Gym Question

So I am so confused by all the differnt things I hear about exercise. DO I need to do both heavy lifting and cardio. Or do I need to only do heavy lifting. Not trying to start a war, jsut need some solid facts!
«1

Replies

  • What are your goals?
  • fcp1234
    fcp1234 Posts: 1,098 Member
    I believe you dont NEED cardio if your body fat is not too high,. and if you eat well. I hate cardio though, so of course I like to think that.

    And it depends on what your goals are.
  • WorkoutWarrior76
    WorkoutWarrior76 Posts: 179 Member
    My goal is to lose about 40 pounds of fat and gain more muscle.
  • fcp1234
    fcp1234 Posts: 1,098 Member
    My goal is to lose about 40 pounds of fat and gain more muscle.

    Then yes, you do need cardio.
  • hypotrochoid
    hypotrochoid Posts: 842 Member
    *need* is a strong word. No, you don't, though there are benefits to a mix.
  • lacurandera1
    lacurandera1 Posts: 8,083 Member
    Then you need to do both. :)
  • Bobby__Clerici
    Bobby__Clerici Posts: 741 Member
    So I am so confused by all the differnt things I hear about exercise. DO I need to do both heavy lifting and cardio. Or do I need to only do heavy lifting. Not trying to start a war, jsut need some solid facts!
    As a beginner, just get in there and do something based on any definitive program designed by any expert.
    You can download a multitude of training programs from unlimited sources.
    They key at this stage is to just do something.
    Anything.
    In 3 months you'll notice a big difference.
  • UticaBoy51
    UticaBoy51 Posts: 344 Member
    I am with you here, I am strong enough but I am trying to lose the body fat. This has been a big struggle for me. I do heavy lifting for about 40 mins and Cardio for about 30. I am not seeing a lot of difference. Frustrating, although a lovely young lady adjusted my calories and macros today and suggested this may help. So I am continuing with the routines and adjust how I eat. I don't know if any of this helps. I am sorry if it doesn't.
  • rmhand
    rmhand Posts: 1,067 Member
    My goal is to lose about 40 pounds of fat and gain more muscle.

    Both weights and cardio.
  • dixiech1ck
    dixiech1ck Posts: 769 Member
    I believe you dont NEED cardio if your body fat is not too high,. and if you eat well. I hate cardio though, so of course I like to think that.

    And it depends on what your goals are.

    Who told you that? Everyone should do some sort of cardio. It helps to strengthen the heart and work your blood pressure.
  • angel79202
    angel79202 Posts: 1,012 Member
    I started with cardio..then added weights in later :)
  • fcp1234
    fcp1234 Posts: 1,098 Member
    I am with you here, I am strong enough but I am trying to lose the body fat. This has been a big struggle for me. I do heavy lifting for about 40 mins and Cardio for about 30. I am not seeing a lot of difference. Frustrating, although a lovely young lady adjusted my calories and macros today and suggested this may help. So I am continuing with the routines and adjust how I eat. I don't know if any of this helps. I am sorry if it doesn't.

    You will not see any difference until you lose the fat. You lose the fat by having a deficit, which cardio helps alot with
  • jenilla1
    jenilla1 Posts: 11,118 Member
    I do both. I do weights to tone and strengthen and I run because it kills stress, boosts my mood, and it's good for my heart.
  • EatClean_WashUrNuts
    EatClean_WashUrNuts Posts: 1,590 Member
    Depends on your goals and what you want.

    Diet is the most important factor, though.
  • My goal is to lose about 40 pounds of fat and gain more muscle.

    Then yes, you do need cardio.

    Agreed with cardio, but very hard to lose bf and gain muscle. You need to create a caloric deficit to lose fat. With a calorie deficit it will be very hard to build muscle. Google body re composition diet.
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    You do not need to do cardio, although there is nothing wrong with doing it and it has benefits. To maintain LBM while at a deficit and to gain muscle while at a surplus you need to do resistance training. The more effective the resistance training program the more you will achieve this
  • ironanimal
    ironanimal Posts: 5,922 Member
    My goal is to lose about 40 pounds of fat and gain more muscle.

    Then yes, you do need cardio.
    Nope.

    Lose weight = calorie deficit.

    Maintain muscle = resistance training.

    Be better at cardio = cardio.
  • Ok, now this is based off of reports I've read. Because I am no pro at this. But based on your goal, yes it's better for you to do both cardio & lift. Again, this is only based off of what I've read.

    I am doing both and it's working out great. I do Turbo Fire in the mornings & then on my lifting days I still do Turbo Fire (cardio) and at the gym I'll do 10 minute treadmill/bike and then I do my lifting program. I'll then end it with another 10-20 min treadmill or bike.
  • MellyGibson
    MellyGibson Posts: 297 Member
    Both areobic and anaerobic exercise is beneficial -

    The biggest part of looking better is dropping the fat that's hiding all of your good lean muscle! It has been my PERSONAL experience that 80% of that is DIET!

