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Cardio vs. Strength Training: Which Is Better for Shrinking Middle-Age Belly Fat?
Cardio vs. Strength Training: Which Is Better for Shrinking Middle-Age Belly Fat?

Yahoo

time11 hours ago

  • Health
  • Yahoo

Cardio vs. Strength Training: Which Is Better for Shrinking Middle-Age Belly Fat?

If you're battling a middle-aged belly bulge, you're certainly not alone. Belly fat becomes more common in men over 40, mainly due to hormonal shifts, such as reduced testosterone and a rise in insulin. On top of that, a slowing metabolism makes it easier for fat to accumulate in the abdomen, says Ben LaNeve, CPT, and personal training lead at Life Time Annapolis. To help you shed stubborn fat and reclaim your waistline, we spoke with fitness experts to optimize your workout routine and answer one critical question: What's more effective for melting belly fat—cardio or strength training? 'As we reach midlife…we lose muscle and our hormones change,' LaNeve tells Men's Journal. 'This means we burn fewer calories, even at rest, and it becomes easier to gain weight. To keep metabolism active, workouts should shift to include more strength training to maintain muscle, regular cardio for heart health, and a focus on staying consistent rather than just pushing harder.' But which workout modality reigns supreme? We learned the pros and cons of each, and ultimately, which is the best option to tame, trim, and tighten your Pros and Cons of Cardio Running comes with a long list of benefits, from improved cardiovascular health to reduced body fat. But like any workout style, it has its drawbacks, too. Below, we break down the pros and cons of this cardio-first approach. Pros It Checks a Lot of Boxes What does this mean, exactly? 'Cardio can touch on some basic strength principles (Hello, quads on the Stairmaster!) as well as general movement longevity (achieving the magical 10,000 step mark). So in short, cardio can provide some serious bang for your buck when there is some thought put into it,' explains Casey Lee, owner and certified personal trainer at Purposeful Strength, LLC. It Boosts Calorie Expenditure Engaging in regular cardio is a productive way to burn calories and melt fat. 'Aerobic exercise effectively reduces visceral belly fat (around the organs) by increasing calorie expenditure and improving insulin sensitivity,' explains LaNeve. Caveats It's Time-Consuming 'For long-term aerobic gains to happen, we want to start accumulating upwards [of] three hours of moderate intensity cardio,' Lee tells us. 'For some, finding three hours a week in total can be challenging. If you're trying to burn stubborn body fat, time in the gym needs to be a proactive factor.'The Pros and Cons of Strength Training Unlike cardio, which primarily boosts heart health and burns calories, strength training focuses on building muscle and improving overall body composition. But it's not for everyone. Here, we break down the key benefits and potential drawbacks of this muscle-first approach. Pros It Delivers Results With Minimal Equipment You heard that right! You don't necessarily need a pricey gym membership or at-home machines in order to get into shape. 'A vast majority of my clients utilize adjustable dumbbells and their body weight to achieve strength gains that can help reshape and recompose their bodies,' Lee says. It Builds and Preserves Lean Muscle If you want to fast-track muscle growth, strength training is the name of the game. (After all, muscle burns more calories than fat!) '[This form of exercise] builds and maintains lean muscle mass, which elevates resting metabolic rate and counteracts age-related muscle loss,' LaNeve points out. It Sets You Up for an All-Day Calorie Burn Whether lifting weights or training with your body weight, performing strength exercises will set you up for an efficient, all-day calorie burn. '[Strength training] builds muscle, boosts your metabolism, and helps balance out the hormones that start dropping as you get older—it doesn't burn as many calories on the spot, but it sets you up to burn more all day,' explains Kai Zimmer, lead trainer at Fred Fitness. Caveats It's Technical One downside to strength training, according to Lee? It's 'technical.' In other words, you need to pay attention to your form and the weights you're working with. 'For cardio, you can walk for 60 minutes and check the boxes; however, strength has a few more rules for fat loss,' Lee explains. 'Progressively increasing reps and/or weights and monitoring rest intervals to promote muscle growth becomes a factor when you're trying to burn off those last few areas of stubborn fat.'Cardio vs. Strength Training: Which Is More Effective for Burning Belly Fat? It's clear that cardio and strength training each promote fat loss in their own way. But when you're deciding which is more effective to focus on, experts agree there's a clear winner. 'Strength training is king when it comes to 'reshaping' your body,' Lee says. 'Cardio can make you look like a smaller version of yourself, so yes, your waistline will shrink. However, when it comes to changing the way your body looks—including a smaller waist—strength training builds the muscle that shapes your body.' LaNeve advocates for strength training due to its many benefits: increased metabolic rate, sustained lean muscle, and healthy aging. 'When it comes to shrinking the waistline, all forms of strength training have value, but circuit-style resistance training and compound movements—whether using bodyweight, moderate weights, or heavy lifting—are especially effective,' LaNeve tells us. 'Circuit training combines strength and elevated heart rate for greater calorie burn, while heavy lifting builds lean muscle that boosts metabolism. Bodyweight strength is highly accessible and improves core stability. The key is consistency and progressive overload—challenging the muscles over time to stimulate fat loss and reshape the midsection.' If time is tight and you only have 30 minutes to dedicate to your workout, Zimmer stresses 'intensity is everything.' Circuit-style strength training—which torches fat while building muscle—is key. 'It's like running the gauntlet: five compound moves back-to-back—think dumbbell squats, push-ups, rows, kettlebell swings, and mountain climbers—40 seconds on, 20 seconds off, for four total rounds,' Zimmer says. 'It's efficient, relentless, and insanely effective for carving out the waistline.' But your routine shouldn't stop there. LaNeve and Lee point out the importance of following a nutritious diet and certain healthy lifestyle habits. 'Exercise alone isn't enough—habits like sleep, stress management, and diet strongly influence whether cardio or strength training actually leads to fat loss,' LaNeve explains. 'Poor sleep and high stress raise cortisol, a hormone linked to belly fat storage. A diet high in protein and whole foods fuels workouts and supports recovery. Without these foundations, even the best training plan can fall short of waistline results.'Cardio vs. Strength Training: Which Is Better for Shrinking Middle-Age Belly Fat? first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 18, 2025

