weights vs cardio

AlohaKeAkua
AlohaKeAkua Posts: 92
in Fitness and Exercise
Hey guys! I am venturing into weights now and I was wondering how many days a week should I do strength training. I hit the gym for about an hour each morning before work. I have way more time at the gym (should I need it) on the weekends. I was doing 60 mins of cardio. I'm thinking about doing 20-30 mins of intense cardio and then 30-40 mins of weights. Should I do weights every time I work out? Do I do an hour of cardio one day and an hour of weights the next day? My goal is to work other parts of my body and I know I won't run the arm fat off, or run the back fat off. I need to add in weights to increase calories burnt each day and tone those parts of my body. Any suggestions on weights vs cardio times?! I've got the cardio thing down, but I feel lost trying to add in strength training!

Replies

  • alpine1994
    alpine1994 Posts: 1,915 Member
    Are you interested in following a weight lifting plan? I just started New Rules of Lifting for Women and I love that it tells me exactly what I should do. It recommends that you lift 3X per week and the workouts don't take any longer than a half hour.
  • sunsnstatheart
    sunsnstatheart Posts: 2,544 Member
    Pick up New Rules as above, or Strong Lifts or 5/3/1, read it carefully and follow a plan. It's much easier and more effective than bumping along experimenting from scratch.
  • robin52077
    robin52077 Posts: 4,383 Member
    unfortunately most of what you've said in your original post is incorrect....

    running (or any cardio) WILL get the arm fat and back fat off, fat comes off fairly evenly with a calorie deficit, you can't choose where the fat comes from by doing certain exercises.

    if you do weights and cardio on the same day, lift FIRST, you said you'd do cardio then lift, but then you can't lift as much weight or as many reps because you're already fatigued, and form suffers, leading to injury.

    you also said "I need to add in weights to increase calories burnt each day and tone those parts of my body."
    This should read. "I need to cut down on all the cardio and eat MORE while lifting heavy weights to add muscle to look awesome."


    I also second the idea of a structured program like Stronglifts 5x5 or New Rules.

    As for number of workouts, usually 3 or 4 30-45 minute lifting sessions a week is plenty. 2 other days you can do 20-30 minutes of cardio but it's not necessary. At least one day should be complete rest.

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