Interval training vs. Regular Cardio
hawks2488
Posts: 26 Member
Is interval training better than cardio for weight loss ? I am plateauing again and need to drop at least 10 lbs in the next two weeks.
Also I haven't really been lifting in the past few weeks and started today. Is this going to make me gain weight if I start lifting 3 days a week ?
Also I haven't really been lifting in the past few weeks and started today. Is this going to make me gain weight if I start lifting 3 days a week ?
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Replies
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To me, it all comes down to overall calorie burn. I feel I can burn more calories in a shorter time doing interval training vs. steady-state cardio. I still do both, depending on my mood or the time of day.
10lbs. in 2 weeks is going to come down to your diet for the most part.
Lifting weights does NOT make you gain weight. Excess calories does.0 -
Calorie deficit for weight loss!
"Is interval training better than cardio for weight loss ?"
Depends on duration and intensity of both. Hard to beat a 100 mile cycle for burning calories.....
"Also I haven't really been lifting in the past few weeks and started today. Is this going to make me gain weight if I start lifting 3 days a week ?"
Sore muscles may lead to temporary inflamation - is that what you mean?
" I am plateauing again and need to drop at least 10 lbs in the next two weeks."
Huh?0 -
Either form of cardio is fine and neither necessarily burns more calories then the other. Intervals will typically burn more calories a minute, but you can only do intervals for so long before you are too fatigued to continue, while many can do steady state cardio for hours if they choose.
Lifting will probably make you retain some water weight for a few days to a week.
10 lbs in 2 weeks? Unless you have a lot of water to lose, that won't happen. That's a 17,500 calorie deficit EACH WEEK! 1-2 lbs a week is much more realistic. Maybe even 3 if you're obese, but 5 lbs a week might be a bit to aggressive.0 -
10 lbs in 2 weeks?!!!!! NO. You don't have realistic weight loss goals.0
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You already have your answer on HIIT vs. steady state cardio. You may see a temporary gain in water weight if you start a new exercise regimen, especially an intense one.
If you don't already know it, weight loss is created from a calorie deficit, it's not about exercise. Since you'd need to burn 35,000 calories more than you eat in the next two weeks to lose 10 pounds of fat, unless you have a lot of water weight to lose, you can see that 10 pounds in two weeks isn't realistic. I'm assuming you have some sort of a weight loss challenge going on otherwise you wouldn't be trying to hit such an overly aggressive goal.0 -
I don't think 10 Lbs in 2 weeks is a realistic expectation.
At any rate, diet for weight control; exercise for fitness.0 -
I've lost 5 in a week before so it's possible. I'm just plateauing the last few weeks and it's aggravating me so I changed up my workout today.0
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Yes it happened in the beginning. It was water weight. I can't understand why I am not losing. I am eating 1500 calories a day working out almost every day, watching my sodium and sugars and nothing. I've been plateauing for a few weeks so I just wanted to change things up to see if it helps
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I've lost 5 in a week before so it's possible. I'm just plateauing the last few weeks and it's aggravating me so I changed up my workout today.
Well tyen, clearly you know better than us, and you don't need our advice.
But, since you did ask for advice, your expectations are too high, especially since you didn't just start the weight loss process (when you see the highest rate if loss).
As others have said, deficit is king; ho we you get there is preference. At one point I loved hiit because I was in and out of the gym. But, I found myself spending more time in the kitchen. So for me, it turns out steady state cardio is better because it is more time not in the house when I don't have self control.0 -
I've lost 5 in a week before so it's possible. I'm just plateauing the last few weeks and it's aggravating me so I changed up my workout today.
Well tyen, clearly you know better than us, and you don't need our advice.
But, since you did ask for advice, your expectations are too high, especially since you didn't just start the weight loss process (when you see the highest rate if loss).
As others have said, deficit is king; ho we you get there is preference. At one point I loved hiit because I was in and out of the gym. But, I found myself spending more time in the kitchen. So for me, it turns out steady state cardio is better because it is more time not in the house when I don't have self control.
So I know more than everyone in here... really? Please show me where I said that...