What Chris Bumstead's Retirement Taught Him About Strength, Health, and Playing the Long Game
What Chris Bumstead's Retirement Taught Him About Strength, Health, and Playing the Long Game

Yahoo

time4 days ago

  • Entertainment
  • Yahoo

What Chris Bumstead's Retirement Taught Him About Strength, Health, and Playing the Long Game

One thing most retired athletes can agree on? It's brutally hard to accept that their playing days are over. While many go on to do something adjacent—coaching, commentary, business—nothing compares to the roar of the crowd or the adrenaline of stepping on the field or stage. It happens to all of us eventually (well, everyone except maybe Tom Brady), but that doesn't make it any easier to swallow. The truth is, our bodies start to decline, priorities shift, and injuries become more frequent, a reality six-time Mr. Olympia Chris Bumstead knows all too well. Last year, Bumstead surprised fans and judges when he announced his retirement at just 30 years old. With the birth of his daughter and a nagging shoulder injury keeping him out of the gym, he's shifting his focus. Now, it's all about playing the long game, staying healthy and strong so he can chase his kids around for years to come."I've started shifting toward a mix of athletic and functional training," he told Men's Journal. "I want to be able to do things like sprint, jump, and maybe even play basketball again. That's partly for me, but also for the future, so I can run around and play sports with my kids." But don't let his focus on longevity fool you, Bumstead still wants to be an absolute animal in the gym. And honestly, who can blame him? If you were one of the most jacked guys to ever walk across the Olympia stage, you'd want to stay that way, too. "At the same time, I still love bodybuilding and hypertrophy, so I'm keeping that in the mix," he adds. "The mix is just more balanced now. I have new goals, and I'm excited to train with that kind of purpose in mind. The goal is to be a 'jacklete,' both jacked and athletic." For most of the past two decades (he started bodybuilding at just 14), Bumstead's focus was all about getting as big and shredded as possible. But since retiring, he's shifted gears. These days, it's less about chasing aesthetics or moving huge weight (though that still plays a role) and more about keeping his body healthy. "It's about training smart, taking de-loads, knowing when to pull back, and prioritizing the stuff you don't always want to do–mobility, stretching, isometrics, injury prevention, all of it," he says. "Right now, I'm doing a lot of rotator cuff work for my shoulder and stuff to help stabilize my knees. It's definitely not the glamorous side of training, but it's the work you need to put in to stay in the game long-term." He's also not living in the gym like he once was. While he's still training regularly, he's now focused on becoming a better all-around athlete, not just a bodybuilder. "With my intention of becoming more athletic, I need to do a lot more remedial structural balance work, such as training my tendons, mobility, etc," he says. "I have also started doing more light cardio, like bike rides outdoors and hikes when I get the chance to focus more on my cardiovascular health." What Chris Bumstead's Retirement Taught Him About Strength, Health, and Playing the Long Game first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 15, 2025

