cardio-vs-weights which is better for weight loss??

In terms of weight loss cardio typically burns more calories but strength is also critical in terms of body composition.

In terms of heart rate are you referring to your fat burning zone? Forget you even heard that term, the fat burning zone is low intensity cardio that does burn more calories from fat as fuel but, overall, burns far fewer calories than exercising at a higher intensity.

Running or elliptical the choice is yours (do the one you enjoy more -you're more likely to stay with it) If you haven't done so already get yourself a copy of the New Rules of Lifting for Women.

Weight training will also help you increase your muscle mass, which will increase your metabolism.

A combination of strength training and cardio will get you good results, along with a healthy calorie deficit. I've gotten to where I'm at with mostly strength training, some cardio, and an overall healthy diet at the proper deficit for my needs.

Find exercises in both categories that you enjoy and you'll be able to stick with it.

I'm 47. I try to focus on both. Cardio to help create a deficit. Weights to help increase my BMR, which at my age and weight isn't that high. :-)

I do cardio and some weights on MWF (something like a 5k run and 30 minutes of free weights)
Focused strength training on T/TH (I'm taking a brutal circuit training class)
Focused cardio (A long run) on Sunday.
Saturday is usually my day off.

Diet is the most important part, but I think a good weight loss program incorporates both strength training and cardio.

I'm kind of a car guy and I see an athletic/fit body kind of like a dragster, you want a good engine (cardio) but you want it to perform optimally so it needs a supercharger (weights).

Both both always both!!

There are so many benefits I could go on forever, but the potentially most pertinent are that you'll have less loose skin when you're at goal if you lift, and if you lift you get your BMI down by increasing your muscle mass which in turn increases your metabolism.

It's NOT either/or, it's BOTH. You need BOTH for weight loss!!!! Don't just do one or the other, do both.

To find how much you should eat like you asked, don't use MFP. It sets everyone, usually, lower than what they can really eat and puts them under their BMR,

go to htttp://www.fat2fitradio.com use their BMR calculator. Set your NET goal to at LEAST 50 above your BMR and EAT BACK your workout calories!

You do NOT NEED both.

Its whatever you'll do several times a week. Its about consistency more than anything else, so just start doing something and you'll start seeing results. I recommend that in the beginning of any fitness plan its more about committing to do something everyday than it is about the actual activity. With time you'll start to see results, but for now its about establishing habits and getting used to additional activity (any activity) everyday.

This is just whats worked for me though.

Hi Keren - thought you might appreciate the perspective of a fellw 49 (soon to be 50!) year old female.

I lift weights (heavy!) 3x per week and do cardio on alternating days, 3x per week. The last day of the week is usually something like yoga (just 'cause it is easier to keep an exercise habit if you do something every day). What I have noticed since hitting the age of hot flashes is this: if I don't keep lifting weights, I lose muscle and my metabolism slows. If I don't eat clean, healthy food at least 85% of the time, the fat creeps back on. And here is the big kicker - even if I am still religious about my weights and cardio, if my diet goes south, the fat creeps back on.

I've discovered that my biggest enemy is what I call 'garbage carbs': breads, pastas, baked goods and any added sugar. As a result, I'm a chronic label-reader and check absolutely everything for hidden sugars! Even if it is something that I have purchased many times in the past, because companies change recipes all the time. Mostly, I am a 'perimeter' shopper in the grocery store and buy a LOT of fresh produce, along with chicken or turkey and fish. I try not to eat out as much as possible, which is hard when I have a teenager and she has so much going on - although she started college a week ago, so maybe that will be easier to maintain.

You are on the right track with your exercise, but take a good, hard look at what you are eating. Instead of letting MFP set my calories and doing that old 'eating back your exercise calories thing', I researched online and found the Harris-Benedict equation to calculate for myself exactly how many calories I should be eating and just stick to that number. If my weight changes, then I re-calculate and re-set it on MFP.

That's just what works for me - you need to find what works best for you! Good luck - you can make it work!!

Both.

Don't forget, muscle needs more calories than fat, therefore you burn more calories having more muscle just going about your daily business.

I do cardio on my stationary bike, i have a resistance band which i love and i use kettlebells for a combination of both in one workout.

Awesome article that speaks about this very issue..

http://www.venusindex.com/stop-wasting-gym-time/

Bump for later. What a great thread! Thanks, everyone!