How much cardio vs. strength training?

eep223
eep223 Posts: 624 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
What's your ratio of cardio to strength training? What's your weekly schedule? What type of exercise do you enjoy more, personally?

Replies

  • metacognition
    metacognition Posts: 626 Member
    I enjoy both activities, but the weight lifting is harder because you can really feel the lactic acid build up all at once.

    I do a six day schedule:

    Day one: upper body weight training
    Day two: 60 min / cardio
    Day three: 60 min / low intensity cardio
    Day four: lower body weight training
    Day five: 60 min / cardio
    Day six: 60 min / cardio

    Some of the cardio will be steady state, the rest is usually intervals if I feel up to it.
  • bridge1101
    bridge1101 Posts: 15 Member
    bump..ive been experimenting with cardio vs weight training and ive noticed i consistently burn almost the same amount while lifting weights as i would doing about 20 mins of cardio..if not more sometimes :)
  • redraidergirl2009
    redraidergirl2009 Posts: 2,560 Member
    Weight training IS cardio as well. I prefer to do cardio specific machines first for an hour then do weights after. I only do weights 3 days a week.
  • Showcase_Brodown
    Showcase_Brodown Posts: 919 Member
    Depends very much on goals.

    Personally, I'm 6'6" and roughly 175 lbs, and not trying to lose weight, but add some lean mass through weight training. So I keep my cardio pretty short (5-10) surrounding my weights 3 times a week. I essentially use cardio briefly to warm up and get my heart pumping. I might get to the point where I want to try to gain more endurance there, but right now it isn't a main goal.

    Well, and plus I honestly enjoy the weights a lot more than cardio. My favorite kind of cardio would be a walk or hike outdoors.
  • Hellbent_Heidi
    Hellbent_Heidi Posts: 3,669 Member
    I used to do about 80/20 cardio to strength, but now its more like 60/40. They're both important for different things, and I'm one of the people who actually likes them both

    I must admit that I see better results from strength training though.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    What will really help here is to develop some actual fitness goals...goals that are independent of calorie burn, weight loss, ect...goals that are dedicated to something you want to achieve that is fitness related. That is going to determine how much of anything you should do.

    For example...if your fitness goal is to run a marathon, the focus of your training is going to be running, and running a lot. Your strength training would be ancillary and your program would support your running goals.

    My main focus currently is improving my strength and body composition. That means strength training and hitting the weight room is priority one...my cardio and conditioning work is ancillary and supports my strength and body composition goals. Here's mine currently:

    Monday - Tabata (4 of them...about 20 minutes). 30 minute jog
    Tuesday - 45 minute walk at lunch; Lifting PM; Conditioning (farmer's carries/sled/etc)
    Wed - Tabata (20 Min);
    Thurs - 45 minute walk at lunch; Lifting PM; Conditioning
    Fri - 30 minute jog
    Sat - Lifting AM; conditioning; walk the dog
    Sun - take kids to zoo; bike ride down by the river; swimming pool, etc General recreation rest day.
  • rllewell
    rllewell Posts: 234
    Weight training IS cardio as well.

    ONLY if you take very short breaks between lifts/sets. No more than 2 minutes between lifts/sets but should be less.

    My workout schedule is simple and 6 days a week. Every once in awhile I'll miss a Saturday. Both my cardio and strength training workouts average around 1 to 1.25 hours. Abs are included in strength training, stretching routine is included in cardio. Strength Training I take very short breaks between sets to keep my heart rate up. Cardio is often HIIT or a high resistance level on elliptical, stair-master, treadmill, etc.

    M-W-F = Strength Training/Weight lifting
    T-Th-Sa = High Intensity Cardio

    To keep myself on track and give myself a goal I love entering races (5K's 10K's, Warrior Dash, etc.) to compete with folks in my same age bracket.

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