Should I use cardio or weights to lose belly fat?

Beginner fitness or not, if you're trying to lose belly fat, you're probably wondering how you should train. With all the workout options – HIIT, Bodybuilding, Cardio and CrossFit – it can be hard to find the best workout that can get you rid of belly fat. POPSUGAR met with Alex Harrison, PhD, CSCS, Sport Performance Coach for Renaissance Period.

Is cardio or strength training better to lose belly fat?

"Belly fat does not decrease at a different pace depending on your workout methodology," Dr. Harrison told POPSUGAR. "If the goal is to lose belly fat, you have to lose all the fat," he continued. According to Dr. Harrison, "the place where you are the biggest will be where you will be the last to bend over." The localized reduction will not work, but Dr. Harrison explained what you can do to lose fat in general.

For short-term weight loss, we're talking for a few weeks or a month, Dr. Harrison said it does not matter whether you're doing cardio or lifting weights, but there's a problem. If you are trying to lose fat, "Bodybuilding is probably better because of your increased muscle mass and its ability to keep burning more calories at rest," he explained. Another reason Dr. Harrison advises to do more strength training than cardio is that cardio has the potential to burn fat and muscle.

How many times do I have to work to lose belly fat?

To lose body fat and maintain or develop lean muscles, you will need to be diligent during strength training. "For extremely dedicated people, I'll have them do six days a week of lifting with only a light card on the day of rest," said Dr. Harrison at how often you should seek to lose belly fat. If your schedule is more demanding, Dr. Harrison recommends lifting four days a week and exercising your entire body.

If you are a beginner or have not worked for a while and only six days of lifting seem too much, too early, do not worry. In a previous interview with POPSUGAR, Stephen Cheuk, a graduate of the Australian Institute of Personal Trainer IV and founder of S10 Training in New York, announced that he would start with two sessions of bodybuilding a week, progressively progressing to the next level. at three sessions a week.

What exercises should I do to lose fat?

To lose body fat, you have to hit the weights, and you will want to train in strength at least twice a week. If you're wondering what exercises to do, Dr. Harrison recommends compound exercises. Why? Because they are multi-articulated movements that work large muscle groups and induce greater energy expenditure. This means that you have to work harder to perform them and, as a result, your body will burn more calories and fat. Exercises such as squats at the back of the dumbbells, deadlifts, walking lunges, bench press and push-ups are all examples of compound exercises.

At the end of the day, you will need to pay attention to how your body reacts to both bodybuilding and cardio. You may need to change Dr. Harrison's recommendations, and it does not matter. If you are looking for more advice at the gym, try our four week muscle building workout program.