Running, not weights, burns fat :/

FightingforFit82

According to a study by Live Science.

Your thoughts?

http://news.yahoo.com/running-not-weights-burns-fat-052236784.html

FightingforFit82

Edit

zaithyr

I think anything that helps burn calories will burn fat.

brandie_lou

Weights have always had that opinion because it creates tone and definition, making you believe you've cut the fat when usually it is building the muscle that is already there. Running burns fat by increasing your heart rate because it's a cardio workout.

ubermensch13

Of course running burns fat...it burns more calories in the moment you are doing it more than lifting weights. That doesn't mean it is a more effective at getting your body to look the way you want it, long term, however.

FitNB

Weights have always had that opinion because it creates tone and definition, making you believe you've cut the fat when usually it is building the muscle that is already there. Running burns fat by increasing your heart rate because it's a cardio workout.

My weights have no opinion. I just pick them up and put them down.

"when considering the big picture, I like to encourage individuals to pursue a complete exercise program — including both aerobic exercise and resistance training,"

/endthread

jayche

A combination of both is optimal, why just do one or the other?

scorpiotwinkles

Ican't run, I need a knee replacement!

Lrdoflamancha

A combination of both is optimal, why just do one or the other?
[/quote

What he said.

Rawzy

Quick Summary of Fat


Fat can not become muscle and muscle can not become fat.
Fat can only be reduced if the number of calories expended in a day exceeds the number of calories consumed in a day. Fat will be gained if the opposite occurs.
If you stop training, but compensate for this with a slight reduction in diet, your body fat will not increase.
If you begin training but also increase your dietary intake, you can gain fat.
Fat cells act as one, meaning you can not choose where you lose it or gain it.
Quick Summary of Muscle


Changes in muscle size, density and/or efficiency cause an increase in strength; however, these changes only result if the muscle is stimulated beyond what it is accustomed to.
Weight training is the easiest way to control and monitor the changes in your muscle physiology. By manipulating your sets, reps and weight lifted you can achieve various responses. Because of this, it is possible to increase your strength without adding bulk, and it is also possible to increase both.
When you stop stimulating the muscle, your muscle composition may return to normal or, depending on your regular routine, it may simply stay as is.
Unlike fat, each muscle can be specifically targeted, so you can choose the specific area you would like to improve. With that said, realize that while you can work your abdominal muscles, for example, you may not see the enhanced shape and form if you have a thick layer of fat covering them up.

hofdog

By lifting weights and adding muscle you burn more calories to maintain it, even when just sitting around

DanaDark

Cardio will burn more calories in general, it is true. This will result in more fat loss overall.

But without weights, the extra cardio will further reduce muscle mass, which will leave you still looking "fat" even when you hit lower weight levels and lower body fat percentages.

Weights will make everything look much better in the end though.

sevsmom

I maintain an AND/BOTH attitude. Stronger muscles are needed for a healthy body/appearance. Cardio is important for a strong heart and it does burn the calories. I pursue both, in moderation. But, I consider myself a runner as it provides ME a sense of accomplishment that I do not get from strength training. Others gain much from their strength training and focus on those goals first. As long as you are progressing towards better health. . .

Sarauk2sf

A calorie deficit burns fat, however you want to get that calorie deficit.

Weights have benefits
Running has different benefits

They both are beneficial.

FitNB

Cardio will burn more calories in general, it is true. This will result in more fat loss overall.

But without weights, the extra cardio will further reduce muscle mass, which will leave you still looking "fat" even when you hit lower weight levels and lower body fat percentages.

Weights will make everything look much better in the end though.

What he said. Or to summarize:

Run - lose weight
Lift - look good naked

ugomajestic

i heard the same thing on Biggest Loser UK

Yolanda4160

First of all, I am not a doctor or personal trainer: this is simply my opinion LOL

---

but I personally lost 60 pds on running alone. I just recently added weights to my fitness routine in order to tone. But I believe "a body in motion will burn fat" .......period. So whether its cardio or weight training, one would burn fat regardless.

kaotik26

Meh, I think they are both helpful. Weights create more muscle which burns more fat but running gets your heart rate up which I'm sure is good for your metabolism and still burns calories and also builds muscle (maybe not as big). Running is an easy way to get a little bit of exercise to the whole body.

xRedHeaterx

Thanks for sharing this article, it gives a slightly different take on things than I had read previously. I'm doing weights, and was really building up on the running before lots of snow and ice came my way. I'm really looking forward to getting back to it.

I don't know if everyone who has posted read the article, but its reporting a study that suggests that weight training does not boost metabolism. I have read elsewhere that it does, but not by very much in the big scheme of things. Like anything else, its better not to just take the opinion of one study as gospel truth. Its possible the effect isn't as much as we would hope it to be. Lets face it, we all know bodybuilders with big upper body strength but still quite a belly on them.

