Cardio Vs Cardio

If your talking about which cardio exercise is the best? The answer is that no one particular exercise is better than another. What really matters is how intensely you perform them. Running, biking, elliptical machines or treadmills will all burn the same amount of calories as long as the intensity is the same.

For example: if I where to run for 20 minutes at an intensity of 7 on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 the easiest, 10 being the hardest) and I was also to ride my bike on the road at the same 7 intensity, I would have burned the exact same number of calories. All that changed was the activity.

So does that mean that running is the best way to burn calories? Or that Biking is best way to go? Absolutely not.

The best exersice you can do is the one you will do. Consistantly and intensely.

Cardio Vs Weight Lifting

Now the same intensity theory applies here. If I were to lift weights, lets use the bench press as an example. If I could get my heart rate up to the point were I'm at an intensity of 7 for 10 - 15 minutes. I will burn the same number of calories as running at a 7 for the same amount of time.

The major difference:

Now while you'll burn the same number of calories during exercise, the real difference is what happens after the workout is done. Some studies have shown that after an intense weight lifting session your metabolisim remains elevated for up to 39 hours. In essence burning more calories while your resting. Were as the metabolic elevation for areobic activities tends to be much less (6 to 12) hours.

Final Note

Overall lifting weights seems to be a better choice for effectively burning calories. But a good exercise regimen should include both cardio and weightlighting sessions.

The bottom line is that when your just starting out it doesn't really matter what you do to burn calories. Just as long as you are getting up off your butt and moving.