Lifting vs Cardio

wrevhn
wrevhn Posts: 864 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Is intense cardio better or just Heavy lifting for getting lean and toned faster?

I know a lot of ppl run or do HIIT, zumba, kickboxing, etc. But there are others who say that lifting/strength training gets you there quicker. Should I focus less on cardio then?



goal:

7543561382_bc34161210_s.jpg

Replies

  • Sidesteal
    Sidesteal Posts: 5,510 Member
    Is there a reason this is an either/or scenario?
  • angelicasmommy
    angelicasmommy Posts: 303 Member
    I do both. I do 35 mins on the elliptical, then 25 mins on weights. Last night I almost did the full hour of elliptical because it burns a lot more calories, but I love how I feel after lifting. I say do both.
  • wrevhn
    wrevhn Posts: 864 Member
    no, I just figured I'd focus on one more. I like to build a habit by focusing on mostly one thing. It helped me in regards to quitting loosing 60lbs and eating better. Baby steps sort of thing. I thought If I can fig out which is better, I'd focus on it. I'll still do some cardio, I do some daily.
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    You can do both. But keep in mind cardio does not burn fat or build muscle. It allows you to eat more while having the same deficit you can achieve through diet alone. i.e. eating 1400 vs. eating 1800 and burning 400 from cardio both give you the same deficit as your net is 1400 as 1400 -0 = 1800-400.

    So as you can see for weight loss cardio just allows you to eat more, cardio has other health benefits but fat loss is not one of them, that is all about a caloric deficit. Strength training while in a deficit will help retain the muscle you already have, cardio with no strength training will actually lead to the loss of some lean muscle.
  • wrevhn
    wrevhn Posts: 864 Member
    You can do both. But keep in mind cardio does not burn fat or build muscle. It allows you to eat more while having the same deficit you can achieve through diet alone. i.e. eating 1400 vs. eating 1800 and burning 400 from cardio both give you the same deficit as your net is 1400 as 1400 -0 = 1800-400.

    So as you can see for weight loss cardio just allows you to eat more, cardio has other health benefits but fat loss is not one of them, that is all about a caloric deficit. Strength training while in a deficit will help retain the muscle you already have, cardio with no strength training will actually lead to the loss of some lean muscle.

    thanks :)
  • Sidesteal
    Sidesteal Posts: 5,510 Member
    no, I just figured I'd focus on one more. I like to build a habit by focusing on mostly one thing. It helped me in regards to quitting loosing 60lbs and eating better. Baby steps sort of thing. I thought If I can fig out which is better, I'd focus on it. I'll still do some cardio, I do some daily.


    I would lift a minimum of 3 days per week such that you're lifting with your entire body. Get a trainer or some form of qualified program instead of just going in there and grabbing weights and moving them around.

    I would probably do cardio somewhere between 2 and 4 days per week.
  • wrevhn
    wrevhn Posts: 864 Member
    no, I just figured I'd focus on one more. I like to build a habit by focusing on mostly one thing. It helped me in regards to quitting loosing 60lbs and eating better. Baby steps sort of thing. I thought If I can fig out which is better, I'd focus on it. I'll still do some cardio, I do some daily.


    I would lift a minimum of 3 days per week such that you're lifting with your entire body. Get a trainer or some form of qualified program instead of just going in there and grabbing weights and moving them around.

    I would probably do cardio somewhere between 2 and 4 days per week.


    ok! thanks! that is very helpful. I could totally alternate, did not think of that. (duh, lol)
  • Rae6503
    Rae6503 Posts: 6,294 Member
    no, I just figured I'd focus on one more. I like to build a habit by focusing on mostly one thing. It helped me in regards to quitting loosing 60lbs and eating better. Baby steps sort of thing. I thought If I can fig out which is better, I'd focus on it. I'll still do some cardio, I do some daily.


    I would lift a minimum of 3 days per week such that you're lifting with your entire body. Get a trainer or some form of qualified program instead of just going in there and grabbing weights and moving them around.

