your heart pumping and improves your aerobic capacity. It strengthens your heart, lowers blood pressure, boosts lung function, and helps regulate cholesterol and blood sugar levels. Cardio is also a powerful tool for weight management, as it burns a high number of calories and enhances metabolism.

But the benefits of cardio go beyond the physical. Regular aerobic exercise improves mental health by reducing anxiety, boosting mood, and increasing energy levels. Whether it's a brisk walk or an intense HIIT session, cardio contributes to better sleep, sharper focus, and lower stress.

 

While cardio keeps your heart healthy, strength training shapes your body, builds lean muscle, and enhances your metabolism long after your workout ends. Lifting weights, using resistance bands, or performing bodyweight exercises like squats and push-ups improve muscular endurance and power.

Strength training is crucial for bone health, especially as we age. It increases bone density and helps prevent osteoporosis. It also supports joint health, reduces injury risk, and improves posture, balance, and coordination.

Most importantly, muscle burns more calories at rest than fat. So, the more lean muscle you build, the more efficiently your body burns calories—even when you're not working out.

 

Cardio and strength training serve different purposes, and when combined, they create a balanced, sustainable fitness plan. Cardio improves endurance and heart health, while strength training builds muscle and maintains a healthy body composition. When used together, they enhance each other's benefits. For example, stronger muscles from resistance training improve your running form and efficiency. Likewise, better cardiovascular health allows you to lift longer and recover faster.

Focusing on just one side of the equation can lead to plateaus, imbalances, and even injury. That's why our gym encourages members to incorporate both elements into their weekly routine—whether that's through classes, personal training sessions, or individualized workout plans.

At the end of the day, your fitness journey should be about building a healthier, stronger, and more resilient version of yourself. Recent studies suggest that weight lifting can contribute to a longer and healthier life. Embracing both cardio and strength training will not only help you reach your physical goals faster—it will also support your long-term health, mobility, and quality of life.

So the next time you walk through our doors, don't ask "cardio or strength?" Ask yourself how you can do both. Your body—and your future self—will thank you.

Drop in at our convenient locations in Bedford and Manchester, visit zoogymnh.com, or call us at 603-219-0036 to learn more about what we can do to help you achieve peak fitness.