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Ok let me ask this. I weigh myself on Friday mornings. Should I not work out on Thursday ? Am I retaining water because I have an intense workout on Thursday ? I admit the ten pound loss is not going to happen. If I could lose 6 in 2 weeks I'll be happy.0
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Are you actually eating 1500 calories or are you netting 1500 calories?0
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Ok let me ask this. I weigh myself on Friday mornings. Should I not work out on Thursday ? Am I retaining water because I have an intense workout on Thursday ? I admit the ten pound loss is not going to happen. If I could lose 6 in 2 weeks I'll be happy.
Skipping workouts to try to manipulate a weigh-in to appear lower sounds pretty useless to me. You won't actually have any less fat in your body, just a little less water. Why does seeing a smaller number on the scale matter so much? Keep doing the right things and the weight/fat loss will happen.0 -
Ok let me ask this. I weigh myself on Friday mornings. Should I not work out on Thursday ? Am I retaining water because I have an intense workout on Thursday ? I admit the ten pound loss is not going to happen. If I could lose 6 in 2 weeks I'll be happy.
No. I'd rather workout, than skip a workout in order to weigh in the next day. Unless you're a competitor, keep working out and don't beat yourself up on the scale.0 -
Are you more concerned with fat losses or how water weight manipulates the number on the scale? If the former is true, do not skip your workout. If the latter is true, then skip that workout, go ultra low sodium the day before as well, maybe even go for a 1-2 hour session in a sauna. You will surely see a lower number on the scale.Ok let me ask this. I weigh myself on Friday mornings. Should I not work out on Thursday ? Am I retaining water because I have an intense workout on Thursday ? I admit the ten pound loss is not going to happen. If I could lose 6 in 2 weeks I'll be happy.
As far as fat loss is concerned, the caloric deficit is the main factor. 1500 calories is pretty low for a man. How accurate is your calorie counting? Are you weighing 100% of what you eat on a food scale or do you estimate or use things meant for liquids like cups and spoons? Do you take cheat days? How about eating out?
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Are you weighing or at least measuring your food so that you're confident that you're actually eating 1500 calories? If not, you'd be surprised to learn how far off calories for food portions can be if you're just eyeballing them or guessing as opposed to actually weighing the food.
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Why are you intent on losing 10 pounds in 2 weeks? I see you are backing off on that goal a bit now but what is (was) the significance or 10 pounds in 2 weeks?0
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Yeah the thing is - if you believe that the number on the scale is the most important indicator of health, then you should just do cardio. No lifting. If you would rather go a route that you'll probably be happier with long-term i.e. overall fitness, then you have to be prepared for the scale to act weird. Try measuring yourself instead, I find that when the scale moves then the measuring tape does not and vice versa.0
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Why are you intent on losing 10 pounds in 2 weeks? I see you are backing off on that goal a bit now but what is (was) the significance or 10 pounds in 2 weeks?
This will sound goofy..but 10 lbs lighter is when i was able to sit in an airplane seat comfortably without a seat belt extender. So that's what I'm gunning for. I know 10 lbs in a week is unrealistic. I looked back at my weight logs from the past, I've lost as much as 8 in 2 weeks before. I think I can lose at least 5 lbs in 2 weeks...0 -
Are you weighing or at least measuring your food so that you're confident that you're actually eating 1500 calories? If not, you'd be surprised to learn how far off calories for food portions can be if you're just eyeballing them or guessing as opposed to actually weighing the food.
90% of the time I am measuring my food. I eat a lot of cereal. Cheerios / Rice Krispies. Not ones loaded in sugar. I have my measuring cups at work. Or I will eat Progresso Light Soup which is low in calories. When I go home, I eat a bigger meal. Usually eat around 600-700 in the day time then the balance at night. I give myself three cheat meals per week.0 -
Are you more concerned with fat losses or how water weight manipulates the number on the scale? If the former is true, do not skip your workout. If the latter is true, then skip that workout, go ultra low sodium the day before as well, maybe even go for a 1-2 hour session in a sauna. You will surely see a lower number on the scale.Ok let me ask this. I weigh myself on Friday mornings. Should I not work out on Thursday ? Am I retaining water because I have an intense workout on Thursday ? I admit the ten pound loss is not going to happen. If I could lose 6 in 2 weeks I'll be happy.
As far as fat loss is concerned, the caloric deficit is the main factor. 1500 calories is pretty low for a man. How accurate is your calorie counting? Are you weighing 100% of what you eat on a food scale or do you estimate or use things meant for liquids like cups and spoons? Do you take cheat days? How about eating out?