    I would probably do cardio somewhere between 2 and 4 days per week.

    Do this:

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/560459-stronglifts-5x5-summary
  • Determinednoob
    Determinednoob Posts: 2,001 Member
    You can do both. But keep in mind cardio does not burn fat or build muscle. It allows you to eat more while having the same deficit you can achieve through diet alone. i.e. eating 1400 vs. eating 1800 and burning 400 from cardio both give you the same deficit as your net is 1400 as 1400 -0 = 1800-400.

    So as you can see for weight loss cardio just allows you to eat more, cardio has other health benefits but fat loss is not one of them, that is all about a caloric deficit. Strength training while in a deficit will help retain the muscle you already have, cardio with no strength training will actually lead to the loss of some lean muscle.

    ^Precisely.

    As for a listing routine, I would suggest the one linked below next to "good to do while on calorie deficit" as it is slower progression and easier to manage on a calorie deficit. Full on 5x5 strength routines are more for blitzgreiging your strength levels while eating a ton of food. The rest of the links are pretty helpful too ;)

    Training frequency explained http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=137364463

    How NOT to workout http://www.leangains.com/2011/09/****arounditis.html You have to replace the **** with the F word

    Best done on caloric surplus http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=998224

    Good to do while on caloric deficit http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=4195843

    Buy the Starting Strength book and read it either way

    Importance of deloading http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=121391461

    Learn how to eat http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=121703981

    Dispel bull**** http://www.leangains.com/2010/10/top-ten-fasting-myths-debunked.html

    Track food http://www.myfitnesspal.com/

    Buy a food scale ~30 bucks for a digital
  • mmapags
    mmapags Posts: 8,934 Member
    no, I just figured I'd focus on one more. I like to build a habit by focusing on mostly one thing. It helped me in regards to quitting loosing 60lbs and eating better. Baby steps sort of thing. I thought If I can fig out which is better, I'd focus on it. I'll still do some cardio, I do some daily.


    I would lift a minimum of 3 days per week such that you're lifting with your entire body. Get a trainer or some form of qualified program instead of just going in there and grabbing weights and moving them around.

    I would probably do cardio somewhere between 2 and 4 days per week.

    Do this:

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/560459-stronglifts-5x5-summary

    And one more thumbs up for these ideas!
  • qtiekiki
    qtiekiki Posts: 1,490 Member
    Definitely do a combo of both.
  • wrevhn
    wrevhn Posts: 864 Member
    You can do both. But keep in mind cardio does not burn fat or build muscle. It allows you to eat more while having the same deficit you can achieve through diet alone. i.e. eating 1400 vs. eating 1800 and burning 400 from cardio both give you the same deficit as your net is 1400 as 1400 -0 = 1800-400.

    So as you can see for weight loss cardio just allows you to eat more, cardio has other health benefits but fat loss is not one of them, that is all about a caloric deficit. Strength training while in a deficit will help retain the muscle you already have, cardio with no strength training will actually lead to the loss of some lean muscle.

    ^Precisely.

    As for a listing routine, I would suggest the one linked below next to "good to do while on calorie deficit" as it is slower progression and easier to manage on a calorie deficit. Full on 5x5 strength routines are more for blitzgreiging your strength levels while eating a ton of food. The rest of the links are pretty helpful too ;)

    Training frequency explained http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=137364463

    How NOT to workout http://www.leangains.com/2011/09/****arounditis.html You have to replace the **** with the F word

    Best done on caloric surplus http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=998224

    Good to do while on caloric deficit http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=4195843

    Buy the Starting Strength book and read it either way

    Importance of deloading http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=121391461

    Learn how to eat http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=121703981

    Dispel bull**** http://www.leangains.com/2010/10/top-ten-fasting-myths-debunked.html

    Track food http://www.myfitnesspal.com/

    Buy a food scale ~30 bucks for a digital

    wow thanks, I'll check that out. and i think my mom has a scale she never uses i can prob use. Now I'm going to get to reading these links.


    thanks everyone :)

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