Why do people cut cardio when lifting weights?

marshrowan

Because cardio is sweaty and nasty and exhausting and doesn't make you look better.

Doesn't lifting make you sweaty?? and exhausted????

It does if you do it right lol
but I think the main point is..."and doesn't make you look better."

Obviously!!! . lol I'm all for weights before cardio!!!

cwolfman13

Ok I get not doing cardio just after, but if you only lift 3x a week, why not?

Again, this is going to be highly dependent on individual fitness goals. I personally do both...but I'm also not trying to build a bunch of mass and I'm not training for a power lifting event.

Those individuals who are trying to maximize muscular and neural adaptation need a lot of rest...doing a bunch of cardio on what would otherwise be "rest days" is going to interfere with that adaption and those gains. For example, y

ou will find that body builders and the like primarily do their cardio when they are in a cut...because they're trying to cut the fat...but when they're in a bulk, they're trying to bulk on muscle and a bunch of cardio is going to make that difficult process that much more difficult. Same for dedicated Power Lifters...they don't do much more than a little walking here and there...all of their efforts go to maximizing strength gains....you aren't doing that when you're doing a bunch of cardio on off days.

As a matter of general fitness, it's a good idea to do both and most people should have a fairly balanced routine...but again...just depends on fitness goals...as well as personal interests and such.

gensteele1

I've read that by lifting (even if its only 3 days per week) not only burns more "calories" than standard cardio, but you continue to burn up to 48 hours after a lifting session. Most lifters feel that the burn and the results from training far exceed the monotony of cardio. To each his (or her) own.

ATGsquats

I keep seeing people post that they cut cardio when they started lifting weights... Why? If you're going to eat more to compensate for the cardio calories, why does it matter if you cut it? I'd like to understand.. I'm talking about people who are trying to lose weight too. I would think being able to eat more to make up for the cardio would be nice.

You don't need cardio to lose weight. I've been cutting from 170lbs down to 157lbs, still cutting, without cardio. Personally, it's too damn boring.

wendybird5

I cut cardio just because I usually only have an hour to an hour and a half to work out so if I do more weights, I have less time for cardio.

sijomial

The way I understand it....

Lifting burns fat and BUILDS lean muscle.

Cardio burns fat and BURNS lean muscle.


So....it ultimately depends on what you want to do.


I'm still new at it....but that is basically what I've picked up.


I want to be strong AND slim down.....make my body better overall....and I have found that lifting does a MUCH better job than cardio in that department.

The more muscle you have the higher your metabolism...burning fat all day. Cardio only burns while you are doing it (and at the expense of lean muscle which helps burn fat)

So I lift and do minimal cardio for endurance. I may run one or twice a week if the lifting hasn't worn me down. It is VERY important to let your body rest between lifting workouts.


Edited to add.....I have bad knees and have had trouble with them for a few years now. The docs have had a hard time figuring out what was wrong. All but one pretty much told me I was getting old and to get over it and live with it (ticked me off). The one...the last one.....told me that (what should have been obvious to me) I just needed to lose a little weight and strengthen the muscles supporting my knees.

Long story short.........cardio hurt my knees until I started lifting (squats and deadlifts). Lifting strengthened my legs and knees so now running doesn't hurt anymore.

Sorry but there are a couple of horrible myths in there!

"Cardio burns fat and BURNS lean muscle." Incorrect - you would need a totally inadequate diet for your body to fuel itself with lean muscle. Not something ordinary people need to worry themselves. Cardio burns glycogen and fat.

"The more muscle you have the higher your metabolism...burning fat all day. Cardio only burns while you are doing it (and at the expense of lean muscle which helps burn fat)"
True in part but the resting calorie burn from added muscle is tiny. Both cardio and strength training have an EPOC effect - strength training far higher, small effect for cardio (HIIT higher than low intensity but not terribly significant).

This however is spot on "So....it ultimately depends on what you want to do."
As I have both strength and CV fitness goals I do both and accept that there is a compromise.

MstngSammy

The way I understand it....

Lifting burns fat and BUILDS lean muscle.

Cardio burns fat and BURNS lean muscle.


So....it ultimately depends on what you want to do.


I'm still new at it....but that is basically what I've picked up.


I want to be strong AND slim down.....make my body better overall....and I have found that lifting does a MUCH better job than cardio in that department.

