Cardio vs Weights

I'm looking for some actual advice here. I just came back, this is day 2 of trying again and hopefully the last time I "try". What has finally clicked is to do something you love to do so that you'll actually work out. I like the elliptical machine, and the exercise bike....but only for a while. Then I begin to hate even looking at the machine and the idea of getting on it for ANOTHER hour makes me want to vomit.

What I do love to do is lifting. I don't know a lot about it yet, I only use the machines so far. I have an appointment with a trainer next Monday and plan to ask about free weights and programs. However, I have this terror that if I don't do cardio I won't lose any weight.

I have the knowledge that muscle weighs more than fat but takes up less space. Muscle also burns more calories in a resting state and the added strength will take away my back and neck pain. When I was doing this before I did 3 days of cardio and 2 days of less cardio + weight machines per week. On day 2 I was already dreading the elliptical though and I am seriously wondering if it is possible to achieve my massive weight loss goals without doing cardio. Any info would be greatly appreciated!

OP: I personally love the bike. I like the elliptical too but for me, it's hard on my knees. Have you tried a spinning class or Zumba? Maybe even hot yoga? Those are some ideas to switch it up so you don't get bored and dread your next work out.

Lifting is wonderful so it's great you love it! You can absolutely lose weight by lifting. Lifting weights helps build muscle and burn fat. It speeds up metabolism as long as you aren't eating excessively. Make sure you are eating at a deficit. It's optimal to combine weight training with cardio exercises, as that may speed up weight loss, but if you truly hate cardio, then just focus on getting really good at lifting. You will see results… especially in the way your body looks overall!

I recommend lifting at least 3x a week and obviously paying close attention to your diet.

Also, don't panic if you don't see a change on the scale and actually see yourself gaining initially. When you first begin any kind of training, your body releases excess amounts of the hormone cortisol, which causes your body to retain water. This doesn't mean you're bulking, it’s just the body adapting to the training. Once your body adapts, the cortisol release ceases and your body flushes the excess water.

Good luck! And don't forget to squat

I'm happy that I have a rower and elliptical at home. I'm happy I lift, too. It's not a "vs" thing for me.

Anyway, to actually address the OP:

You need only a calorie deficit to lose weight. This could be achieved through diet alone.

What kind of weight you lose (fat/bone density/muscle/etc) and what your resulting body comp will be is dependant on the training routine you are on.

A sensible calorie deficit + adequate protein + a non-retarded beginners lifting routine + adequate time + consistency will have you shedding mostly fat and getting a ****tonne stronger.

Is it the only way to do things? No. Will it most likely chime with your stated goals? Yes.

I love both cardio and lifting. I think they are both great but everyone needs to find what works for them.

I love running for my mental health (it is like the only time my brain isn't going a million miles an hour and overanalyzing everything) and lifting for what it does for my body. I know there are runners out there that think lifting is bad for runners but I am in the category that it is beneficial (and it seems this thought is changing, a lot of running resources are now recommending weights).

OP: find what you love. You will stick with it better.

Surely people can agree that not all cardio is the same.

Noooo CV training is only Cardio if its dull as *kitten* hamster wheel stuff in an air conditioned room...

If its something you enjoy doing it cant be Cardio...

Anyway. Im due a 5K run along the Thames tonight, and I intend to enjoy it

You want to change your mindset from "I want to lose weight" to "I want to lose fat".

And even that isnt the most motivating framing. For me its about training to improve my performance,whether distance, speed. Losing Weight helps both of those

What I do love to do is lifting.

That is the right reason to do it.

I have the knowledge that muscle weighs more than fat but takes up less space. Muscle also burns more calories in a resting state and the added strength will take away my back and neck pain.

These are the wrong reasons to do it, because the numbers are very small and, frankly, inconsequential.

Strength training to relieve back and neck pain is not a "wrong reason."

What I do love to do is lifting.

That is the right reason to do it.