Dietitian Reveals Best Ways to Improve Body Odor
Dietitian Reveals Best Ways to Improve Body Odor

Yahoo

time4 days ago

  • Health
  • Yahoo

Dietitian Reveals Best Ways to Improve Body Odor

A recent study showed that some foods impact the smell of body odor in a negative way. New Jersey-based dietitian Erin Palinski-Wade revealed those foods in a study via Fox News, and they are as follows: Fish, spices, vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts and red meat. On the flip side, Palinski-Wade also gave a very helpful tip and named some foods that can help improve body odor. "Foods like apples, leafy greens, yogurt and green tea may help to neutralize odor-causing compounds and support beneficial gut bacteria, which can reduce unpleasant body odors." Palinski-Wade gave some more information and tips to improve body odor. "Staying well-hydrated and focusing on supporting metabolic health by improving quality sleep, reducing stress and staying active can all help to improve overall body odor." Of course, the best way is to bathe regularly, which seems obvious. Other ways to do so are cutting down on foods that are rich in sulfur, cutting down on spicy foods and drinking more water. It's a big issue, and a study in 2024 showed that 72% of men are anxious about how they smell, per the New York Post. On that note, 51% didn't know how to fix that issue. It seems that Palinski-Wade has given quite a few suggestions for those looking to cut down on their body Reveals Best Ways to Improve Body Odor first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 15, 2025

Study Finds Best and Worst States for Business in 2025
Study Finds Best and Worst States for Business in 2025

Yahoo

time7 days ago

  • Business
  • Yahoo

Study Finds Best and Worst States for Business in 2025

Looking to start a business in 2025? You may want to check out this study from CNBC that gives some insight into which states are the best for businesses. The study takes a look at all 50 states and ranks them from best to worst when it comes to running a business there, according to CNBC's Scott Cohn. The metrics used for the rankings include, but are not limited to, the state's economy, infrastructure, workforce, cost of doing business, business friendliness and quality of life. Coming in at No. 1 on the list for the third time in four years was North Carolina. The rest of the top 10 is Texas, Florida, Virginia, Ohio, Michigan, Georgia, Tennessee, Indiana and Minnesota. "North Carolina's biggest strengths are in the categories of economy, workforce, and business friendliness," Cohn explained. "But federal budget cuts, tariffs and the recovery from Hurricane Helene could threaten its dominance." When it comes to the worst state for business, Alaska owns that title. Preceding Alaska in the bottom 10, from No. 49 to No. 41, were Hawaii, Montana, Rhode Island, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Maine, Nevada and Arkansas. Two of the biggest states in the country based on population, California and New York, ranked No. 22 and 23, respectively. Cohn notes that Massachusetts, which landed at No. 20 on the list, saw the biggest improvement from Finds Best and Worst States for Business in 2025 first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 12, 2025

Popular Eastern fried chicken chain fights bankruptcy to stay open
Popular Eastern fried chicken chain fights bankruptcy to stay open

Yahoo

time12-06-2025

  • Business
  • Yahoo

Popular Eastern fried chicken chain fights bankruptcy to stay open

A beloved fried chicken chain based on the East Coast is struggling to keep its doors open. Sticky's, formerly known as Sticky's Chicken Joint, launched in 2012 and became famous in New York and New Jersey for its farm-raised, antibiotic-free chicken with a variety of sauces such as 'Thai Sweet Chili' and 'Caribbean Sweet Heat.' Operating 12 locations across New York and New Jersey, the restaurant chain filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in April 2024 in a bid to cut its debts. The filing for bankruptcy was largely due to the severe impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, as Sticky's heavily relied on New York City foot traffic and has since had a hard time bouncing back, Mens Journal wrote. As a potential resolution, Sticky's received a $2 million cash offer from Harker Palmer Investors. The deal would involve the investors purchasing the chain, taking responsibility for some of its debts and preventing Sticky's from moving Chapter 11 bankruptcy into Chapter 7 liquidation, Food Republic wrote. However, the restaurant is still actively seeking approval for a new Chapter 11 bankruptcy plan. The proposed sale received pushback from the Justice Department's bankruptcy watchdog, the U.S. Trustee, claiming the deal would give Palmer 'too much legal protection if the company were sued in the future,' according to the Daily Mail. Sticky's warned last week that it would be forced into Chapter 7 liquidation, causing the shutdown of all stores and leaving creditors empty-handed if the sale is not approved. Read the original article on MassLive.

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