
Fitness Confidential Cardio vs. Strength Training - Episode 2750
Discover the essential differences between cardio and strength training, and how beginners can effectively start their fitness journey. Learn about aerobic versus anaerobic exercises and the importance of gradual progression. Vinnie shares personal success stories, emphasizing the benefits of mixing activities to avoid boredom. He also discusses heart rate zones and the critical role of rest in any training plan. Whether you're lifting weights or taking your first steps, there's practical advice for everyone!
01:10:48
Start With Whatever You Will Actually Do
- Do whatever movement you will actually do to start, even one set or a short walk.
Cardio And Strength Train Different Engines
- Aerobic (cardio) and anaerobic (strength/sprints) train different physiological systems and produce different adaptations.
Mark's Gym Turnaround
- Vinnie guided his brother Mark from 350 lbs to a sustainable gym routine using tiny, repeatable steps and machine workouts.
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Intro
00:00 • 3min
Episode purpose and fitness collection overview
02:36 • 5min
Cardio vs. Strength — where to start
07:41 • 56sec
Practical first steps for absolute beginners
08:36 • 2min
Aerobic vs. anaerobic explained simply
10:28 • 8min
Weightlifting as anaerobic training
18:34 • 1min
Physiological differences and sport specialization
19:34 • 5min
Beginner balance: cardio plus strength
24:14 • 41sec
Mark's transformation: a baby-step approach
24:55 • 4min
Sample beginner machine routine
29:08 • 3min
Progression and habit formation
32:09 • 6min
Finding enjoyment and activity variety
38:15 • 4min
Ad break
42:29 • 45sec
Early signals from weightlifting
43:15 • 4min
Early indicators for cardio progress
47:12 • 3min
Heart rate zones and zone two importance
50:05 • 6min
Maffetone method to calculate Zone 2
56:14 • 3min
Safety and stress testing advice
59:11 • 4min
More is not always better — rest matters
01:03:04 • 4min
Recommended weekly cardio volume
01:06:50 • 4min
Next steps and upcoming weightlifting topic
01:10:47 • 1min
Outro
01:11:55 • 1min
Episode 2750 - Vinnie Tortorich and Chris Shaffer help start your fitness plan with the benefits of cardio vs. strength training and where you should begin. https://vinnietortorich.com/2026/01/cardio-vs-strength-training-episode-2750 PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS Pure Vitamin Club Pure Coffee Club NSNG® Foods VILLA CAPPELLI EAT HAPPY KITCHEN YOU CAN WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE - @FitnessConfidential Podcast Vinnie's workout videos are available to purchase! Choose from a 2-day, 4-day, or 6-day workout–or buy all three at a discount! TO PURCHASE VINNIE'S WORKOUT VIDEOS, CLICK THIS LINK workout videos Cardio vs. Strength Training Where does a beginner start? (5:00) Just start with what you know you can do. If you are sedentary, start with a short walk and gradually increase it each time. Your aerobic vs anaerobic capacity is different things. (9:00) Vinnie gives a list of the variety of things that qualify as each. There are different benefits to cardio and strength training. (17:00) What is recommended? Picking one focus and sticking to it (for example, cardio), or finding a balance between cardio *and* strength training to start? (22:00) Vinnie shares his brother Mark's journey. (23:00) Sometimes, you really do have to start with "baby steps" and grow into the routine. Vinnie likes to consider Zone 2 (70-80% of your cardiac capacity) as cardio; however, if someone is starting, any walk will help them get started. (36:00) In strength training, it can be intoxicating to feel yourself get stronger. (39:00) You will feel the strength before you start seeing visible gains. (43:00) The Zones Vinnie describes the Five Zones; however, you only need to pay attention to four of them. (47:30) The calculation to find Zone 2 (with the Maffetone method) is: 180 - (your age) = desired heart rate, or beats per minute. If you are already active, you can add about five more points to the desired heart rate. Before starting any exercise program, it is highly recommended that you see your doctor first and have a stress test. If you are eating correctly, such as with NSNG®, exercise will help build lean muscle mass. (59:00) More is not always better; sometimes, more recovery is better. (1:01:00) Vinnie recommends 4 or 5 hours a week for cardio, unless you are training for a marathon or similar competition. (1:05:00) A New Sponsor Jaspr Air Scrubbers has a discount code, VINNIE, that gets you $400 off for a limited time. Jaspr offers a lifetime warranty. Go to Jaspr.co for more information or to purchase. Don't forget to sign up for the NSNG VIP group. Vinnie's video workouts will be free to all members! (1:05:00) You can get on the wait list -https://vinnietortorich.com/vip/ Also, you'll want to join as soon as it opens, because once it closes again, it will be closed indefinitely. You can book a consultation with Vinnie to get guidance on your goals. https://vinnietortorich.com/phone-consultation-2/ More News Serena has added some of her clothing suggestions and beauty product suggestions to Vinnie's Amazon Recommended Products link. Self Care, Beauty, and Grooming Products that Actually Work! Don't forget to check out Serena Scott Thomas on Days of Our Lives on the Peacock channel. "Dirty Keto" is available on Amazon! You can purchase or rent it here.https://amzn.to/4d9agj1 Please make sure to watch, rate, and review it! Eat Happy Italian, Anna's next cookbook, is available! You can go to https://eathappyitalian.com You can order it from Vinnie's Book Club. https://amzn.to/3ucIXm Anna's recipes are in her cookbooks, on her website, and on Substack —they will spice up your day! https://annavocino.substack.com/ PURCHASE DIRTY KETO (2024) The documentary launched in August 2024! Order it TODAY! This is Vinnie's fourth documentary in just over five years. Visit my new Documentaries HQ to find my films everywhere: https://vinnietortorich.com/documentaries Then, please share my fact-based, health-focused documentary series with your friends and family. Additionally, the more views it receives, the better it ranks, so please watch it again with a new friend! REVIEWS: Please submit your REVIEW after you watch my films. Your positive REVIEW does matter! PURCHASE BEYOND IMPOSSIBLE (2022) Visit my new Documentaries HQ to find my films everywhere: https://vinnietortorich.com/documentaries REVIEWS: Please submit your REVIEW after you watch my films. Your positive REVIEW does matter! FAT: A DOCUMENTARY 2 (2021) Visit my new Documentaries HQ to find my films everywhere: https://vinnietortorich.com/documentaries FAT: A DOCUMENTARY (2019) Visit my new Documentaries HQ to find my films everywhere: https://vinnietortorich.com/documentaries



