Should your cardio and weight program be kept separate? Is it better to have "weight" days and "cardio" days or is it beneficial to combine your programs. The most effective workout you can do is one that boosts your metabolism, works your large muscle groups, and gets your heartrate pumping.

One of the most effective ways to do this is through circuit training. Circuit training combines short-burst of high intensity cardio with strenth training for major muscle groups. It elevates the heartrate, helping you burn calories during the workout and for hours after while your muscles repair themselves. High intenisty cardio can be done in any mode, but the goal is to get yourself out of breath and to not be able to maintain it for more then 30 to 60 seconds. This type of cardio although it is "short" helps to burn more calories then steady-state cardio. It helps to boost your metabolism during and after your workout.

This is not to say that going on a 3-mile jog or going for a bike ride is not beneficial, they definitely are needed. Ulitmately, when your goal is fat-loss, high calorie burn, and you don't have hours on end to exercise, circuit training is going to be most efficient and fun!

So if you aren't already doing it, start including intervals into your workouts, and to really benefit add cardio ("sprints") to your weight workout.