We are pleased to announce that on March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor will be introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the upcoming changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!

cardio or weights for fat loss?

kiku76
kiku76 Posts: 352 Member
edited December 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
If I only have 5 days to work out, which should I do more? 2 days cardio and 3 weights, or 3 days cardio and 2 days weights?

Replies

  • rjmwx81
    rjmwx81 Posts: 259 Member
    More weights.


    Though personally, I follow up every weight session with at least 30 minutes of cardio.
  • contingencyplan
    contingencyplan Posts: 3,639 Member
    3 days weights.
  • kiku76
    kiku76 Posts: 352 Member
    More weights.


    Though personally, I follow up every weight session with at least 30 minutes of cardio.
    thanks.
    I'm a full time mommy and work from home. So on top of working, I have to watch the kids, clean, cook, do errands. Yeah ... I'm short on time, so can only do one a day.
  • kiku76
    kiku76 Posts: 352 Member
    ok so what happens IF (big if) I ever reach my goal? Do I switch to more 3 cardio and 2 weights to maintain?
  • Acg67
    Acg67 Posts: 12,142 Member
    Neither, get your diet in check
  • abs156
    abs156 Posts: 1
    why does cardio show up as calories used but weights doean't show up that way?
  • redcat17
    redcat17 Posts: 267 Member
    I'd do three days weights and follow it with 30 minutes interval cardio after each session. That works like a charm for me, and it cuts down the days you have to do long workouts.
  • secretlobster
    secretlobster Posts: 3,566 Member
    Neither, get your diet in check

    Yup

    But if I had to choose between weights and cardio, I'd say weights.
  • contingencyplan
    contingencyplan Posts: 3,639 Member
    How about this: Circuit training = both in one single workout. Doing weight training in timed sets then immediately moving onto the next exercise allows you to get a cood cardio and strength workout in one.
  • KatyLBC
    KatyLBC Posts: 354 Member
    I do cardio AND weights each time! I found that when I was only doing cardio, I wasn't seeing as much results!! Be sure to watch your diet also! Good luck!!
  • kiku76
    kiku76 Posts: 352 Member
    How about this: Circuit training = both in one single workout. Doing weight training in timed sets then immediately moving onto the next exercise allows you to get a cood cardio and strength workout in one.
    i thought about this, but I only have resistance bands and cap dumbbells at home. so it does take some time to switch the weight amount between exercises
    I was doing c25k m,w,f and weights tu,th,sat.
    It's been really difficult to find time to run on mondays lately and I dont want to lose out if I can't go. I'm up to week 7, so already on the straight runs so it's not that bad as far as conditioning for me. Just losing a whole day. I have to get my grandma to watch the kids so I can run on wed and fri. I can't run with them, I dont have a jogging stroller and my older one is 4 and won't fit in one anyway.
    I guess I can add some sort of cardio to do at home after I lift on saturdays. My younger one is 1 and he can only be contained for so long before he gets upset so I try to keep it short.
    I swear I'm not making excuses. I really try to find time but it's crazy around here so I try to do what I can
  • sarahrbraun
    sarahrbraun Posts: 2,261 Member
    why does cardio show up as calories used but weights doean't show up that way?

    I think there are too many variables. If you go into cardio and look up "strength training" you can log a few calories. I do it, and I get 100-150 calories for 20-25 minutes. it isn't much, but it is something...
  • DBB07
    DBB07 Posts: 40
    More weights.


    Though personally, I follow up every weight session with at least 30 minutes of cardio.
    thanks.
    I'm a full time mommy and work from home. So on top of working, I have to watch the kids, clean, cook, do errands. Yeah ... I'm short on time, so can only do one a day.

    _____________________________________________________________________________________________

    Given your family and work circumstances, you'd do well to put together a flexible hybrid routine including: bodyweight squats, lunges, pushups, kettlebell swings, pullups, jumping jacks, dips, resistance band rows etc. That's plenty to get the body fat % down and, at the very least, preserve muscle. You can do any or all of these in your home office whenever you feel like it.

    I won't patronize you about your diet.
  • Cpsnisi
    Cpsnisi Posts: 22 Member
    I hear ya on it being difficult to find the time with kids at home. Mine are older but still too young to be left alone while I go to the gym or for a run so I've had to be creative about home workouts. My version of circuit training is to do body weight resistance for strength training (crunches, pushups, squats, etc) with a few minutes of jumping jacks or jump rope in between sets to get a little cardio in. Plus I HATE running, so this works well for me :)
This discussion has been closed.