Is running bad for you? Are weights better? Very confused.

Running is amazing for you! Mix weights and running and the results will be awesome.

They say running can be bad for your knees. I think it's only bad for you if a person doesn't run regularly. The body is a lot of weight to push onto joints if they aren't use to it. Ladies at my gym walk on the treadmill at a incline, they say it helps their knees.

I run 1-2 times a week but find myself on the elliptical 4-5 times a week.

I don't think you should stop walking if you love it so much, but you should add some strength training into your routine. Especially as we age, it's so important to build and preserve muscle. It shouldn't be one or the other. Try to commit to twice a week, hit all the major muscle groups during each workout.

The best exercise for you is the one you actually do. Some people walk for health others walk because they enjoy it. It sounds to me like you and your dog enjoy it.

If your not seeing the results you want or you want to crank it up a notch then start incorporating in some running or lifting or swimming or racquetball or whatever it is that you want to do. There is no best exercise or we'd all be doing it.

Running is not bad for you. Whether or not weights are better depends on your goal.

It depends on your goals and your preferences.

I've been trying to educated myself on exercise. I used to think all exercise is the same: if you burn calories by moving your body and using more energy than you eat, you'll lose weight and get fit. I'm walking at least 2 miles a day, and sometimes up to 4. I like walking more than any other exercise.Sometimes I break into a jog and do some jogging mixed in with the running.
I go to the gym to work out sometimes too, but not as faithfully as walking, because my dog loves to go with me and that encourages me to keep going.

But while reading about exercise I find all kinds of different opinions about fat burning and fitness! I never knew there were so many differing opinions about it. Would it be better to ditch walking so much and go lift weights? I guess I'm feeling unsure and insecure about this. I want to get fit and lose 2 pounds a week. I have 35 pounds left to go and my weight loss has slowed to a crawl. Maybe it's the wrong exercise?

There are a lot of "opinions" from people pushing their own agendas and primarily concerned with self-promotion. It has always been an unfortunate fact that the fitness "business" is infested with many people whose primary goal is to blow BS in order to serve their own ego or financial interests.

A balanced program of cardio and strength training is still the best choice for the vast majority of people trying to improve fitness and lose weight.

Another source of confusion is that different strategies are more appropriate for people at different stages of their program. What is effective for a beginner might not be effective at all for a more experienced exerciser, or even the same person several months down the road.

Your basic premise is correct. You can always learn new things and add exercises to your program, but be extremely suspicious about ANY information that claims to have the "one true answer" to fitness and weight loss.

I run three times a week. Running is EXCELLENT for you.

I think it's good to be switching up your exercise often. I like to alternate different kinds of workouts between my running days to keep my body guessing.

Running is good but take it from someone currently suffering from a 5 month old knee injury, I would just continue to walk if that is what you like to do! And add some weight lifting. I love weight lifting and have should have started doing it sooner in my life! Good luck on whatever you find that you like!

I am a long time runner (20 + years) and have learned the lessons of over-training the hard way. There are three keys to understanding how to best increase calories burned and cardio-vascular fitness.

1. Most people run at an intensity that is too high for what they are trying to accomplish. I highly recommend splurging for a heart rate monitor sports watch. I know they are pricey but honestly they only cost the same price as 3 pairs of good running shoes. You should be in heart rate zones 2 and 3. I would bet dollars to donuts that you are running in zone 4, especially if you feel the need to walk. If you can currently walk and keep your heart rate in zone 3 then don't bother running. You don't get added benefits and actually you will likely lower the cardio-vascular benefit. Why? See point 2.

2. Exercise science research has shown that the cardio-vascular benefit of running or walking is proportional to the time spent doing that exercise in the appropriate heart rate zones. NOT the distance traveled.

So suppose you do two 3 mile run/walks. The first is done at a 15 minute per mile pace and you can keep your heart rate in zone 3 and the second is done at a 14 minute per mile pace with your heart rate in the same zone. The 15 minute per mile run/walk will be better for you because you spend more *time* exercising.

3. Weight training is an important part of any running program in order to prevent injuries. Two times a week is sufficient and ignore what others* are doing in the free weights room. Do exercises that have a balance component and that utilize your core. For runners put an emphasis on lower body one-legged exercises (lunges, for instance), lateral movement (to increase the range of motion in your hips and to increase the strength of your hip flexors) and shoulders.

Here's a sample plan for you:

Day 1:
Group 1: Lunges x 8 -15 each leg, box step overs x 8 - 15 each leg, cable rows x 8 - 12, dumbbell curl and overhead press 8 - 12.
Group 2: Weight assisted pull-ups 8 - 12, resistance band side steps x 8 - 12, physio-ball crunches 10 - 30

Day 2:

Group 1: Lunges x 8 -15 each leg, weighted side steps squat x 8 - 15 each leg, bent over dumbbell rows x 8 - 12 each side, dumbbell front and lateral raises x 8 - 15.
Group 2: Dumbbell bench press 8 - 12, weighted wall sits 20 - 60 seconds, rotating side planks.


Do each group of exercises all the way through, go grab some water and catch your breath and then do them again. Start out doing 1 set of each at light weights then work up to three sets of both groups.

* edited out "meat-heads" for others. So many people are doing exercises with incorrect form and in such an ill-thought out sequence that I would not want anyone to follow their cue. Nonetheless, I can see where that word would be seen as an insult to weightlifters here. Obviously, if you are here you are thinking pretty seriously about your training and not just grunting and yelling "be a man!" as you spot your friend during his bench. Bleh.

Stop running immediately! Just stay on the couch.

http://todayhealth.today.com/_news/2012/12/03/15625246-running-farther-faster-and-longer-can-kill-you?lite

Running / walking + lifting weights = awesomeness

I say keep doing all those little exercises that you do because you and your pup love them, and either add in lifting, or pick something new to explore each month of 2013 until you find some more favorites to add in.

Great idea!! Ill be looking forward to walking from now on!

since i had knee pain after running, my doctor told me running was bad for my knees and i should stop. Instead, i started weight training my legs intensely. Now i can run at least a 5K without knee pain. The pain is still there once in a while (arthritis i think) but it got a lot better with more weight training, so i think i was using my knees too much when i ran. Hopefully it doesnt kill my knees in the future but i would like to keep running at least a little bit :-)

I bet your hip flexors were too weak to stabilize your knees and the weight training corrected that.