5 Reasons to Add Cardio to Your Strength Training Routine
If you’re all about lifting heavy and building strength, you might be tempted to skip cardio altogether.
After all, why spend time on a treadmill when you could be stacking plates on a barbell?
But here’s the thing—pairing cardio with strength training can actually take your performance, endurance, and recovery to the next level.
Cardio machines like treadmills and ellipticals aren’t just for runners; they’re powerful tools that can complement your strength routine and help you become a stronger, more well-rounded athlete.
Let’s dive into five key reasons why you should incorporate cardio into your lifting program and how machines like the Life Fitness CLST Integrity Series Treadmill and Precor EFX 576i Elliptical can help you maximize results.
1. Improved Endurance for Better Lifting Sessions
Strength training demands stamina.
Whether you’re pushing through a heavy squat session or grinding out deadlifts, your muscles need endurance to perform at their best.
Cardio workouts, especially steady-state sessions on the Life Fitness CLST Integrity Series Treadmill, help improve cardiovascular endurance, ensuring that your heart and lungs can keep up with the intensity of your lifts.
A well-conditioned heart means you’ll recover faster between sets, handle longer training sessions, and maintain strength throughout your entire workout.
💡 How to incorporate it: Try 15-20 minutes of treadmill walking at an incline before or after your strength session to build endurance without burning out your muscles.
2. Faster Recovery Between Workouts
Feeling sore and stiff after leg day?
A light cardio session on the Precor EFX 576i Elliptical can actually speed up your recovery.
Low-impact cardio increases blood flow to your muscles, helping flush out lactic acid and reducing post-workout soreness.
Unlike high-impact running, elliptical training is easy on the joints while still providing an effective cardiovascular boost.
It keeps you moving without putting stress on your already-fatigued muscles.
💡 How to incorporate it: After an intense lifting day, hop on the elliptical for 10-15 minutes at a moderate pace to aid muscle recovery.
3. More Calories Burned = Better Body Composition
If your goal is to build muscle while keeping fat gain in check, cardio can be your best friend.
Strength training builds muscle, but cardio helps you stay lean by increasing calorie burn.
The Life Fitness CLST Integrity Series Treadmill is perfect for high-intensity interval training (HIIT), which can skyrocket your metabolism without eating into your hard-earned muscle mass.
💡 How to incorporate it: Try a treadmill HIIT workout—30 seconds of sprinting followed by 60 seconds of walking, repeated for 10-15 minutes—to torch fat while preserving strength.
4. Strengthens Your Heart, Not Just Your Muscles
Lifting heavy makes you strong, but a healthy heart is just as important.
Cardio keeps your cardiovascular system in check, reducing the risk of heart disease and improving overall fitness.
The Precor EFX 576i Elliptical provides a full-body cardio workout, engaging both your legs and upper body while keeping your heart rate elevated in a safe, controlled manner.
This makes it an excellent addition to your routine, especially on active recovery days.
💡 How to incorporate it: Aim for 20-30 minutes on the elliptical at a steady pace 2-3 times a week to boost cardiovascular health.
5. Prevents Overuse Injuries & Keeps Your Body Balanced
Exclusively lifting weights can sometimes lead to muscle imbalances or overuse injuries.
Mixing in cardio can improve overall mobility, flexibility, and joint health, reducing the risk of common lifting-related injuries.
Low-impact machines like the Precor EFX 576i Elliptical and incline walking on the Life Fitness CLST Integrity Series Treadmill can help build stabilizing muscles, improve balance, and keep your joints healthy—ensuring that you stay strong and injury-free.
💡 How to incorporate it: Use cardio machines on rest days to keep your body moving without putting extra strain on your muscles.
Final Thoughts: Cardio & Strength Training = The Ultimate Fitness Combo
Adding cardio to your strength training routine isn’t about replacing weights—it’s about enhancing your overall fitness.
Whether you’re looking to improve endurance, speed up recovery, burn extra calories, strengthen your heart, or prevent injuries, cardio machines like the Life Fitness CLST Integrity Series Treadmill and Precor EFX 576i Elliptical can help you achieve your goals.
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If you’re looking to upgrade your home gym or fitness facility, check out our collection—including the exact machines mentioned in this article! Investing in high-performance refurbished equipment means you get premium machines at a fraction of the cost.
🚀 Ready to take your training to the next level? Browse our selection today and find the perfect equipment to support your fitness journey!
