recording weight lifting

KatyFace9801

In a post I made yesterday- asking about protein after weightlifting- someone pointed out that if I'm not doing very heavy weights then I am actually doing cardio. Now, my form of strength training may not be.

I will usually just make the rounds of the machines at the gym. Usually like 3 upper body, 2 or 3 lower, 2 or 3 abs, 2 minutes walking & repeat. Usually for 45 min- 1 hour.

Should I not be recording this as strength training? Or circuit training (cic training says it burns way more calories!)?

Thanks!

ansonrinesmith

It SOUNDS like circuit training. Are you using low weight high reps? Does your heart rate get up and stay up? When I circuit train, I'm sweating and as out of breath as I am from running.

If you are doing low reps with higher weight, it's strength training.

KatyFace9801

I always break a pretty steady sweat, but never as out of breath as cardio!
usually higher weights (but a heavy weight for me is 55 lbs) & doing like 2 sets of 12 - 20

SergeantSunshine_reused

20 reps? Not my idea of strength training

Lift heavy for 5-8 reps. Make sure you cant make it past that by much

tgh1914

Well what's your point in logging it anyway? If you're logging it under strength training it's not giving you a reported cal burn. What's your goal?

If you're brand new to lifting, you'll get strength benefits out of it in the short term. If you're trying to get cardio benefits out of it, then you can do this sort of circuit training, just make sure you keep your heart rate going for a decent period of time. But, yeah, if you want sustained, long term benefits of lifting you need to be lifting heavy and give yourself the recovery you'll need in between sets.

ansonrinesmith

@tharrop You can record "Strength Training" as a cardiovascular event.

tgh1914

@tharrop You can record "Strength Training" as a cardiovascular event.

I know, but it sounds like the OP prefers to track it as strength training, & I'm not sure why. Just depends on goals.