The great debate: What is the best exercise for fat loss??
You may think this is a cardio vs. strength training debate … but you’d be incorrect.
Cardio isn’t even in the conversation lol.
This is a two horse race.
Cardio is like that actor or actress who got popular for a short period of time and then tried to hold on to the spotlight and stay relevant by any means necessary but everyone figured out quickly that they really weren’t talented.
The best exercise for fat loss? Strength training or walking …
Anyway, this is actually a fun debate that doesn’t have a clear winner.
And, so we’re all on the same page … I’m having this debate with myself because this is what nerds think about when they’re writing and having coffee in the morning.
So far, I have yet to crown a winner.
Allow me to explain my thought process.
The best exercise for fat loss is either:
A. Walking or
B. Strength training
Let’s break it down.
If you were to ask me my advice for someone who is brand new to all of this …
Like someone who just wants to start taking better care of themselves …
Who doesn’t do much right, doesn’t eat well, etc. …
I’d tell them to start walking more.
That’s it.
Step 1… walk.
And, once you get comfortable with walking a little more each day …
Add more walking.
Step 2 would be nutrition related but that’s not what we’re talking about today.
Walking is so underrated!
It helps with mental health, emotional health, stress management, hormone health, heart health, digestion, physical health, recovery, and is the most effective tool for burning more calories on a daily basis.
It’s hard to argue against walking as the best exercise for fat loss.
Until you get introduced to strength training.
All of those same benefits above apply to strength training except for being the most effective tool for burning more calories on a daily basis.
However, strength training has the added benefit of helping the muscle building process, which in and of itself, has some incredible benefits.
Not the least of which are: helping you look better naked.
But, it also helps you burn more calories at rest so you can eat more food without gaining fat.
And, getting stronger is pretty cool too.
So that settles it, right?
Strength training FTW?
Not so fast.
A little more about strength training …
Strength training comes with a recovery debt that needs to be paid, while walking improves recovery.
Strength training also has a barrier of entry (assuming you’re going to lift some weights and want to progress beyond bodyweight), whereas walking can be done anywhere.
And remember, I specifically said fat loss.
I didn’t say ideal body composition or muscle building.
Soooo … are we back to a tie?
Back in college, I played in an intramural soccer league and we made it to the finals, which ended in a tie.
Both teams were pissed. We couldn’t believe that was allowed to happen.
No … absolutely not! We will not accept being “co-champions.”
Walking off the field, my buddy turned to me and said …”Tying is like kissing your sister.”
I’ll never forget that line.
So, I feel uneasy with this debate ending in a tie.
Help me settle the score!
The best exercise for fat loss … YOU decide!
Walking or strength training for fat loss … who ya got?
Now, in an ideal world, we do both.
Often times we have clients who come to us killing it at the gym, but they’re only averaging like 4-5,000 steps per day.
We get them walking more and boom … fat loss starts to happen.
On the other hand, we often have clients who come to us in full on cardio mode.
Running all the time, getting crazy amounts of steps, and barely doing any real strength training.
We get them lifting a bit more, dialing back the cardio, and boom … fat loss happens.
I can’t pick a winner!
This really needs to be a vote.
Tell me your pick … walking or strength training?
And why?
Also, if you feel like your fat loss efforts have been stuck for quite some time, and you need some guidance in how to get unstuck … we happen to be really freakin good at that.
So, let me know if you’d like to improve your body composition in the most efficient and sustainable way possible.
We got ya covered.
