Cardio v Strength, whats your take?

Kslice39

Ok so i change up my workout routine almost everyday. I will either go longer, add more weight, change the incline, do intervals etc. all to make sure my body doesnt get used to the exercise and its more fun for me to always be doing something different!

So i was wondering, is it ok to do strength along with cardio or should i start out doing just cardio till i lose more weight then tone up with strength training? Im currently doing both(have been for about 3 weeks now).

I was just wondering if you all prefer to do it one way over another or if there was a more efficient way to do this lol thank you all!

MissFit0101

It's NEVER too early to start strength training! Do it .. start now!

ETA:: Cardio and strength.. keep doing both!

marycmeadows

You should be doing both - but give your muscles time to rest in between strength training sessions..... If you do all over strength you should at least rest a day or two between sessions (and on those days you can just do cardio) but if you do abs one day, arms one day, legs one day - strength is ok to do every day - but you should still allow your body plenty of time ot rest. Rest is just as important as working out.

justanotherbrickinthewall

It's definitely good to combine cardio and strength training together. It burns twice as many calories. I do more cardio though, personally.

mrsjoseywales29

i wonder the same things so any advice would be great

AZKristi

Anytime you loose weight you are typically also losing some muscle. Strength training can help offset this. And, more lean muscle mass will make it easier to loose weight as you progress.

AZTrailRunner

It's NEVER too early to start strength training! Do it .. start now!

ETA:: Cardio and strength.. keep doing both!

The simplest and most spot-on answer!

SergeantSunshine_reused

Strength train!!!! Most important. Protect that muscle you have so you aren't "skinny fat"
I think strength training is top priority

jillcwhite

I do both. Muscle eats fat and you need the strength training to build muscle. You also need cardio to burn calories, heart health & improves energy & mood. It's great that you change it up to keep from being bored. Have you tried yoga? Yoga lengthens and stretches your muscles which feels great after strength training.

wbgolden

I waited too long to add strength training to my routine. Could have avoided at least 3 running injuries, I'm quite sure.

hazelnut861

Both! If I only had 10 minutes-high intensity strength training or plyometrics.

Kslice39

I read that the more muscle you have the higher your BMR is, which is obviously a good thing. I usually do like upper body one day(like arms, shoulders, abs) and then lower body a different day(legs, butt, back) and sometimes i will mix it up like arms and legs one day then the next will be abs and back, etc. I feel like im not getting anywhere though lol. Ive been doing this for 3 weeks now and i see absolutely no difference...maybe im being impatient lol.

Puffins1958

It's NEVER too early to start strength training! Do it .. start now!

ETA:: Cardio and strength.. keep doing both!

The simplest and most spot-on answer!

I agree, I do both. I usually do 1/2 hr or 45 minutes on treadmill or like today an hour spin class, then work the circuit (specific muscles) on machines. I feel I get a better workout...all around that way.


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stevenleagle

I agree with the above comments: strength and cardio are both important to do.

However realise that you probably don't need to invest as much time in strength training as for cardio.

If you are new to strength training, remember to take baby steps and take plenty of rest between workouts. It may be a good idea to consult a PT (or at least a decent book) as to learning to use good form in doing strength training. Unlike cardio where quantity is often great, quality is always important in strength training.

Kslice39

Have you tried yoga? Yoga lengthens and stretches your muscles which feels great after strength training.

I havnt and thats a really good idea! Ive wanted to try(like taking a class at the community college) but im a chicken lol!! i heard its REALLY difficult!

sheshe32

I was actually wondering this also. I have joined a gym, but the trainer has agreeed with what ever i do. In otherwords, at least you are there. So if you just want to do cardio, its good, you are there. I have started and am quite heavy. My thoughts were to do cardio for about a month to get into the swing of things before I get into strength. So I suppose its how you look at it. But im alot heavier than you at just over 300lbs and starting really slow. Good luck, just go with what ever feels comfortable.

richiefixo

start now......do strength training first then your cardio. you dont need to change your workout everyday. actually it might be counter productive if you do it everyday.. you need repetition and consistency so it becomes a routine and your train your muscles for a particular type of activity and avoid injury. id say change things up every 3 - 5 weeks.

goodluck! and dont forget exercise is only 20% of the journey..your diet has to be on point!

Kslice39

Unlike cardio where quantity is often great, quality is always important in strength training.

OOH Good to know!!

Kslice39

start now......do strength training first then your cardio.

ok, will it be bad if i do cardio first then strength training? i usually go running/biking for 30-45 mins then i do strength training. is that bad?

tameko2

Do both - maybe try changing to whole body routines though. 2 days a week of whole body routines, 3 days a week of cardio, add a 6th day of whatever you like (walking as a rest break or yoga, or a third day of strength) when you are ready.

I do 2-3 days of strength, 3 days of C25k right now (eventually it will just be 3 days of 30 minutes of running) and i add in some dance central whenever I feel like it.

