cardio or strength
afbigg
Posts: 33 Member
Hello. As I am starting out a healthy lifestyle I joined a gym. Its a bit costly, but I think it's worth it. However, it is more than double the cost to have a personal trainer assist me at this gym, and although it may worth it in the long run, I cannot afford it at this time. My question is, if I am just starting out, should I focus more on cardio or strength training? My starting weight was 227 one month ago. I have lost about 6 lbs in the last 5 weeks, which I am happy about. I have read that bigger people, such as myself, lose weight a little faster at first because we have the extra weight to lose and our body burns the extra calories better than those who don't have the extra fat. I have seen many success stories where bigger women lost all their weight just by walking/jogging/running and doing nothing else. When I first started last month I was doing half cardio and half weight lifting and I got sick of the routine I had so I started doing just cardio (walking/jogging on treadmill) about 2 weeks ago, and it seems the weight comes off faster from the cardio. I don't want to lose weight and be flabby, so I know I have to do the strength training and toning at some point, but should I focus on weight loss/cardio first and then once I start losing the weight then start toning? My original thought was I should keep doing just cardio and then once I hit a platue then maybe add the weight lifting. Any advice? Thanks in advance, MFP and the community posts are what keeps me motivated!
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Replies
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Cardio AND strength training is the way to go0
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both so you don't loss lean body mass while losing fat0
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Both.
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If your gym offers free classes or whatever its called with a trainer take them. This way you can learn and then go on from there by your self. Or you can watch tutorial videos online especially you tube and learn from them0
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In before the lifters,
I have lost over 100lbs in just over 1 year, and I haven't lifted a thing, however I do run 3/4 times a week. My doc tells me I have added 20 years to my life just by doing this.
However the lifters will be along in a minute telling you, you must lift heavy!!!0 -
In before the lifters,
I have lost over 100lbs in just over 1 year, and I haven't lifted a thing, however I do run 3/4 times a week. My doc tells me I have added 20 years to my life just by doing this.
However the lifters will be along in a minute telling you, you must lift heavy!!!
Caloric deficit helped you lose 100lbs.
Cardio for cardiovascular health and so you can eat more.
Lifting to increase strength and maintain muscle mass.
When you're in a deficit you lose fat, water, and LBM. When you lift in that deficit, you're maintaining muscle mass as best your body can.0 -
Do Both........
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why does it have to be or? you can do both0
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You can and should lift without a trainer. Use those weights...you are paying for them!0
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No one here seems interested in the OP's goals. That, uh... matters.
OP, what are your actual goals?0 -
In my experience, to LOSE weight, eat less cals and add cardio. To get stronger, "toned," do strength-training. You really SHOULD do both cardio and strength-training for the best results, but cardio and joining a gym are a good starting point.
Your gym might have free sessions where the staff members take you around and show you the basic machines. Do this if it is offered. If your gym offers free classes (particularly ones that include weights), take a couple of those.
I know a personal trainer is expensive, but they might have options that are cheaper. My husband just met with a personal trainer 3 times for about $100. He gained A LOT of knowledge and confidence.
I spent a year and a half just doing cardio at m gym. I actually WATCHED a lot of other women, and I watched what exercises they were doing and what machines they were using. In fact, there is one woman (about my size, my build, my age), she was doing strength-training well before I started. I used her as a guide to figure out where to start with strength-training. Honestly if you want to use a machine and you see someone using it, just ask the person how it works. I've had a couple of people ask me how to use things, and it's no big deal.0 -
No one here seems interested in the OP's goals. That, uh... matters.
You'd think...
Welcome to MFP.0 -
No one here seems interested in the OP's goals. That, uh... matters.
You'd think...
Welcome to MFP.
