Can you just do weight training and cut out cardio?

serapel

I hate cardio. I'd like to cut it out and just concentrate on lifting heavy weights. I'm about 20% body fat, 45 years old and female. I don't need to lose body fat.

I have read that the most important things (in priority sequence) are:

1. diet
2. weight training
3. cardio

The article stated that cardio is not important if you're lifting heavy. true?

quiksylver296

I rarely cardio. I'm mostly all heavy lifting now.

It depends on your goals, of course. My current goals are to deadlift 300 pounds (current 1RM is 280) and to be able to do 5 pull-ups from a dead hang. If my goal were to run a marathon, then I would obviously need to change up my exercise routine.

cwolfman13

Cardio is good for training your cardiovascular system...your heart is a muscle...kind of important to train it just like any other muscle. As a matter of general fitness (weight management aside) I think it's just as important as resistance training. You will get some cardiovascular benefit from lifting, but not to the extent that you would actually doing work directed towards that element of fitness.

RuNaRoUnDaFiEld

I believe that cardio is vital for heart and lung health. You don't have to go full out running or cycling for hours either. There are lot's of different things you can do. A long romantic walk, a game of laser quest with friends. Anything that raises your heart rate for a while.
Is there no cardio you like?

ndj1979

i am not a big cardio fan, but I try to get in some cardio every week whether it is walking, jogging, or some HIIT training....

arditarose

I cut it out. I should probably do SOME for heart health. And that would be my advice to someone else...even though...I don't.

kwtilbury

If your primary interests are strength and aesthetics, cardio isn't as important.

nordlead2005

Its hard to argue which is more important, resistance training or cardio, but you have to do a lot less of them than many people assume. I'd argue that diet is most important regardless of goal, as it can easily prevent accomplishing anything.

Get 30 minutes of walking in per day (on average), and you'll be pretty well off. For resistance training, you can do something as simple as 3 full body compound exercises 3x/week and it doesn't have to be anything particularly tough. If you don't have a goal of having big muscles or being really strong you can stop progressing and just maintain after building a decent amount of strength.

Personally, I lift 3x/week and walk 30 minutes/day and play Ultimate 1x/week. If you asked me, I'd tell you I don't do cardio, but I do, just not as "exercise".

sammyliftsandeats

If you don't like it, then you don't have to do it.

If you walk and climb stairs and are generally an active person, I think that would be enough.

Tedebearduff

serapel wrote: »

I hate cardio. I'd like to cut it out and just concentrate on lifting heavy weights. I'm about 20% body fat, 45 years old and female. I don't need to lose body fat.

I have read that the most important things (in priority sequence) are:

1. diet
2. weight training
3. cardio

The article stated that cardio is not important if you're lifting heavy. true?

I lost 98lbs without doing any cardio so ... for me the answer is yes, I only incorporate cardio to break plateaus.

rankinsect

It's a free country. The cardio police won't break down your door if you stop.

The real question is what your fitness goals are, and if you need cardio to get there.

BZAH10

arditarose wrote: »

I cut it out. I should probably do SOME for heart health. And that would be my advice to someone else...even though...I don't.

Ditto. Occasionally I'll do a 30 - 40 minute session on the stepmill just to make sure I still can, but I do most of my lifting as circuits (not super heavy weights; more reps) and that keeps my heart rate up and I break a sweat. Good enough for me for now.

Michael190lbs

I would do cardio at least once a week if not two times just for cardio health I play football with some really big in physical shape guys and they just gas out really quick its a shame!! Moderation in different exercises just like in different types of food is best.

I ride a bike 30 min everyday about 8-10 miles its just my morning thing and its only 30 min.. I lift 6 days a week heavy.

Mycophilia

I get enough cardio on my high volume leg days. Regular steady state cardio makes me suicidal.

Cherimoose

serapel wrote: »

I have read that the most important things (in priority sequence) are:

1. diet
2. weight training
3. cardio

The article stated that cardio is not important if you're lifting heavy.

Not important for what goal? For general fitness & life preparedness, having some cardio capacity can be very useful for some.

rybo

Cardio doesn't necessarily mean running, eliptacals & things of that nature.
Doing some form of Cardio that you enjoy will benefit you more than just for weight loss, and it will help you train harder in your lifting sessions.

sijomial

serapel wrote: »

I hate cardio. I'd like to cut it out and just concentrate on lifting heavy weights. I'm about 20% body fat, 45 years old and female. I don't need to lose body fat.

I have read that the most important things (in priority sequence) are:

1. diet
2. weight training
3. cardio

The article stated that cardio is not important if you're lifting heavy. true?

Not important for what?
You haven't stated what you are trying to achieve or what the article was about.

Assume as diet is #1 the article is talking about weight loss so agree with diet being #1.
#2 & #3 are complimentary (not just for weight loss) and I would struggle to put one above the other but the balance is very individual.

If health or fitness are in your goals then you should do some cardio. Is there nothing enjoyable for you that gets your heart rate up and lungs working?

rebel_26

I'm more into pushing weights, but I am predisposed to high cholesterol (thanks Dad), I try to get a little cardio in here and there but certainly cardio is not my drive to go to the gym. While I think cardio has its place and value I still dont like it.

BillMcKay1

serapel wrote: »

I hate cardio. I'd like to cut it out and just concentrate on lifting heavy weights. I'm about 20% body fat, 45 years old and female. I don't need to lose body fat.

I have read that the most important things (in priority sequence) are:

1. diet
2. weight training
3. cardio

The article stated that cardio is not important if you're lifting heavy. true?

If you mean things like pounding away on the treadmill or elliptical. Yup. But, for overall heart health you "should" at least incorporate 30mins of brisk walking a couple days a week.

yogicathlete

For someone who's goal is body recomp. or to increase general athleticism...then you can absolutely skip traditional cardio IF you lift weights in a specific way that challenges your metabolic system.

The downside of this type of training is that its pretty darn hard....it'll push you to your limits if you are doing it correctly.

For more info...google: Metabolic Resistance Training

Once again, its hard training but the benefits are undeniable.

SonyaCele

i don't do much cardio because of a knee injury, i just lift heavy and feel great. i do walk as much as i can.