Weights before cardio or cardio before weights?
There is finally an answer to this age-old gym debate. According to a new study, if you want to torch fat, hit the weights first. Researchers had participants do the same workouts, just in different orders. The result? Those who lifted first lost more body and belly fat, gained more muscle strength, took more steps daily (3,500 vs. 1,600), and boosted endurance and explosive power.
Why?
Lifting first drains your muscle fuel (glycogen), so when you hop on the bike or treadmill or other cardio after, your body taps into fat stores for energy. Think of it like emptying your gas tank so your body switches to backup power – aka fat!
Speaking of exercise …
Have you heard of Japanese walking?
The new workout trend getting lots of attention right now is "Japanese walking." Actually, it’s not new. Japanese walking was developed by Japanese researchers in the early 2000s. But it’s having a moment again thanks to a now-viral Instagram post by Dr. Saurabh Sethi, a gastroenterologist based in Silicon Valley, Calilfornia.
It’s basically a HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) walking workout that involves three minutes or regular walking followed by three minutes of brisk walking – for 30 minutes. It’s recommended you do the workout four times a week. Dr. Sethi notes that the exercise is "joint-friendly, time-efficient, and very effective.”
This clip explains more...
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