I guess I took the lineI don't want to lose weight and be flabby,
and stating they know they need to strength train to mean I don't want to be skinny fat and that the OP wants to make sure they have muscle definition.0 -
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Get in there and try a bit of everything. Find the things you like but show results. You need to do both. Great luck to you! Be patient too the results will come if you commit to this.0
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Strength training and then cardio if you want. Screw a PT, google stronglifts.0
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Cardio and strength, remember to focus on nutrition (keep your protein up) and drink lots of water. This will make sure flab stays away0
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My vote is for whatever makes you happy. I would worry less about what is the ideal exercise and more about what it is that you enjoy and will stick with.0
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definatly both0
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All that. Just keep moving!0
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I am doing both. I break my exercises down into shorter sessions. Every once and a while I'll just keep going to see my limits (in cardio mode), but I do both. I alternate arms and legs with core. I use resistance bands some days and weights (currently at 8 lbs) others. The lean muscle mass also helps you to burn more calories as your body works to keep everything going. It's about balance and finding what you like. You can try Yoga for some strength building as well.0
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No one here seems interested in the OP's goals. That, uh... matters.
OP, what are your actual goals?
Unless I misread the OP's post, the goal is to lose weight and not look "flabby".0 -
No one here seems interested in the OP's goals. That, uh... matters.
OP, what are your actual goals?
Unless I misread the OP's post, the goal is to lose weight and not look "flabby".
I didn't quite read that as a statement of her overall long-term goals.
But if it is, and all that matters is losing weight without looking flabby, then strength training is all she should be doing. Cardio is completely unnecessary.0 -
Both for sure. I'm a bigger dude, I split my time about 60-40 Strength and Cardio. There is no way I wouldn't do strength training, in fact, if I could only do one or the other I'd do strength training, but both is the way to go when trying to lose weight.
Rigger0 -
Coupling strength training and cardio together would be most ideal. But strength training burns more fat that cardio does. Strength training causes your body to burn calories long after your workout and to produce more hgh and testosterone which also burn more fat. When you stop performing cardio, your body stops burning calories.0
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In before the lifters,
I have lost over 100lbs in just over 1 year, and I haven't lifted a thing, however I do run 3/4 times a week. My doc tells me I have added 20 years to my life just by doing this.
However the lifters will be along in a minute telling you, you must lift heavy!!!
I have lost 90 pounds in 5 months and will tell you that weights and cardio worked for me. I am not an expert but getting a good balance between the two will really help!0 -
To the OP, I am doing something called Crossfit. It's a lot of fun, and it incorporates both cardio and weight lifting. If you don't know much about it, do a search on Google. There will be tons of hits on it. I go to a dedicated Crossfit center, and they are pricey (more-so than just a regular gym membership) but I've just finished my second week and I am totally hooked! My goal is to lose about 30-40 lbs, and I think it is definitely achievable with this type of training and staying committed. Good luck to you!0
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A well rounded fitness plan is going to have elements of both. Your specific fitness goals will determine the volume of each. For general fitness, you should be pretty balanced. I do 3x weekly full body weight lifting and 3-4 days on my bike for 45 - 60 minutes and take one or two rest days per week. On rest days I'm just generally active...out for a walk with the family, yoga, etc.0
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I will keep this brief (it may not answer your question, but I hope it helps nevertheless).
Strength-training makes me bulky, especially my legs (yes, I am a woman).
Cardio makes me thin (long-distance running is all I do, and my leg muscles are solid but lean at the same time).
I prefer the latter...
Since you are quite overweight you probably need to find something that is not bad for your joints.0 -
I think strength is the way to go. Muscle burns fat, so your even burning fat long after. Cardio has it's place, of course...
I've done hours upon hours of cardio with no size reduction. Even after losing some weight. I began lifting in December and BAM! I'm fitting my clothes better and better. So no additional bulk. I literally feel my body changing now every waking moment. Posture, shoulders, my butt etc.. :-) Might I add, I've cut my daily cardio to only 30 minutes vs 60 minutes and lift heavy stuff instead.
Ultimately it all depends on your personal goals and your body type. Try it for a month, if you decide it's not for you then try something else :-)0
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