I'm supposed to eat 2000 but I think that's really high. I get full really fast now. I would say I portion 90% of what I eat. I do have a food scale and I use that and I have measuring cups. I don't take cheat days. But I have 3 cheat meals a week. One on Friday after I weigh in, one Saturday and one Sunday. Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday I am good.0 -
Yeah the thing is - if you believe that the number on the scale is the most important indicator of health, then you should just do cardio. No lifting. If you would rather go a route that you'll probably be happier with long-term i.e. overall fitness, then you have to be prepared for the scale to act weird. Try measuring yourself instead, I find that when the scale moves then the measuring tape does not and vice versa.
That makes a lot of sense what you said. I used to weigh myself daily and it made me nuts. I'm just worried because I'll be in California and Vegas in 3 weeks. In N Out Burger, Del Taco and Tommys = 4 lbs. LOL0 -
Why are you intent on losing 10 pounds in 2 weeks? I see you are backing off on that goal a bit now but what is (was) the significance or 10 pounds in 2 weeks?
This will sound goofy..but 10 lbs lighter is when i was able to sit in an airplane seat comfortably without a seat belt extender. So that's what I'm gunning for. I know 10 lbs in a week is unrealistic. I looked back at my weight logs from the past, I've lost as much as 8 in 2 weeks before. I think I can lose at least 5 lbs in 2 weeks...
I get that goal.
Since you're lifting, though, you should be thinking less about pounds and more about inches. Sofaking6 has it right. If you want to focus solely on pounds as a measurement you shouldn't be lifting. It's going to skew things with regards to your weight. However, in my opinion lifting is more important than doing cardio. It is much easier to maintain the muscle you already have than to build new muscle. When we lose weight it is a combination of water, fat and muscle. Strength training helps to retain the muscle you already have and your body has built up a lot of muscle mass to move around your extra weight. If you can keep that muscle as you lose weight you're going to look amazing when you've lost the fat that is covering them. I started lifting last year and while I haven't lost a lot of weight, I've lost inches. I'm wearing clothes I could previously only wear when I weighed 10 pounds less than I do now. And on me, 10 pounds is quite a bit.
Since the seat on the airplane doesn't have a built in scale, it seems to me that your goal is really size-based and not scale-based, am I right? Grab a tape measure and start tracking your chest, waist, hips, thighs and any other body part you want to track and start recording them in MFP now. When the scale isn't moving your body might still be shrinking. Also take a photo of yourself in your swimsuit or boxers and keep it for reference.0 -
Why are you intent on losing 10 pounds in 2 weeks? I see you are backing off on that goal a bit now but what is (was) the significance or 10 pounds in 2 weeks?
This will sound goofy..but 10 lbs lighter is when i was able to sit in an airplane seat comfortably without a seat belt extender. So that's what I'm gunning for. I know 10 lbs in a week is unrealistic. I looked back at my weight logs from the past, I've lost as much as 8 in 2 weeks before. I think I can lose at least 5 lbs in 2 weeks...
I get that goal. Since you're lifting, though, you should be thinking less about pounds and more about inches. Sofaking6 has it right. If you want to focus solely on pounds as a measurement you shouldn't be lifting. It's going to skew things with regards to your weight. However, in my opinion lifting is more important than doing cardio. It is much easier to maintain the muscle you already have than to build new muscle. When we lose weight it is a combination of water, fat and muscle. Strength training helps to retain the muscle you already have and your body has built up a lot of muscle mass to move around your extra weight. If you can keep that muscle as you lose weight you're going to look amazing when you've lost the fat that is covering them. I started lifting last year and while I haven't lost a lot of weight, I've lost inches. I'm wearing clothes I could previously only wear when I weighed 10 pounds less than I do now. And on me, 10 pounds is quite a bit.
Since the seat on the airplane doesn't have a built in scale, it seems to me that your goal is really size-based and not scale-based, am I right? Grab a tape measure and start tracking your chest, waist, hips, thighs and any other body part you want to track and start recording them in MFP now. When the scale isn't moving your body might still be shrinking. Also take a photo of yourself in your swimsuit or boxers and keep it for reference.