The more muscle you have the higher your metabolism...burning fat all day. Cardio only burns while you are doing it (and at the expense of lean muscle which helps burn fat)

So I lift and do minimal cardio for endurance. I may run one or twice a week if the lifting hasn't worn me down. It is VERY important to let your body rest between lifting workouts.


Edited to add.....I have bad knees and have had trouble with them for a few years now. The docs have had a hard time figuring out what was wrong. All but one pretty much told me I was getting old and to get over it and live with it (ticked me off). The one...the last one.....told me that (what should have been obvious to me) I just needed to lose a little weight and strengthen the muscles supporting my knees.

Long story short.........cardio hurt my knees until I started lifting (squats and deadlifts). Lifting strengthened my legs and knees so now running doesn't hurt anymore.

Sorry but there are a couple of horrible myths in there!

"Cardio burns fat and BURNS lean muscle." Incorrect - you would need a totally inadequate diet for your body to fuel itself with lean muscle. Not something ordinary people need to worry themselves. Cardio burns glycogen and fat.

"The more muscle you have the higher your metabolism...burning fat all day. Cardio only burns while you are doing it (and at the expense of lean muscle which helps burn fat)"
True in part but the resting calorie burn from added muscle is tiny. Both cardio and strength training have an EPOC effect - strength training far higher, small effect for cardio (HIIT higher than low intensity but not terribly significant).

This however is spot on "So....it ultimately depends on what you want to do."
As I have both strength and CV fitness goals I do both and accept that there is a compromise.

Thanks Hon....

I appreciate the feedback.......

WendyTerry420

I cut cardio because lifting is freaking exhausting, and I found I didn't need it to lose weight.

^^ this

jonnythan

Because cardio is sweaty and nasty and exhausting and doesn't make you look better.

Doesn't lifting make you sweaty?? and exhausted????

Not really, no.

randomtai

I cut cardio because lifting is freaking exhausting, and I found I didn't need it to lose weight.

^^ this

+1

tyrsnbdr

I cut cardio because lifting is freaking exhausting, and I found I didn't need it to lose weight.

^^ this

+1

And, well... Cardio is just damn boring...

marshrowan

Because cardio is sweaty and nasty and exhausting and doesn't make you look better.

Doesn't lifting make you sweaty?? and exhausted????

Not really, no.

hmm well I'm exhausted after heavy lifting!!

jonnythan

Because cardio is sweaty and nasty and exhausting and doesn't make you look better.

Doesn't lifting make you sweaty?? and exhausted????

Not really, no.

hmm well I'm exhausted after heavy lifting!!

I'm tired in that I'm somewhat spent, but not exhausted the way I am after intense cardio. Lifting doesn't really burn calories and deplete glycogen the way cardio does.

I don't want to take a nap after 1-1.5 hours of lifting. After 1-1.5 hours of running all I want to do is sleep.

marshrowan

Because cardio is sweaty and nasty and exhausting and doesn't make you look better.

Doesn't lifting make you sweaty?? and exhausted????

Not really, no.

hmm well I'm exhausted after heavy lifting!!

I'm tired in that I'm somewhat spent, but not exhausted the way I am after intense cardio. Lifting doesn't really burn calories and deplete glycogen the way cardio does.

I don't want to take a nap after 1-1.5 hours of lifting. After 1-1.5 hours of running all I want to do is sleep.

would you suggest doing cardio separate from weight lifting days??

BeckyGee84

Because once I started lifting heavy weights, I realized how much I hate cardio.

NavyKnightAh13

Bumping for later reading

Adc7225

First let me offer that this is actually a great question and one that I am currently debating.

I will start working with a trainer on strength training tomorrow and while I do a little on my own I am looking to increase/improve my working out results. I love doing my cardio because it is the only my time and allows me to zone-out, I know he is going to cut my cardio down and though we will discuss this and come to a happy balance at least now I understand some to the reasoning why

piejin

I am so jealous of people who can cut cardio!! I really wish I could, too, but when you only have 1200 calories a day to work with, getting a couple hundred extra to eat thanks to cardio counts for a lot

bradXdale

CUZ GAINS...DONT WANNA LOZE THEM GAINZ...

Also you can get your heart rate up & sweat hard lifting weights...

randomtai

I am so jealous of people who can cut cardio!! I really wish I could, too, but when you only have 1200 calories a day to work with, getting a couple hundred extra to eat thanks to cardio counts for a lot

Working out to eat more is a fast way to have an unhealthy relationship with food.