Weights vs Cardio improvement in deficit

geebusuk

Everyone, my self included, goes on about weights when in a deficit - helps maintain muscle, gives a good calorie burn and so on.

So far I'm avoiding putting too much focus on cardio as I know it tends to mean the weights are even less effective - either stalling, going backwards, or going backwards quicker.

However as I'm stalling anyway, I'm wondering if it might make more sense to focus on improvements in cardio.
I'd like to improve my cardio a good chunk and to some degree it seems to make sense to do it while I can't be making decent improvement in muscle.
Sure, it'll likely mean even more work when I hit my goal weight; but also means that I won't need to do as much cardio work to get to where I want to be, so may be able to make better gains.

From my googling, it seems cardio improvements aren't so hampered by being in a deficit.

Thoughts?

(Also - I hate cardio, at least the stuff that really makes a difference )

geebusuk

A bump for this as I unintentionally went out in the 'medium' group running today - had to drop back about half way through.
Used to be able to about keep up 11 months ago, so definitely need to get cardio back - but also suspect the initial intensity won't have helped my weights tomorrow..

BarbellApprentice

You want to improve your cardio, but you hate cardio?
Is the real issue that you are stalled (as opposed to more or less cardio)? If so, I would hone in on food intake. I looked at your diary back to Jan. 1, and it is all over the place..including about a week of no logging at all.

Set your calories and macros reasonably for weight loss. Weigh and measure your food as much as possible. Log everything.

If your question really is just about cardio, forgive me and ignore the above.

Good luck.

geebusuk

tl:dr - it IS about cardio, I AM losing weight fine.

Cheers for the thoughts; Sorry, I've stalled on weight LIFTING - until recently at least some lifts were still going up.

I've had consistent weight loss and have no problem with this.
I do a lean gains style approach, so when I do a workout I have a 1000 extra calories. I had initially set it to 1400/2400 on alternate days, but often go for 1600/2600 as I felt I was losing too quickly (trying to keep some muscle, so slower better).
I had viral gastroenteritis for a week and was pretty poorly, thus lack of logging. It actually helped weight loss if anything, but harmed weight lifting (not enough protein and not lifting - was finding it hard to get foods that didn't make me feel ill.)

Incidentally, a good bit of stuff isn't logged - ie I don't bother with logging salad generally, nor 'samples' in supermarkets.
If I was having trouble losing weight I'd certainly take the advice and get more anal about it, but so far on that side it seems to be working well, or too well. Oh and my last set of scales broke, as did the £2 ones I got to replace them. When I'm less broke myself, I'll get some more.

(Bodyweight) Scales in my room so these days normally don't go to the toilet before weighing.
Already been to the toilet in the night and got up late today while feeling dehydrated - scale showed even less than expected, to the point I poked it about hoping it would go UP!
(On average INCLUDING initial water/food weight since 1st December I've lost at .425lb/day or .525lb/day if I use today's figure - since 1st January a more reasonable 0.241lb/day or 0.527b/day including today's figure.)
Throughout December my lifts were going up and hit a peak that would have me not far off 'advanced' on those calculators you get.

Finally; yes, sadly I dislike Cardio, but want to improve it. There's lots of things that have cardio elements I DO like doing, like motorcycle enduro riding - but they are considerably more hassle and cost a lot more than going for a decent run or a decent cycle ride. I don't mind it so much in a group - I run with a local club.)
Partly I want to improve it so I DON'T hate it so much!