Confused, Anyone?

pearjas

I don't know about anyone else...but I've been at this diet/exercise routine for over ten years now. I've come a long way. I'm 5'6", 31/male, about 140 or so. I grew up being the smallest guy in the crowd to gaining a little, being as high as about 170. In 2003 I began walking, then did some weights, which has advanced into more weights, and I've added a lot of cardio, like running, etc. Long story short - I've been around and I've done a lot of reading, talked to a lot of people, etc.

In my current state, sometimes I get confused on exactly what I should be doing and I feel like I should be ashamed of myself as long as I've been doing this. My current goal is to shed the remaining abdominal fat that I have left (and that I've had since I was about 12). A lot of it, I think, has gone over the years but I've been near the same level for a while. I read and read and read some more, and I see weights are important... So I do resistance training (which I find to be very boring, actually). I then read some more, and what I then read states cardio, especially HIIT is important... so I do some cardio. Then I read some more, and it says both are good. Then I read some more, and it says cardio is bad. Then I read some more, and it says diet first (which is pretty consistent).

So then I read some more, and I need a calorie deficit to reduce abdominal fat, yet doing cardio is many times what I do to burn calories and sometimes I read that's bad. So now a calorie deficit is making me fatter? Everywhere I look, something is telling me that I'm doing SOMETHING wrong. From many things I've read, it appears if I never lifted a weight, did cardio non stop and had a perfect diet, I'd get more fat. Like I said though, everything varies. For one article or person that stresses weights, I find another stressing cardio.

I'm just confused about what my focus should be (besides diet, of course). Cardio naturally comes easier to me because I enjoy it. Sigh...

Cherimoose

There are extremists on both sides, but almost every respected fitness professional recommends doing some form of strength training. It's not just for losing fat, but to be a strong, durable human being. If strength training bores you, seek more interesting modes - sandbags, kettlebells, medicine balls, prowler, TRX, park workouts, tire flipping, bodyweight exercises, crossfit, etc.
Cardio may be added to accelerate fat loss.

MeganAnne89

There are extremists on both sides, but almost every respected fitness professional recommends doing some form of strength training. It's not just for losing fat, but to be a strong, durable human being. If strength training bores you, seek more interesting modes - sandbags, kettlebells, medicine balls, prowler, TRX, park workouts, tire flipping, bodyweight exercises, crossfit, etc.
Cardio may be added to accelerate fat loss.

I agree with the above.

Something that can't be stated enough is to do what's right for your own body. There are always conflicting sources on what's right and wrong, what exercise is the best, what exercise is the worst, etc. and it can all be extremely confusing.

The basic principle that I've found everywhere, however, is that cardio is great for reducing fat and strength training is great for toning up your muscles. For me, I want to be slim, fit AND toned, so I need to do both. It sounds like you're in the same boat as me.

And if cardio happens to come more naturally to you, that's fine, don't be ashamed of that. Just make sure to add the strength training in a couple of times a week.