Cardio vs. Strength Training

HealthyNFit4Life

I've been focusing in strength training and low intensity cardio-like a half hour of cardio per day, as opposed to 45 min-an hour of cardio and minimal strength training. Will this make me lose weight more slowly since I'm doing less cardio?! Thanks!!!

lilcassers

Absolutely not!! Weight training is phenomenal and you burn tons of calories. Just make sure you're lifting heavy!!

I lift 6 days a week and cardio about 4.

JenMc14

You might see a slower loss on the scale, so be sure to take measurements. If you're lifting heavy, you'll be losing mostly fat as compared to those who don't lift regularly who lose fat & LBM. That can show as a slower loss, number-wise, on the scale, but you will likely still lose inches and notice that your clothes are feeling looser.

No_Finish_Line

i imagine your going to get some pretty differnt answers here.

honestly, not sure that its going to make a dramatic difference either way.

You want to do the lifting to hold onto lean body mass... which may ulitimately make the number on the scale go down more slowly, but you will look much better much faster.

I'd say the best thing to do would be mix it up, even if you happen to get better/faster results with one method

No_Finish_Line

always currious what people mean by 'lifting heavy'

to me thats reaching failure in 3-4 reps or less

there are other forms of lifting that are going to burn A LOT more calories

jacksonpt

It's almost impossible to say for sure as there are just way too many variables.

fooninie

Strength training will TOTALLY not slow you down. In fact (and I will say here that I am from the "ladies should lift" camp), I have done both in isolation and I found that doing moderate cardio (I run and spin) and body building 3-4 times per week was the BEST combo. Not only did I feel great, I was seeing results and definition so rapidly!!

I'm excited that you are doing this, I can't say enough about lifting!! (can you tell??) LOL :laugh:

cwolfman13

Weight loss = calorie deficit...which if you're doing MFP is built into your calorie goal. Technically, you can sit on your *kitten* all day and do nothing and eat to your calorie goal and lose weight.

Exercise is for fitness...you feel better, look better, etc when you are fit. Any good fitness regimen is going to incorporate some aspect of both cardio vascular exercise (weight lifting for the heart and cardiovascular system) and resistance training (to train the muscles).

Use your diet for weight control, exercise for fitness. Also, any relatively intense physical activity, including resistance training may mask fat loss on the scale somewhat as you tend to hold on to more water for muscle repair...this is a good thing...it means your body is having a training response and you're not wasting your time.

DRogers43

When I started getting back in shape about 6 months ago, the trainer at my gym recommended doing cardio immediately following my strength training. It makes for a long session, but since I can only go 3X a week..... His reasoning was that doing the cardio right after your strength training helps keep your metabolic rate elevated longer between sessions.

GetSoda

There is no versus. Why not have an overall level of fitness?

If you can squat a truck, but can't run up a flight of stairs...
If you can run a marathon, but can't squat your bodyweight... (That's you + you on a barbell. Not you + nothing.)