Cardio vs Weight lifting

I like to run and do Insanity - it leaves me sweaty and out of breath - I FEEL like I had a work out when I am done. I started strong lifts last week, it's easy enough (for now) I am doing 3 exercises 25 times each but I dont FEEL like I've worked out. I barely break a sweat. I am a little sore the next day, not too bad. Is this purely a mental thing?? I feel like I should be out of breath and covered in sweat to have accomplished a worthwhile work out?

If you do the program as instructed, it will most definitely become incredibly challenging. It'll get heavy soon enough...when it does, you'll barely be able to walk out to your car when you're done.

Also, cardio and weight training are obviously training different things. Weight training, you're training your muscles...and the real benefit from the workout comes with rest and muscle repair...that's when you burn the calories, etc. Weight training is really a long term investment. Cardio is just weight lifting for your heart and cardiovascular system really. Most people do sweat more, etc because you're constantly moving...you obviously burn more calories during the exercise as well. But as soon as you're done, you're done...with weight lifting you actually continue to burn for the next 48 hours. Not to mention, weight lifting is the only way you're going to substantially change body composition...diet and cardio just don't cut it for body composition.

I like to run and do Insanity - it leaves me sweaty and out of breath - I FEEL like I had a work out when I am done. I started strong lifts last week, it's easy enough (for now) I am doing 3 exercises 25 times each but I dont FEEL like I've worked out. I barely break a sweat. I am a little sore the next day, not too bad. Is this purely a mental thing?? I feel like I should be out of breath and covered in sweat to have accomplished a worthwhile work out?

Give it time. You are starting out, working on getting your form down, which is what you should be doing. As you progress, it will get harder and harder. I'm currently squatting 155# and i'm busting out in sweat before i'm even done with my squats. Some days, i'm not sure i will be able to walk up the stairs.

For weight lifitng you should be going heavier with small reps. example 50 lbs @ 8 reps x3. Just be sure to have a spotter if you're not comfortable with heavier weights or stick with selectorized machines.

I normally spend 90~120 minutes at the gym doing full upper body weight training and feel nothing, but the next day different story lol.

45 minutes to an hour is what I normally see people do for weight training.

when she said that she is doing 3 different exercises 25 times.. she means that she is doing a 5x5 with 3 different lifts.

side note. make sure you are only doing a 1x5 with your deadlifts

I obtain good results regardless of how sweaty or out of breath I am. I've had spin classes that leave me drenched but when my knee starts to act up I do other workouts that don't leave me as winded and I still get great results.

Yeah, It's definitely easier in the beginning, but trust me, it doesn't stay that way. My next gym visit (today or tomorrow) will be session 21 of Strong Lifts, and I'm dreading it. I've reached the point where the weights are so heavy I'm failing my reps and losing my grip. It seems easy now, but stick with it. Also, sweating has nothing to do with it, this is a different type of workout.

The first few weeks of SL are meant to be easy, as you should be taking this time to focus on your form. Don't worry, the sweating and panting will come soon enough

Juuuuuuuust wait....I think I left my bladder and uterus on the floor after my last deadlift session.