That's some good advice. I try not to obsess about the number on the scale anymore, but it's hard. I'm down to weighing myself once a week. I used to weigh myself daily. I'm plateauing again. So this morning I switched my workout up. I did several bursts of interval training on the treadmill and I lifted for the first time in a few weeks. I'm going to do legs and back tomorrow, not lift on Wednesday and do just cardio and no work out on Thursday and see what happens... I think I'm just bummed that I gained like 25 lbs since September. I've lost as much as 110 lbs, gained a little back, lost it, gained it again and the yo-yo is never ending...0 -
Then perhaps you should listen to all the advice you have gotten. It's not reasonable to expect to lose 5lbs a week. Don't try and change your workouts to try and manipulate the scale; you won't see those changes reflected in an airline seat.I've lost 5 in a week before so it's possible. I'm just plateauing the last few weeks and it's aggravating me so I changed up my workout today.
Well tyen, clearly you know better than us, and you don't need our advice.
But, since you did ask for advice, your expectations are too high, especially since you didn't just start the weight loss process (when you see the highest rate if loss).
As others have said, deficit is king; ho we you get there is preference. At one point I loved hiit because I was in and out of the gym. But, I found myself spending more time in the kitchen. So for me, it turns out steady state cardio is better because it is more time not in the house when I don't have self control.
So I know more than everyone in here... really? Please show me where I said that...
Pick a reasonable calorie goal and select a workout you enjoy. Stick with it for the long term, and let what happens happen.0 -
And I used to swim when I went to the gym. I just got new tattoo last week and now I can't swim for a few weeks--and swimming burns a lot of calories!0
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Then perhaps you should listen to all the advice you have gotten. It's not reasonable to expect to lose 5lbs a week. Don't try and change your workouts to try and manipulate the scale; you won't see those changes reflected in an airline seat.I've lost 5 in a week before so it's possible. I'm just plateauing the last few weeks and it's aggravating me so I changed up my workout today.
Well tyen, clearly you know better than us, and you don't need our advice.
But, since you did ask for advice, your expectations are too high, especially since you didn't just start the weight loss process (when you see the highest rate if loss).
As others have said, deficit is king; ho we you get there is preference. At one point I loved hiit because I was in and out of the gym. But, I found myself spending more time in the kitchen. So for me, it turns out steady state cardio is better because it is more time not in the house when I don't have self control.
So I know more than everyone in here... really? Please show me where I said that...
Pick a reasonable calorie goal and select a workout you enjoy. Stick with it for the long term, and let what happens happen.
I have come to realize that 10 lbs in 2 weeks is not going to happen.. I'm trying to switch my workout up because I'm plateauing. I usually just do the treadmill and the elliptical and I've lost like 5 lbs since the 1st of January..so I think you're supposed to keep your same routine for 6 weeks and then switch up?
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You actually don't have to switch your programing. How long have you been plateauing? Weight loss is not linear and there are periods where you won't lose. The easiest way through them is to have patience, tighten up your logging (making sure you're being accurate), and keeping up the same intensity of your exercise. Also, your calorie goal should be recalculated every 5lbs.
Then perhaps you should listen to all the advice you have gotten. It's not reasonable to expect to lose 5lbs a week. Don't try and change your workouts to try and manipulate the scale; you won't see those changes reflected in an airline seat.I've lost 5 in a week before so it's possible. I'm just plateauing the last few weeks and it's aggravating me so I changed up my workout today.
Well tyen, clearly you know better than us, and you don't need our advice.
But, since you did ask for advice, your expectations are too high, especially since you didn't just start the weight loss process (when you see the highest rate if loss).
As others have said, deficit is king; ho we you get there is preference. At one point I loved hiit because I was in and out of the gym. But, I found myself spending more time in the kitchen. So for me, it turns out steady state cardio is better because it is more time not in the house when I don't have self control.
So I know more than everyone in here... really? Please show me where I said that...
Pick a reasonable calorie goal and select a workout you enjoy. Stick with it for the long term, and let what happens happen.
I have come to realize that 10 lbs in 2 weeks is not going to happen.. I'm trying to switch my workout up because I'm plateauing. I usually just do the treadmill and the elliptical and I've lost like 5 lbs since the 1st of January..so I think you're supposed to keep your same routine for 6 weeks and then switch up?
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