Confused.... Cardio vs. Strength Training

Queen2day

I have been reading a lot of posts on the boards and my basic understanding is as follows:

Cardio - basically involves constant moving but only burns calories for the duration of the chosen cardio activity.

Strength Training - involves lifting weights, preferably heavy lifting, aids in building muscle and defining/sculpting your body. The effects of doing strength training can last between 24 - 48 hours as the muscles are building, and in general result in not only speeding up one's metabolism, but also increases one's overall calorie needs by having a higher burn rate.

I have mostly been doing Zumba at home as I have the Zumba Exhilarate DVD collection. Based on my understanding, Zumba is considered a cardio activity as it is constant moving dance . However, I have been losing inches and have been sore. This leads me to wonder if this type of cardio has components of both cardio and strength training or if I am just that "out of shape".

Additionally, since muscle weighs more than fat, i.e., it is denser, if I am not building/strengthening muscle, how is it possible that I have been losing inches, especially since my weight really hasn't changed that much?

In addition to Zumba, I also strive to walk a minimum of 2 miles a day, again, more cardio. I do occasionally go to the gym to use the weight machines, but at most it has been only once a week. I intend on increasing this activity.

Since I began my current weight lose journey, I have lost a total of 40 pounds and 2 jean sizes, but still have a ways to go. I am just looking for opinions/advice to help make my journey not only successful, but beneficial for the long haul.

Thanks in advance for your comments. Good Luck to all !!!

ilovedeadlifts

Could be water retention causing you to stay about the same weight while losing inches.
Don't get caught up in the numbers game. If you're looking better and feeling better, don't stress out over what the scale says, you're making progress either way.

Typically you won't gain muscle at a rate as fast as you lose fat, that's why my guess woudl be water weight.


Good luck .

jamiesadler

Just because you are not lifting heavy weights does not mean you arent building muscle. If you are working muscle groups that do not normally get worked it is possible to build some muscle. You are correct on your understanding of cardio verses muscle/strength training. If you cant get to the gym to lift then Zumba is great exercise. i use it myself for my cardio.

JBApplebee

I have been reading a lot of posts on the boards and my basic understanding is as follows:

Cardio - basically involves constant moving but only burns calories for the duration of the chosen cardio activity.

Strength Training - involves lifting weights, preferably heavy lifting, aids in building muscle and defining/sculpting your body. The effects of doing strength training can last between 24 - 48 hours as the muscles are building, and in general result in not only speeding up one's metabolism, but also increases one's overall calorie needs by having a higher burn rate.

I have mostly been doing Zumba at home as I have the Zumba Exhilarate DVD collection. Based on my understanding, Zumba is considered a cardio activity as it is constant moving dance . However, I have been losing inches and have been sore. This leads me to wonder if this type of cardio has components of both cardio and strength training or if I am just that "out of shape".

Additionally, since muscle weighs more than fat, i.e., it is denser, if I am not building/strengthening muscle, how is it possible that I have been losing inches, especially since my weight really hasn't changed that much?

In addition to Zumba, I also strive to walk a minimum of 2 miles a day, again, more cardio. I do occasionally go to the gym to use the weight machines, but at most it has been only once a week. I intend on increasing this activity.

Since I began my current weight lose journey, I have lost a total of 40 pounds and 2 jean sizes, but still have a ways to go. I am just looking for opinions/advice to help make my journey not only successful, but beneficial for the long haul.

Thanks in advance for your comments. Good Luck to all !!!

First off, a pound of muscle weighs exactly the same as a pound of fat. The difference is the volume each takes. One pound of fat takes up about 3 times as much space as a pound of muscle, so that's how you can maintain the weight, but lose the inches.

The Zumba makes you use different muscles than what you're used to, which is why you're getting sore. It's like scooping snow for the first time of the season. You could be in great shape, but there will still be parts of you that are sore, because you don't use them consistently.

I try to lift 3 times a week & run 3 times as well. If you feel that you're not getting the expected results, switch things up. Shock your body into adapting to a new routine instead of doing the same thing. When I hit a plateau, that's what I do. Instead of running, I'll use the stairmaster for a week & pick some new lifting exercises for each body part.

tigersword

It's water retention, not muscle building.

SqautsAndOats

It's water retention, not muscle building.

Yep this. Though there MAY be a tiny amount of muscle you MAY be building, a women can only expect to gain 10 pounds of muscle a YEAR, and that is with squats, dead-lifts and benching, hard and heavy.