I have the knowledge that muscle weighs more than fat but takes up less space. Muscle also burns more calories in a resting state and the added strength will take away my back and neck pain.

These are the wrong reasons to do it, because the numbers are very small and, frankly, inconsequential.

Strength training to relieve back and neck pain is not a "wrong reason."

The OP isn't working from experience that it does, she's working from a questionable assumption that it will.

Like many others have said, all you need is a calorie deficit to lose weight, you can achieve that however you want; through diet alone, cardio, weight lifting, or a mix of the two.

Weight lifting is great, it will make you look better, make you stronger, burn calories, build muscle and burn even more calories, etc.

But don't underestimate the powers of cardio. It will make you feel better, exercise longer and burn more calories, help you run up stairs without getting winded, and will help you outrun law enforcement/zombies/etc. You only get one heart.

I usually recommend people to try to get a good mix of the two, and some yoga/stretching.

Here's the takeaway: if you're about to do something you would refer to as "doing cardio," just skip it. Either do something else active that you're doing because it's fun, not because it's "cardio," or just rest instead.

Ummm, okay.

So since I consider running outside as "doing cardio", playing tennis as "doing cardio" and going for a long hike as "doing cardio" according to this I should just sit on the couch and eat bon-bons because apparently it's not fun if I consider it "doing cardio".

You want to change your mindset from "I want to lose weight" to "I want to lose fat".

And even that isnt the most motivating framing. For me its about training to improve my performance,whether distance, speed. Losing Weight helps both of those

Yes, well, the number on the scale is a stumbling block for a lot of women. Lifting heavy and focusing on recomp can help break out of that prison when you realize that you can literally weigh the same but be 3 sizes smaller.

Indeed, and while all the semantic wrangling and associated hissy fits is amusing it highlights a really important point about the diet industry. People need to frame things in meaningful ways, and the industry doesn't cultivate that thinking.

Fairly frequently when I venture into the "advice" threads I'll ask what a questioner is wanting to achieve, or "what does good look like", in part to frame the more appropriate response and in part to prompt the thinking. What prompted it for me was someone answering my first thread with a completely irrelevant response for my situation.

Similarly when someone says "I don't like Cardio" then it helps to understand what they mean by that, is it in front of a DVD five times a week, or the hamster wheel nonsense in an air conditioned room, getting out on a road bike once a week or throwing themselves and a chunk of aluminium and rubber around some singletrack. Lots of different options and I exhibit no surprise that people get bored in gyms.

What I do love to do is lifting.

That is the right reason to do it.

I have the knowledge that muscle weighs more than fat but takes up less space. Muscle also burns more calories in a resting state and the added strength will take away my back and neck pain.

These are the wrong reasons to do it, because the numbers are very small and, frankly, inconsequential.

Strength training to relieve back and neck pain is not a "wrong reason."

The OP isn't working from experience that it does, she's working from a questionable assumption that it will.

There's a great deal of real evidence that strength training can alleviate back and neck pain. It's not a questionable assumption.

Doing Cardio in a gym is not fun for anyone usually. Get an Mp3 player or use your smartphone to listen to music or watch your favourite show and it will make things a lot easier.

Loosing fat is more about diet then actually exercising.

Have a read, I'm sure the page below with answer most of your questions:

http://www.reddit.com/r/loseit/wiki/faq

Surely people can agree that not all cardio is the same.

Noooo CV training is only Cardio if its dull as *kitten* hamster wheel stuff in an air conditioned room...

If its something you enjoy doing it cant be Cardio...

Anyway. Im due a 5K run along the Thames tonight, and I intend to enjoy it

Yep! Cardio can only be boring, and if it's fun, then it can't be cardio. Truth be damned, just fool yourself into fitness!

OK, so I did a lifting session for 5Km at 5Min per Km pace...

Or have I misunderstood the logic somewhere along the discussion?

Yep. You missed the logic, right along with me. (The comment above is sarcasm.)