LuciaLongIsland

Anyone over 60 in here? Just wondering how to start strength when you are 60 and have a bad hip? All suggestions accepted. My doctor said bike and elliptical for the hip,

Kslice39

Anyone over 60 in here? Just wondering how to start strength when you are 60 and have a bad hip? All suggestions accepted. My doctor said bike and elliptical for the hip,

im not over 60, but i have knee issues(had an athletic accident and tore 3 of the 4 ligaments in my right knee) and my doc and PT said to take it easy by starting out by doing little exercises. Like in the summer i focus on swimming. and when the weather changes i do the bike and elliptical(when i had one!) and now that ive built up the muscles more i can so a little bit on the treadmill. But the doc said the best thing is swimming(i dont know if you have access to a heated pool or anything) and to also make sure you stretch before and after and to ice the area afterwords i hope this helps.

SassyCalyGirl

BOTH!

DianaPowerUp

I think it depends on your goals. If you're grossly overweight, and need to shed a lot, cardio will get to you drop more weight more quickly.

Strength training will improve your muscle strength and size, and over the course of the day, will help you burn more calories while at rest than if you don't have that muscle mass.

Doing both is very beneficial for different reasons. Right now I do almost exclusively weight training and very little cardio. I get quite a cardio effect from the lifting I do.

Kslice39

I think it depends on your goals. If you're grossly overweight, and need to shed a lot, cardio will get to you drop more weight more quickly.

Strength training will improve your muscle strength and size, and over the course of the day, will help you burn more calories while at rest than if you don't have that muscle mass.

Doing both is very beneficial for different reasons. Right now I do almost exclusively weight training and very little cardio. I get quite a cardio effect from the lifting I do.

I need to lose 40-50 lbs(im 5'3'' and 179 lbs) so i would consider me grossly overweight lol technically om "obese" ugh i hate that word! but i can run a mile in 10-11 mins(im pretty proud of that!) so i think i might mainly focus on cardio and do a little weight training on the side like only 2-3 days a week. i want muscle, i want to me toned, i dont want to be(like someone on here mentioned earlier lol) the "skinny fat girl" i want to look sexy and toned

TrimThinTonedTight

Do both - maybe try changing to whole body routines though. 2 days a week of whole body routines, 3 days a week of cardio, add a 6th day of whatever you like (walking as a rest break or yoga, or a third day of strength) when you are ready.

I do 2-3 days of strength, 3 days of C25k right now (eventually it will just be 3 days of 30 minutes of running) and i add in some dance central whenever I feel like it.

I've been looking for tips, and this one sounds great!
Thank you!

1girlcook

BOTH!!

Barneystinson

2 days weekly heavy lifting
3 days running (half marathon training)
1 day cross training / conditioning (or a rest day if it's a race week)
1 day of utter laziness

I believe in balance

knapowell

Take it from someone who was extremely overweight - start out doing both. I concentrated on strength training only here and there along way. I would be very consistent for a couple of weeks, then no strength training for a couple of weeks (or longer). Back and forth, back and forth, and each time it was like starting over. I am down 120 pounds, and I can tell you I would be in much better shape had I taken a more balanced approach. Now it is so hard to change up my routine.

LeanMeanFitnessMachine

start now......do strength training first then your cardio. you dont need to change your workout everyday. actually it might be counter productive if you do it everyday.. you need repetition and consistency so it becomes a routine and your train your muscles for a particular type of activity and avoid injury. id say change things up every 3 - 5 weeks.

goodluck! and dont forget exercise is only 20% of the journey..your diet has to be on point!

Thats backwards.. I'm in exercise science major in college and we're always taught that you are supposed to do cardio first to warm up your muscles, then strength train. When your muscles are warmed up, they're looser and the elasticity is at a higher percentage. Even if its just jogging for a mile on the treadmill, be sure to warm up your muscles first to avoid injury while lifting.

If you have any other questions, feel free to send me a message! :-)

Kslice39

start now......do strength training first then your cardio. you dont need to change your workout everyday. actually it might be counter productive if you do it everyday.. you need repetition and consistency so it becomes a routine and your train your muscles for a particular type of activity and avoid injury. id say change things up every 3 - 5 weeks.

goodluck! and dont forget exercise is only 20% of the journey..your diet has to be on point!

Thats backwards.. I'm in exercise science major in college and we're always taught that you are supposed to do cardio first to warm up your muscles, then strength train. When your muscles are warmed up, they're looser and the elasticity is at a higher percentage. Even if its just jogging for a mile on the treadmill, be sure to warm up your muscles first to avoid injury while lifting.

If you have any other questions, feel free to send me a message! :-)

I thought that sounded a little funny but I don't know much about exercising, ive studied more about nutrition and how out bodies utilize energy lol. Thank you! I'm definitely going to be doin both