Cardio v Weights for weightloss

snapeftw
snapeftw Posts: 5 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I have done a lot of research on this and am finding a lot of contradictions and conflicting answers. Basically, I've been at the gym for 7months now and am following a healthy eating plan. I haven't seen great results yet which is why I joined here to do calorie counting and wanted to mix things up a bit at the gym. My friend recently told me that I should only be using cardio for warm-up and that my main session should be weights, picking 5 of the following exercises- Deadlifts, Squats Bench press, Bent over row, Lat pulldown, Shoulder press- for each gym session 3 sets of 12 and do this three times a week. Until now. each gym session has involved about 30/40mins cardio and about 40 mins free weights/stomach crunches/push ups etc. Would this be advisable? I'm looking to lose about 3stone and I have been working my butt off at the gym for seven months and just want to make sure I'm giving myself the best chance at losing weight. Any advice is greatly appreciated, Cheers guys

Replies

  • Azdak
    Azdak Posts: 8,281 Member
    If you are accurately and consistently monitoring intake and you are working at a decent intensity (ie not all endurance cardio or lighter weights) your routine is fine.

    You might, however, need to find new friends.
  • RGv2
    RGv2 Posts: 5,789 Member
    If you are accurately and consistently monitoring intake and you are working at a decent intensity (ie not all endurance cardio or lighter weights) your routine is fine.

    You might, however, need to find new friends.

    Agreed. Not sure what you're doing for free weights, but if it's compound movements, I'd dump the crunches. They're pretty worthless IMHO.

    Also, you should unlock your diary. If you have been working out for 7 months with no results, there is probably an issue with your diet.
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
    no, weight loss is achieved by controlling diet.
  • snapeftw
    snapeftw Posts: 5 Member
    Ok, so I unlocked my food diary there now. I *think* I'm doing pretty good with my food, apart from Saturday night where I went a bit OTT with the drink, suffering from beer fear now so no chance I'll be at that again.... for a while anyways! My free weight sessions include most of the ones listed in my original post, along with lunges, back rows, curls. I also use the leg curl leg lift and ab/aductor machine too. My tummy is where I carry most of my weight, so every session involves a heap, and I mean a heap!, of crunches/sit ups with slight variations, like long arm ones on the stability ball, ones on stability ball with feet raised and placed on the wall etc.
    I know 7 months is a long time to be seeing such small results- I've lost 4inches from my tummy, 3inches from each arm, two from my chest and 2from my thighs. I've only lost about 10pounds on the scales. I'll take any advice I can, just dying to start losing the weight!!!
  • jquijas
    jquijas Posts: 222 Member
    Weightloss is achieved by eating at a calorie deficit, no more no less. Obviously this includes excercise to help you achieve this deficit. Cardio is good, the big question is what are you looking to do as far as body transformation goes? 4 inches off your stomach is HUGE! as are the rest of your measurements. It sounds like you are losing primarily fat since you have only lost 10lbs. My advice find a pic from 7 months ago and compare it with a pic you have taken recently (maybe even today) I think you are on the right track (without knowing your goals LOL)
  • snapeftw
    snapeftw Posts: 5 Member
    Thanks for the reply, will do what you suggested with the photos. Maybe I'm being too impatient and expecting too much too soon. Ideally I'd love to lose about 3 stone, but to be honest, the main thing I'm looking to do is lose 3 dress sizes and be fit and healthy. With some people, the weight just falls off them, not with me. I have a few friends that go on diets and can lose a stone in a month without making many changes to their lifesytle. Looks like this journey's going to be a much longer one than I anticpated!
  • jquijas
    jquijas Posts: 222 Member
    Thanks for the reply, will do what you suggested with the photos. Maybe I'm being too impatient and expecting too much too soon. Ideally I'd love to lose about 3 stone, but to be honest, the main thing I'm looking to do is lose 3 dress sizes and be fit and healthy. With some people, the weight just falls off them, not with me. I have a few friends that go on diets and can lose a stone in a month without making many changes to their lifesytle. Looks like this journey's going to be a much longer one than I anticpated!

    The journey is supposed to be long, IMO, not sure how much a "stone" is but a healthy weight loss is 1 to 2 lbs a week. The reason most "diets" fail is people restrict something way too much of something...calories, fat, carbs, proteins whatever they decide. Enjoy the ride and make it a new lifestyle is my advice.
  • snapeftw
    snapeftw Posts: 5 Member
    Sorry! A stone is 14lbs :)

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