Cardio vs Weights

JStampley

One of my NYs Resolution was so get back to my pre-wedding body. In 2013, i went from 187 pounds to 153 with cardio. I felt amazing. After meeting my husband and getting married, my weight gain has been ridiculous. I now weigh 208 pounds.

I am a cardio queen! I love my elliptical and do at least 45 minutes on it per day. I started this year at 213 pounds and the first week of meal prepping and daily exercise, i lost 5.8 pounds. Now, my weight has stalled and I’ve been stuck at 207.2-208.4 for at least 11 days and I’m lost as to what to do. Nothing seems to work anymore and I’m losing hope.

Today, i messed around with free weights with my husband guiding me. I figured I’d switch it up, but i just don’t feel the effect of the weights. I didn’t even break a sweat as i normally would with cardio. I just felt like throwing in the towel because it seems nothing works anymore.

I eat at least 1300-1500 cals per day and we meal prep each week.

Help, someone? I need some insight. I’m not giving up.

TavistockToad

What effect did you think you'd have after messing around with weights for a while?

Follow a programme for 12 weeks and come back if there's no progress, not 1 session.

TeaBea

Cardio and weights serve different fitness functions.

If you are just interested in calorie burn (or deficit) then just do cardio OR eat less. Cardio exercise is great for building stamina and endurance, great for your heart.

Strength training, although it doesn't burn nearly as many calories can help "shape" your weight loss results. It's not about sweat or getting your heart rate up. When we lose weight, we can lose fat+lean muscle mass. But strength training can help you hang onto a larger % of lean muscle. The result will be a firmer look at goal. Strength training is also good for bone health (and more).

Starting a new fitness routine - you may be holding onto some water weight. Sore muscles use water for repair.

This flow chart is great:
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10484320/why-i-am-not-losing-weight-flowchart

sijomial

It's the amount of food you are eating that is the primary driver for weight loss - if you aren't losing that's where you should be looking.

Did you expect something magical to happen from "messing around with weights" one day?
Nothing works if you don't put the effort in!

Your water weight whoosh in the first week is an irrelevance, your not losing for eleven days is probably an irrelevance too.

Please don't give up, get serious instead.
Read the informational stickies about logging food accurately and buckle up for a long ride.

cwolfman13

I don't think there is a "vs"...they both serve different fitness functions and are both integral parts of overall fitness.

That said, "messing around with weights" for a day isn't going to do anything...and the purpose isn't to get your heart rate up and get all sweaty. It should be challenging though...if it's not, then you're not lifting enough weight. Also, willy nilly just doing your own thing isn't going to be very efficient as weight training goes...there are numerous good beginner programs out there to follow.

Your actual weight loss is going to come down to your diet mostly, not what exercise you're doing or not doing. Generally speaking, regular exercise, while very good for you, has a relatively negligible impact on overall energy expenditure...you burn far more calories just being alive and going about your day to day than with exercise...unless of course you're an athlete and training like one.

GrumpyHeadmistress

I do both. Did a swim today followed by an hour with a PT lifting. Each has different pros and cons.

CJ_Holmes

By helping create a calorie deficit, cardio can help you get the same shape you have now, only smaller/lighter. And as we get older, likely softer/saggier along with smaller.

Lifting can change your shape and make you firmer, along with making your muscles, bones and joints stronger and more resilient.

From personal experience, I have a much better figure in my late 30's with weightlifting than I did when I just did cardio in my 20's, and I feel better. I weigh a bit more and wear a smaller size dress.

For any change, you need consistency over time. Commit to a program and be patient.

sjp_511

I don't think it should be a cardio versus weights, but more cardio + weights. Both types of exercise have many benefits and should be included in a well rounded fitness plan (as well as exercise that helps with mobility & balance). How much of each depends on your goals and the time you are able to dedicate to exercise.

For weight loss, most of that is with diet (as others have mentioned before me). It sounds like you are meal planning an calorie counting and you have had success. Being at the same weight for 11 days is not a plateau. It can be discouraging, but the scale should start moving again. So many things affect weight in the short term: too much sodium, menstrual cycle, water retention from new/increased exercise, etc.