    Once I adjusted my macros and concentrated on my diet as much as (or more than) my exercise routine, THAT'S when I saw real results!

    You can't outtrain a bad diet.
  • EatClean_WashUrNuts
    EatClean_WashUrNuts Posts: 1,590 Member
    Agreed with cardio, but very hard to lose bf and gain muscle. You need to create a caloric deficit to lose fat. With a calorie deficit it will be very hard to build muscle. Google body re composition diet.

    Um...you need to cut fat within the diet. You need to ensure you're macros are balanced. Cardio will assist with blood flow/oxygen transfer, which in turn assists in muscle growth. Without lifting, you will not build the muscle.

    But as stated before...without proper diet, not just a caloric deficit, you will not achieve what you want.
  • Lift_This_
    Lift_This_ Posts: 2,756 Member
    i like to run, swim, hike and lift heavy ****....so i get a balance of both worlds.
  • Diet is the magic bullet to your fat loss. Lifting should be intense enough to build muscle (a great calorie burner in itself) and cardio is a good way to give your metabolism a spike, build muscle, and make you feel good (stress relief). The key is consistency. Create a simple plan and follow it every day.
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    Diet is the magic bullet to your fat loss. Lifting should be intense enough to build muscle (a great calorie burner in itself) and cardio is a good way to give your metabolism a spike, build muscle, and make you feel good (stress relief). The key is consistency. Create a simple plan and follow it every day.

    How does cardio in general build muscle?
  • XXXMinnieXXX
    XXXMinnieXXX Posts: 3,459 Member
    Cardiovascular is good for the mood, the heart etc. Weight training is important too. I truly believe a mix is needed. No real time videmce for that... Just how I feel and what I've learnt. I know I need cardio to feel sane so for me it'll always be a winner! Strength training is what is ultimately going to make me look better though I think... But I wNt to be heart healthy and not just look good. X
  • fcp1234
    fcp1234 Posts: 1,098 Member
    Diet is the magic bullet to your fat loss. Lifting should be intense enough to build muscle (a great calorie burner in itself) and cardio is a good way to give your metabolism a spike, build muscle, and make you feel good (stress relief). The key is consistency. Create a simple plan and follow it every day.

    Cardio doesnt build muscle.
  • bpotts44
    bpotts44 Posts: 1,066 Member
    My goal is to lose about 40 pounds of fat and gain more muscle.

    If gaining muscle is your goal then resistance training will be necessary. Otherwise you could just use diet or diet and cardio as well. Best recommendation is to do both as they both have fitness benefits and will aid in your loss.
  • fcp1234
    fcp1234 Posts: 1,098 Member
    My goal is to lose about 40 pounds of fat and gain more muscle.

    If gaining muscle is your goal then resistance training will be necessary. Otherwise you could just use diet or diet and cardio as well. Best recommendation is to do both as they both have fitness benefits and will aid in your loss.

    No, his goal is both..which he is not gonna be able to do at the same time. I say do both cardio and lifting while on dificit, to lose the fat..then worry about building muscle.
  • Agreed with cardio, but very hard to lose bf and gain muscle. You need to create a caloric deficit to lose fat. With a calorie deficit it will be very hard to build muscle. Google body re composition diet.

    Um...you need to cut fat within the diet. You need to ensure you're macros are balanced. Cardio will assist with blood flow/oxygen transfer, which in turn assists in muscle growth. Without lifting, you will not build the muscle.

    But as stated before...without proper diet, not just a caloric deficit, you will not achieve what you want.
    Balanced protein, carbs and healthy fat, (SO proper diet for the goal)fat loss and muscle gain are two totally different things requiring different diets. Cardio will not build muscle or increase muscle growth.
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    Agreed with cardio, but very hard to lose bf and gain muscle. You need to create a caloric deficit to lose fat. With a calorie deficit it will be very hard to build muscle. Google body re composition diet.

    Um...you need to cut fat within the diet. You need to ensure you're macros are balanced. Cardio will assist with blood flow/oxygen transfer, which in turn assists in muscle growth. Without lifting, you will not build the muscle.

    But as stated before...without proper diet, not just a caloric deficit, you will not achieve what you want.

    I am confused - when you say you need to cut fat within the diet, are you saying that dietary fat relates to body fat, or that it is a diet (or at least a caloric deficit) that leads to weight loss? Because one of those statements is correct, the other is not.
  • Workout warrior as you can see there are a lot of different opinions on here. Take all with a grain of salt find out what works for you. Google is your friend read all articles you can find about fat loss, muscle gain, diet, carbs, protien, fats, lifting weights ect. Lyle MacDonald has written some interesting books, Dave Palumbo.

    Best of Luck