It would have been interesting for them to test out HIIT, because it seems to be suggested everywhere that this provides an 'afterburn'.

I agree that lifting weights can have benefits over and above actual fat loss - by improving appearance, strength and so on.

Cranktastic

Cardio will burn more calories in general, it is true. This will result in more fat loss overall.

But without weights, the extra cardio will further reduce muscle mass, which will leave you still looking "fat" even when you hit lower weight levels and lower body fat percentages.

Weights will make everything look much better in the end though.

What he said. Or to summarize:

Run - lose weight
Lift - look good naked

Yes.

MoreBean13

I vote both. I've lost fat doing both.

The fitness trifecta is endurance, strength, and flexibility/balance.

meshashesha2012

A calorie deficit burns fat, however you want to get that calorie deficit.

Weights have benefits
Running has different benefits

They both are beneficial.

this needs to be repeated

drmerc

Weights have always had that opinion because it creates tone and definition, making you believe you've cut the fat when usually it is building the muscle that is already there. Running burns fat by increasing your heart rate because it's a cardio workout.

Over all I don't think your heart burns enough calories to make a difference being elevated

taso42

This makes about as much sense as saying, "Stirring, not heat cooks soup"

mustgetmuscles1

To say running or any form of exercise "burns fat" is not entirely accurate. They burn CALORIES. Some of those calories come from fat some from other sources depending on a lot of factors. You can compare one type, speed, intensity of exercise to another and see some differences and then say one is superior to the other but that is where people run into trouble.

Exercise burns calories.

Calories deficit causes "weight" loss. Notice I didnt say fat loss? What percentage of that weight loss is body fat and what is lean body mass? Diet and exercise are going to play a huge role in that.

Some exercises promote the retention of lean body mass and some dont. So if you want to ensure the weight loss from your calorie deficit is a more body fat than lean mass, is running a better or worse exercise than resistance training?

Do both.

sylviatx

You look lovely. Good work!

Enigmatica

I dropped from 220 to 120 with walking as my exercise of choice. I mostly jog now because I enjoy it. I'm just not going to deal with the typical weight lifting thing because I don't like it. What you *won't do* won't help ya. I *will* walk, jog, hike, and get on the elliptical every day in order to burn sufficient calories. Those activities make me happy and have worked well for me. My doctor even thought I was doing weight training because I have great muscle tone. Every body is different.

xRedHeaterx

To say running or any form of exercise "burns fat" is not entirely accurate. They burn CALORIES. Some of those calories come from fat some from other sources depending on a lot of factors. You can compare one type, speed, intensity of exercise to another and see some differences and then say one is superior to the other but that is where people run into trouble.

Exercise burns calories.

Calories deficit causes "weight" loss. Notice I didnt say fat loss? What percentage of that weight loss is body fat and what is lean body mass? Diet and exercise are going to play a huge role in that.

Some exercises promote the retention of lean body mass and some dont. So if you want to ensure the weight loss from your calorie deficit is a more body fat than lean mass, is running a better or worse exercise than resistance training?

Do both.

I agree mostly, but the study specifically claims that running provides higher fat loss. It doesn't say just higher weight loss. I assume they dunked them before/after to get accurate fat percentage stats. Of course its the amount of calories that are lost that will lead into the fat loss, but some people would claim that an activity could burn less calories but end up shifting more fat, perhaps by providing an after-burn or boosting metabolism.

In the past I have lost weight without doing any weights, and ended up looking weak and wasted at the end of it, so I agree its definitely good to use weights to maintain or increase lean muscle while dieting.

Louisianababy93

http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/training/weight-training-for-fat-loss-part-1.html
http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/training/weight-training-for-fat-loss-part-2.html

"metabolic type weight training workouts (e.g. Turbulence Training, Afterburn, etc.) that are often suggested when fat loss is the goal."

Wait, what was that again? weights dont burn fat?

P.S i havent done cardio in forever since i wised up and started lifting.. 20lbs down, just sayin!

wellbert

Weights have always had that opinion because it creates tone and definition, making you believe you've cut the fat when usually it is building the muscle that is already there. Running burns fat by increasing your heart rate because it's a cardio workout.

fat loss creates tone and definition.

AnvilHead

Weights have always had that opinion because it creates tone and definition, making you believe you've cut the fat when usually it is building the muscle that is already there. Running burns fat by increasing your heart rate because it's a cardio workout.

fat loss creates tone and definition.

Furthermore, you don't "build muscle" (at least not in appreciable amounts) while in a caloric deficit. As Wellbert said, definition is created by losing the fat which is covering your muscles.