WHERE weight loss (or fat loss) is concerned, most people think about starting a cardio programme with a diet, trying to burn as many calories as possible.

What about a strength training programme though? Would you think that this would help with fat loss?

Well the answer is yes, by adding strength training and cardio into a programme with a healthy balanced diet you can expect to burn more fat than a cardio-only programme with diet.

Cardio may burn more calories per session but the effects quickly stop once you do.

Cardio also burns fat and muscle as fuel, so you may lose the fat but you will not gain tone with it.

This muscle loss will also slow down your metabolism (making it easier to store fat or put weight back on).

Strength training burns less calories per session but the metabolic effects last much longer, so you burn off more calories for up to two days afterwards.

Strength training will build muscle and burn fat as fuel.

If you can incorporate both cardio and strength training into your routine you will get the best of both.

More muscle tone and less fat, with the benefit of having a higher metabolism so you shouldn’t store or put the fat back on so easily.

Both cardio and strength training not only give us many health and fitness benefits, they make us stronger, fitter, leaner and looking good.

Try to get variety into your training routine. Try using all major muscle groups to ensure you get a full body workout.

Work on strengthening core muscles initially as these will help improve posture to ensure your body is stable to lift heavier weights.

Why not try yoga or pilates? These will help with flexibility and core strength and so, compliment most other forms of exercise.