Cardio or strength training for weight loss

Liana_Ish

Hi everyone!

I go to the gym 5x a week and doing mostly cardio. My question is - Which is better for weight loss? Cardio or strength training? How many times a week should I do each one?

Thank you 🤗

Strudders67

Neither. Just eat less. Weight loss boils down to the amount of calories going in vs what you expend on a daily basis.

However, strength training is particularly good for you in terms of toning muscles and strengthening bones - just make sure you eat (most of) your calories back.

Liana_Ish

@Strudders67 Thank you! I forgot to mention, I am also counting calories/eating better.

kimny72

Liana_Ish wrote: »

@Strudders67 Thank you! I forgot to mention, I am also counting calories/eating better.

Cardio will burn more calories, which can be helpful in sticking to your calorie deficit. But strength training will help preserve your muscle (along with eating enough protein) and can have a noticeable affect on your shape over time.

So neither is necessary for weight loss, but either is helpful, and IMHO both are "best" . The most important thing is to find ways to be more active that are practical and you enjoy. I personally strength train 3 times per week, do one cardio "workout" per week, and take brisk walks pretty much every day, often multiple times per day.

Liana_Ish

@kimny72 This was helpful.. thank you! ☺️

xxzenabxx

I’ve found strength training helped me more. After doing cardio for many years I didn’t feel any different. However once I started lifting weights it increased my metabolism because I built muscle. It’s not that the muscle burns more calories than fat (it does) but it helps to burn more calories after you are done with your workout. Also more muscle equals more glycogen storage which means more capacity to store carbs! So even when you over eat they will likely go to your muscle glycogen. Think lean and strong not skinny and weak.

Talan79

I say do both. I was a cardio bunny for years until I got into lifting 3 years ago. Lifting will help change your body composition & give you a better look than just a smaller version of your current physique.

HoneyBadger302

Both are important for overall health, as stated, neither makes or breaks weight loss as that is completely dependent on how much you eat vs how much you burn.

That being said, I much prefer weight lifting. There are some cardio activities such as martial arts or hiking that I enjoy, but much cardio makes me HUNGRY and makes it MUCH harder for me to stay in a deficit, whereas lifting doesn't do that to me.

Liana_Ish

@xxzenabxx I have heard this before! Thank you for the information!!!

Liana_Ish

@talan79 Awesome! Thanks!

Liana_Ish

@HoneyBadger155 Thank you!

VUA21

Eat less

Calories for weight
Exercise for health

shrinkingletters

The way I see it, watch calories and cardio to help with maintaining that deficit for weight loss, but lift for the compliments on your butt.

goals15000

I like to do both.

When I discovered I can actually lose weight with just diet and no exercise, I jumped on that so quick. But I wasn’t feel healthy, or looking as good as I did when I was exercising!

OldAssDude

I think 1 to 3 sessions of muscular training and 3 to 5 sessions of cardio per week is a good balance.

faizul4n6

hye, from my experience, both exercise are important for losing weigh...
cardio its good for fitness and strength training for full body workout...
just simple calculation for losing weigh, is calorie intake must be lower than calorie burn.

good luck