Cardio Exercise or Insanity - Thoughts?

Ctlopez07
Ctlopez07 Posts: 16
in Health and Weight Loss
Okay so I need help deciding!! I currently weigh 190 and I'm 5'6. I carry the weight very well, you would never think I weigh 190. Anyways I obviously want to and need to lose weight, what do you reccommnd, 45 minutes of cardio (elliptical, running, arc trainer) followed by some strength training or 45 minutes of Insanity? Looking to tone up and obv lose stomach fat....

Replies

  • Jo2926
    Jo2926 Posts: 489 Member
    I think insanity is basically a cardio programme? Correct me if I'm wrong. If so I would say which ever you enjoy most!

    Do the strength training whichever you choose, but personally I would do it before the cardio or on alternative days. There are lots of reasons for this put forward, but for me its a simple case of when I have given cardio my all I'm simply too spent to be able to lift anything vaguely heavy!
  • BonaFideUK
    BonaFideUK Posts: 313 Member
    I dont think you need to do 45 minutes of your own cardio then do 45 minutes of insanity. I've done insanity and its called insanity for a reason. I would just alternate your days between the two.
  • LoveAlwaysAlisa
    LoveAlwaysAlisa Posts: 111 Member
    ^^^ I agree with the above poster! I do Insanity and it's INTENSE. I don't think you need to do ANY extra outside of that workout because they incorporate strength training in it using body weight...push ups, jumps, squats..etc...plus INSANE CARDIO. But if you really want to , do Insanity one day and another workout the next and alternate.
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    To lose weight, all you have to do is maintain a reasonable calorie deficit... exercise isn't necessary.

    If you choose to incorporate exercise, cardio and strength training affect the body differently, but both have several benefits. Cardio will *generally* have a greater impact on the number on the scale while lifting will *generally* have a greater impact on how you look.

    At the end of the day, what matters most for the average person is the effort you give, not what you're actually doing. Few people fail from doing the wrong program, lots of people fail from not working hard enough.

    So the simple answer is to do what you're most apt to stick with and work the hardest at. Ideally it would be a nice mix of cardio and strength training, and in most cases they should be done on separate days... but as long as you're putting in the time and the work, you should see results from either program.
  • bearwith
    bearwith Posts: 525 Member
    I am like you in that I can carry a lot of weight before it shows.

    You need to do an hour every day in order to lose the weight and tone up. Otherwise you will be losing weight, craving food, hitting a plateau and then lose the will to diet.

    Do some cardio and some strength training,

    Walk for an hour a day if you cannot exercise - brisk walking that makes you sweaty and out of breathe.
  • dorothytd
    dorothytd Posts: 1,138 Member
    So the simple answer is to do what you're most apt to stick with and work the hardest at. Ideally it would be a nice mix of cardio and strength training, and in most cases they should be done on separate days... but as long as you're putting in the time and the work, you should see results from either program.

    Yes!! Find something you CAN do and WILL do! Try a few things and see...You don't have to be great at it, but you don't want to get frustrated, either. And set reasonable timeframes to exercise that work with your schedule and life.
  • Jo2926
    Jo2926 Posts: 489 Member
    I do Insanity and it's INTENSE. I don't think you need to do ANY extra outside of that workout because they incorporate strength training in it using body weight...push ups, jumps, squats..etc...plus INSANE CARDIO.

    In which case ignore my suggestion to add to strength training as I didn't realise it had bodyweight exercises in it. The clips I have seen were the pure cardio bits. (BTW knowing this makes it more attractive to me!)

    I still say go with which you enjoy most. The exercise you stick to is the one which delivers best results. Or maybe mix it up throughout the week?
  • susanp57
    susanp57 Posts: 409 Member
    I'm going to third (or fourth) the suggestion to find things you like to do. I love cycling and I'm one of those strange people who really likes working out on the stairmaster. So much so that I bought my own. Both the bike and the stairmaster are big investments, but I've gotten my money's worth out of both because I use them.
  • Ctlopez07
    Ctlopez07 Posts: 16
    Thank you all!!! I love Insanity so I guess ill stick with that! But just for clarification i meant either do the Insanity program OR do cardio (arc, elliptical etc) along with lifting weights etc. Not do Insanity then another 45 minutes of cardio lol!!!

    But i think i will stick with Insanity and hopefully that works out for me!!!! =)

    Thank you for your responses!
  • Firefox7275
    Firefox7275 Posts: 2,040 Member
    Okay so I need help deciding!! I currently weigh 190 and I'm 5'6. I carry the weight very well, you would never think I weigh 190. Anyways I obviously want to and need to lose weight, what do you reccommnd, 45 minutes of cardio (elliptical, running, arc trainer) followed by some strength training or 45 minutes of Insanity? Looking to tone up and obv lose stomach fat....

    Either Insanity or an intense studio class at the gym - Boxercise, BodyPump, Spinning, circuit training. You will likely work harder than you would stuck on a cardio machine.

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