whats 'wrong' with too much cardio?

THANK YOU! It drive me crazy this 'muscle weighs the same as fat cause a pound is a pound' crap. That would mean that toothpicks weigh the same as bricks, cause 20 pounds of toothpicks weighs the same as 20 pounds of bricks

ZOMG no. what the heck?

20 pounds of toothpick = 20 pounds of bricks

20 tooth picks does NOT equal 20 bricks. Obviously 20 toothpicks would weight a few oz and 20 bricks would weigh many many many pounds.

you need to go back to highschool

Yes, 20 pounds of toothpicks DOES equal 20 pounds of bricks.
Of course there are going to be a heck of a lot more toothpicks to make them weight that much. just like you have to have more volume of fat to equal the weight of the same poundage of muscle..

I am always torn on this subject. I weighed 380 pounds initially, when i got down to 191 pounds I had 147 pounds of lean mass. I did not lose a lot of lean mass from the cardio, in fact when I had my DEXA scan they told me my level of lean mass was one of the highest they had ever seen. I had been a cardio machine and only done "resistance" one to two times per week and I doubt any of it was heavy lifting. I did lots of les mills classes, walking, and functional/body weight work. So whilst its a common thread on MFP about lifting heavy im not convinced myself in all honesty. I tried to get into heavy lifting and really couldnt do it. I get that a lot have success with heavy lifting but just cannot convince myself that it will get the results for myself. I think do activity you enjoy, most important thing (in my opinion) is just to lead a active life whatever you do.

Just an FYI...muscle does not weigh more than fat. One pound of muscle and one pound of fat both are one pound.

This is a logic trap. Nothing weighs more than anything else when you measure it all by equal weights. Of course, nothing is scientifically measured this way. Everything has a weight by volume and a specific gravity. So, muscle does weigh more than fat as the specific gravity is higher.

1. The density of mammalian skeletal muscle is 1.06 g/ml.
"... 1.06 g/cm-3 which is the density of mammalian skeletal muscle"

2. The density of fat (adipose tissue) is about 0.9 g/ml
"...by multiplying the density of adipose tissue (0.9196 g/ml)"

http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/71/6/1392.full

YES INDEED. 150 lbs of muscle is going to look a lot smaller than 150 lbs of fat.

I am always torn on this subject. I weighed 380 pounds initially, when i got down to 191 pounds I had 147 pounds of lean mass. I did not lose a lot of lean mass from the cardio, in fact when I had my DEXA scan they told me my level of lean mass was one of the highest they had ever seen. I had been a cardio machine and only done "resistance" one to two times per week and I doubt any of it was heavy lifting. I did lots of les mills classes, walking, and functional/body weight work. So whilst its a common thread on MFP about lifting heavy im not convinced myself in all honesty. I tried to get into heavy lifting and really couldnt do it. I get that a lot have success with heavy lifting but just cannot convince myself that it will get the results for myself. I think do activity you enjoy, most important thing (in my opinion) is just to lead a active life whatever you do.

Agreed. I've given up saying so because people don't like it if you lose weight and are fit without "lifting heavy", and then insist you'e not really fit.

no, cardio and lifting heavy won't help you lose weight at all. Only eating at a deficit.

Right now you are dropping pounds of fat and muscle. The only way to put on muscle is to eat at a surplus. If you continue on your journey here is what is likely to happen.

1) your going to reach your goal and have a lot of endurance. yeah!
2) you aren't going to be happy with your body compesition
3) you want to tone up with 3 - 5lb weights and zumba
4) it doesn't work so you lift heavy
5) now you have to eat at a surplus to build up muscle and gain 10 pounds
6) cut and drop some body fat% because you started lifting the number on the scale doesn't mean anything to you anymore.
7) post before and after pics of how hot you are
8) Troll mfp boards / poptarts and ice cream

you can skip a lot of this if you just go right to lifting heavy. Keep doing cardio too! I do both I love my runs.

This is awesome!! ^^^^^^^^THIS^^^^^^^^

Just an FYI...muscle does not weigh more than fat. One pound of muscle and one pound of fat both are one pound.

One pound of feathers and one pound of lead are also both one pound. So lead and feathers weigh the same, too!

So here is a rather dumb question...so please excuse it..When you all say heavy lifting what is considered heavy? I am guessing when you start (as I would like to do) you don't get crazy and lift something ridiculous. Also how do you know what kind of lifting to start with? The trainers at my gym won't answer any questions or show you unless you work with them..and my bank account says that ain't happening...I have been doing the tread, elliptical and now doing hip hop abs. At the end of the 4 weeks of hip hop abs (two to go) I would be interested in getting to learn how to lift...any suggestions how to start?

So here is a rather dumb question...so please excuse it..When you all say heavy lifting what is considered heavy? I am guessing when you start (as I would like to do) you don't get crazy and lift something ridiculous. Also how do you know what kind of lifting to start with? The trainers at my gym won't answer any questions or show you unless you work with them..and my bank account says that ain't happening...I have been doing the tread, elliptical and now doing hip hop abs. At the end of the 4 weeks of hip hop abs (two to go) I would be interested in getting to learn how to lift...any suggestions how to start?

I suggest u read the FAQs at reddit.com/r/fitness. It'll help in numerous ways about your lifting questions. I suggest starting a program called Stronglift or Starting Strength. Both are reputable beginner programs.