Cardio burns calories during the session and builds heart health; strength training preserves/builds muscle and supports a higher resting burn. For fat loss, a mix is ideal: cardio for a direct calorie burn, lifting to keep muscle so more loss is fat. The best exercise is the one you’ll keep doing — consistency matters more than the "perfect" modality.

Key facts:

  • Cardio = during-session burn
  • Lifting = preserves muscle
  • Mix is ideal
  • Consistency wins