Too much cardio?

LosingLaurensWay
LosingLaurensWay Posts: 86 Member
edited November 9 in Fitness and Exercise
So I'm in the middle of a plateau. I've lost 138 but I have been gaining and loosing the same 8lbs over the past month. I uped my cardio from 30 to 50-60 minutes, mostly high intensity. However, I've noticed if I don't have time during the holidays I've been squeezing in cardio and letting my weight training slide during time crunches. I feel like I should still weight train and made do a little less cardio in these cases. Just looking for some feedback.

Side note: my usual routine is leg day/ 30min cardio, upper body day/30min cardio, then on my rest day I do a longer cardio session. Then rinse and repeat.

Replies

  • SingingSingleTracker
    SingingSingleTracker Posts: 1,866 Member
    There is always 90 minutes to 2+ hours of cardio a day to burn through everything if you like to bike or run. B)

  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    When I have to choose one or the other, I usually pick the weight room and get in and lift...unless I'm in endurance training season and then I choose my bike. Really, it depends on what your fitness goals are at the moment.
  • rybo
    rybo Posts: 5,424 Member
    If having to choose between the 2, I'd prefer/recommend weights over cardio
  • MagnumBurrito
    MagnumBurrito Posts: 1,070 Member
    I'd make the long cardio/rest day into a lifting only day. Even if it's only assistance work.
  • getalife9353
    getalife9353 Posts: 100 Member
    It mostly depends on what your goals are. Myself, at this point I would do cardio, because it fits my objectives better right now, but in a few months that might change. If you find yourself short on time, you could alternate between doing weight one time and cardio the next, or if it is just occasionally do which ever and don't worry about it.
  • 47Jacqueline
    47Jacqueline Posts: 6,993 Member
    Cardio is good for fat burning. If you"re really on a plateau I would stick with that.
  • mymodernbabylon
    mymodernbabylon Posts: 1,038 Member
    47Jacqueline wrote: »
    Cardio is good for fat burning. If you"re really on a plateau I would stick with that.

    So is weight training - I've lost more fat weight training than I ever did while doing cardio. BUT what I would point out is that you said that you do cardio during your REST day...why not take a day off to allow your body to heal?
  • SingingSingleTracker
    SingingSingleTracker Posts: 1,866 Member
    The real choice is simple since you are in a yo-yo plateau. If you want to break through you either have to eat less calories - or pick up the burn side of the equation of CICO. Of course, you can do both to bust through the plateau...

    Great primer to work through that plateau here.
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    LosingLaurensWay wrote: »
    I've lost 138 but I have been gaining and loosing the same 8lbs over the past month.

    So you're not consistently in deficit? Are you managing your intake using MFP or TDEE?
    I uped my cardio from 30 to 50-60 minutes, mostly high intensity.

    What has driven that decision? If you've doubled the duration then I'd question whether you're sustaining the same quality of training for that time?
    However, I've noticed if I don't have time during the holidays I've been squeezing in cardio and letting my weight training slide during time crunches. I feel like I should still weight train and made do a little less cardio in these cases.

    Sounds like you know the answer, if you're still consuming the same level of energy but not burning it off then you're not going to lose weight.


  • peter56765
    peter56765 Posts: 352 Member
    edited December 2014
    Cardio strengthens and conditions your heart muscle, which is the most important muscle in your entire body. Heart disease is still the #1 killer in the USA and there is no way to be healthy without good heart health. The CDC and AHA recommend 150 minutes of moderate cardio exercise per week or 75 minutes of intense cardio. That's a tall order. Weight training is valuable too and most people prefer it but don't neglect the cardio.

    Having said that, OP seems to be doing more than enough of both cardio (everyday) and weight training (6 days/wk). Assuming OP still needs to lose weight, the answer would more likely come from eating less rather than exercising more.
  • SueInAz
    SueInAz Posts: 6,592 Member
    peter56765 wrote: »
    Having said that, OP seems to be doing more than enough of both cardio (everyday) and weight training (6 days/wk). Assuming OP still needs to lose weight, the answer would more likely come from eating less rather than exercising more.

    +1
  • jdhcm2006
    jdhcm2006 Posts: 2,254 Member
    peter56765 wrote: »
    Cardio strengthens and conditions your heart muscle, which is the most important muscle in your entire body. Heart disease is still the #1 killer in the USA and there is no way to be healthy without good heart health. The CDC and AHA recommend 150 minutes of moderate cardio exercise per week or 75 minutes of intense cardio. That's a tall order. Weight training is valuable too and most people prefer it but don't neglect the cardio.

    Having said that, OP seems to be doing more than enough of both cardio (everyday) and weight training (6 days/wk). Assuming OP still needs to lose weight, the answer would more likely come from eating less rather than exercising more.

    All of this. I think a healthy balance is key between cardio and strength training.

    OP - it sounds like you may not be logging diligently. It all comes down to, in my opinion, calories in calories out. You may have too many calories coming in and not enough going out. If it were me, I would look at my calorie consumption and not my exercise.
  • acorsaut89
    acorsaut89 Posts: 1,147 Member
    If you're able to cut your intake, I'd do weight training.

    If you want to keep the same intake (due to the holidays, busy schedules, etc) then I would stick with cardio.

    You can lose a lot of fat with weight training yes, but with cardio you can keep your intake at what it is now. Totally your call on that one.
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    So, you're lifting 4ish days per week and doing cardio 5ish days per week? Am I following that correctly?

    If you're plateaued, it's likely NOT from exercise. You've lost a lot of weight - have you recalculated your TDEE since you lost the weight? Are you still logging food as completely, accurately and consistently as you should be? Are you sure? Are you still giving your workouts the same intensity/effort? And just to be clear, intensity/effort is not always reflected in speed, distance, weight, or reps. As you get more fit, you should also be getting faster and stronger, so if you're lifting the same weight and running the same speed, your intensity is actually less than what it was when you started.
  • splashtree5
    splashtree5 Posts: 210 Member
    I cut cardio I stay only in weight lifting, too much high the overall burning.
  • dandt_sam
    dandt_sam Posts: 11
    I am new to this site and am no expert. I recently went and met with a dietician and she told me no more than 30min cardio. Put the extra into weight training. She is fifty and just placed 2nd in a local triathlon. She swears that weights help you lose more quickly.
  • SingingSingleTracker
    SingingSingleTracker Posts: 1,866 Member
    CICO: http://www.acaloriecounter.com/blog/why-am-i-not-losing-weight/
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