Diet is in check, now should I add cardio? Or weight lifting?

jrauch10

Hello fellow MFP'ers:

I'm 3 weeks in and feel a lot of motivation to add more to my program. I've started a C25K (couch to 5k) which feels good and the calories burned help my net caloric intake stay under goal.

I've read a lot of conflicting information about cardio and weight training. It seems the bodybuilders say cardio won't help weight loss much, and may actually facilitate the loss of muscle. On the other hand cardio seems great help for staying inside my caloric deficit.

Are there two schools of thought? Can I, should I do both?

Thanks!

jrauch10

Oh, couple other things:

I am 255lbs and I think I should weigh about 180. I have three longer term goals - great health, some muscle definition, and generally great fitness.

I plugged my stats into MyFitnessPal and asked for a 2lb per week weight loss, and it gave me a goal of 2,070 calories per day. The first few days there was a lot of hunger but am now three weeks in and feel great; I'm not struggling to stay under the goal.

DrLauraDVM16

Don't overthink or over-research this. Any physical activity burns calories and helps weight loss. I think you have to do more cardio than most humans are capable of to actually lose muscle, so, cardio away to your heart's content. On the other hand, weight lifting obviously helps build muscle and increase tone, and it also feels great. For me, weight lifting is the one thing I do even when my diet sucks and I'm too lazy to do cardio, because it's self rewarding. Getting stronger is great for the ego, which is good for motivation.

Bottom line: do both. Find activities you love and keep doing them. You've got this. Congratulations on your new, healthier lifestyle!

navyrigger46

I wish I would have been lifting from day one, it took me about four months before I added it, and I'll never look back.

Rigger

callsitlikeiseeit

whichever one you want. do one. do both. whatever.

i do a lot of cardio and a bit of strength training. it works for me. Once i get closer to my goal weight I will be focusing on body recomp and do more lifting, but for NOW, weight and fat loss is my primary goal.

jjsilcox96

I do both but more strength then cardio

jemhh

I prefer to do both.

You have to do quite a bit of cardio and not not fuel your body right for it to facilitate the loss of muscle. A well rounded mix of cardio and strength training is not going to cause you problems in that respect.

slaite1

Diet for weight loss, cardio for health, weightlifting for sexiness.

You're already running, certainly don't stop! Try adding in some lifting as well, you'll look (and feel) much better as you lose. Look up a simple program and try adding it in. Either way, you're doing awesome so far!!

Rayman79

slaite1 wrote: »

Diet for weight loss, cardio for health, weightlifting for sexiness.

You're already running, certainly don't stop! Try adding in some lifting as well, you'll look (and feel) much better as you lose. Look up a simple program and try adding it in. Either way, you're doing awesome so far!!

So much this!

I think everyone should include some resistance training for overall health. Strength is not the only benefit. You will also see increased muscle mass (which burns more calories), an increase in bone density, improved posture etc.

Just find what works for you, the balance of resistance training and cardio is ideal. Find stuff you enjoy and are going to stick to, that is my main piece of advice.

jrauch10

Thanks for the comments everyone, it seems like it would be great to add some weight training to balance out the cardio and get some benefits that neither running or dieting will bring.

I have been looking at some beginner 5x5 routines; are these appropriate to use while on a 1,000 calorie deficit?