#Cardio

A new study in the Journal of Exercise Science and Fitness has delivered clear guidance for anyone in Thailand juggling weights and cardio in their workout routines: do your strength training before hitting the treadmill if you want maximum gains and fat loss. The research, which comes as fitness is becoming a stronger trend in Thai society alongside the country’s continuing battle with obesity and non-communicable diseases, suggests that the order of your workouts can make a notable difference for your desired results, offering practical insight for both seasoned athletes and casual gymgoers alike (T3, Yahoo! Lifestyle).

A recent study from the Journal of Exercise Science and Fitness offers clear guidance for Thais balancing weights and cardio in everyday workouts: begin with resistance training before cardio for better strength and fat loss. As fitness grows in popularity across Thailand, this finding provides practical guidance for both serious athletes and casual gym members. Data from researchers and echoed by international studies underline that workout order matters for outcomes, not just routine.

A new trend is quietly reshaping how Thais approach wellness. While running, cycling, and group aerobics remain common, resistance training—weightlifting—is gaining traction as a sustainable, empowering alternative or complement to cardio. Experts say it can boost metabolism, strength, and bone health, with meaningful benefits for women and anyone feeling exhausted by traditional cardio routines.

The shift gained visibility after a fitness enthusiast discovered a post about a woman who built a fit, toned body through brief, consistent weightlifting while eating more. The story challenged common myths about body image, calories, and women’s relationships with strength training. It sparked conversations that resonate with many Thai readers who juggle busy lives and societal expectations around fitness.

For years, popular wisdom — and much of the Thai public’s workout regimen — has focused heavily on running, cycling, aerobics, or other forms of cardiovascular exercise as the best path to health and a desirable body. But a new wave of research and expert discussion signals it may be time to rethink our devotion to cardio. Resistance training, more widely known as weightlifting, is rapidly gaining traction as not just an add-on to cardio, but as a potentially more sustainable, empowering pathway to overall fitness, especially among women and those struggling with “exercise burnout” (LA Times).

A wave of new research is challenging the long-held supremacy of traditional cardio workouts for weight loss, pointing instead to the power of metabolic conditioning, or “metcon,” as a more efficient and effective method. Recent studies show that metabolic conditioning, which blends high-intensity intervals with strength-based movements and minimal rest, can lead to greater fat loss, improved cardiovascular health, and preserved muscle mass compared to classic steady-state cardio routines such as jogging or cycling (Women’s Health; Inspire Fitness; Signos).

New research challenges decades of cardio-led weight-loss guidance, highlighting metabolic conditioning, or metcon, as a more efficient approach. Studies show metcon, which blends high-intensity intervals with strength movements and minimal rest, can yield greater fat loss, better cardiovascular health, and preserved muscle mass compared with steady-state cardio such as jogging or cycling.

For many Thais seeking to shed kilos, this shift could mean faster, more durable results. While steady running, swimming, or cycling has long been the default prescription, scientists and accredited exercise professionals now argue that metabolic conditioning offers amplified benefits for fat loss, metabolic health, muscle development, and blood sugar control.

A new exercise trend has swept the fitness world, one that its inventor insists is “Not Pilates”—yet it draws curious crowds precisely because it blends elements of Pilates and bodybuilding into an intense, science-driven workout. This hybrid phenomenon, known as the Lagree Method, has attracted global attention and continues to expand, with recent features in the Los Angeles Times as well as fitness blogs and scientific reports discussing not only its popularity but also its unique physiological benefits (LA Times, Lagree Academy, Lagree Fit 415). For Thai readers considering current exercise trends or looking for fresh ways to stay healthy, this global movement offers intriguing lessons.

A global fitness trend is gaining momentum, marketed as “Not Pilates” yet drawing on the best of both Pilates and bodybuilding. The Lagree Method uses powerful, slow-tempo movements on large Megaformers to deliver a full-body workout that is intense, science-driven, and surprisingly accessible. In Thailand, fitness clubs and studios are taking note as health-conscious audiences seek efficient, low-impact options that still burn calories and build strength.

The movement began with Sebastien Lagree, a Paris-born fitness entrepreneur who relocated to Los Angeles. He noticed clients craved more cardio and challenge than traditional Pilates offered. Combining Pilates-inspired resistance with free weights and multi-joint movements, he developed workouts in his living room before opening a studio. The core equipment soon evolved into the Megaformer, a sturdy, 400-pound machine designed for sustained muscle engagement and high-intensity training.

A retired 74-year-old man’s steadfast commitment to daily exercise over ten years has become a model for boosting energy, health, and longevity—a routine now gaining the approval of medical experts and trainers worldwide. Vincent ‘Vin’ DiMonte of Rhode Island, whose story appeared recently in Business Insider, highlights the power of combining strength training and cardio as key pillars for healthy aging and vibrant living, a message resonant among Thai seniors and fitness newcomers alike Business Insider.

A 74-year-old retiree’s unwavering commitment to daily exercise for more than a decade is becoming a blueprint for healthier aging. The routine blends strength work and cardio, a combination that medical experts and trainers say supports energy, mobility, and quality of life as we grow older. The story of Vincent “Vin” DiMonte from Rhode Island has resonated with international readers and offers practical lessons for Thai seniors and fitness newcomers alike.

Deciding between strength training and cardio is a common dilemma for gym-goers in Thailand. A recent GQ feature and new research suggest the best path is a smart balance, not choosing one side. For Thai health, weight management, and brain health as we age, this approach matters now more than ever.

Both cardio and strength training offer distinct, complementary benefits. Strength training builds lean muscle, boosts metabolism, improves bone density, and lowers injury risk. A respected NHS-registered dietitian notes that resistance work is essential for vitality. Long-term data from a major Harvard study showed those prioritizing strength maintained lower body fat over 12 years, even though cardio workouts burn more calories in the moment. For Thai adults dealing with central obesity, maintaining muscle helps keep metabolism higher and supports healthier waistlines.

Deciding whether to prioritize strength training or cardio is a question that plagues gym-goers and health-seekers worldwide, and Thai fitness enthusiasts are no exception. A recent article in GQ (GQ, 2025), along with a slew of emerging research, sheds new light on the debate, suggesting that a smart balance—not picking sides—is the true key to lifelong health, effective weight loss, and even brain wellness as we age. As Thailand faces its own health challenges, understanding how to tailor our routines to these findings is both timely and relevant.