Cardio vs Strenght training

Hi all! I am returning to MFP after reaching my goal weight at the end of last year and than falling back in to old habits of unhealthy eatings and neglecting my work outs. My question is, after just about two weeks in to my workouts again, I have been having some curiosity of whether I can obtain my fitness goals with just strength training that includes lots of squats, box jumps, etc. I enjoy running so I wouldnt completely be void of the cardio but I have been seeing so many of my friends get awesome results from mostly lifting. For someone just starting out again is it beneficial to still have quite a bit of cardio in my routine or can I focus more on lifting and still get back to my goal weight. I have about 60 pounds Id like to lose. Any input is appreciated!

Replies

  • marypatmccue
    marypatmccue Posts: 521 Member
    Most of my female friends on here strictly weight lift. It's definitely possible. Pick up New Rules of Lifting for Women, or look up Strong Lifts 5x5, etc. Good luck !
  • texstorm
    texstorm Posts: 158 Member
    Hi all! I am returning to MFP after reaching my goal weight at the end of last year and than falling back in to old habits of unhealthy eatings and neglecting my work outs. My question is, after just about two weeks in to my workouts again, I have been having some curiosity of whether I can obtain my fitness goals with just strength training that includes lots of squats, box jumps, etc. I enjoy running so I wouldnt completely be void of the cardio but I have been seeing so many of my friends get awesome results from mostly lifting. For someone just starting out again is it beneficial to still have quite a bit of cardio in my routine or can I focus more on lifting and still get back to my goal weight. I have about 60 pounds Id like to lose. Any input is appreciated!

    Here's the, largely, unspoken truth about weight loss - 80% of your results are going to come from nutrition. The exercise program you follow is only important in the sense that it must be something you enjoy enough to stick with it and be consistent.

    That said, building strength can make your body more efficient at burning calories. It also has the side benefit, particularly with women, of instilling greater confidence (if you're strong, you feel strong), which can keep you motivated. If you like running and enjoy doing it, keep running. If you want to try resistance training, give it a shot. Lots of people have great success by alternating weight lifting days with running days. But make sure you have someone show you proper form before you do any weight lifting.

    -Tex
  • jwdieter
    jwdieter Posts: 2,582 Member
    Kinda depends on the fitness goals. If you want to lift more weight, lift. If you want to run farther or faster, run. If you just want to lose weight, lift, eat deficit, get enough protein, and throw in some cardio if you want to.
  • hearthemelody
    hearthemelody Posts: 1,025 Member
    If you do want to look into Strength training (which I highly recommend) here is a great link!

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/560459-stronglifts-5x5-summary

    Let me know if you have any questions!
  • The_Enginerd
    The_Enginerd Posts: 3,982 Member
    Here's the, largely, unspoken truth about weight loss - 80% of your results are going to come from nutrition. The exercise program you follow is only important in the sense that it must be something you enjoy enough to stick with it and be consistent.
    This is the important thing. I learned early on I couldn't outrun a folk, and only maintained my weight until I started tracking my food.

    Weight train to retain lean mass (muscle) as you lose weight, keep your bone density, and strength. Do cardio exercises because you enjoy them, for the cardiovascular benefits, and because they help you build a deficit while still being able to eat a decent amount. Lifting is also beneficial to your running and helping to prevent injury. My knee doctor was quite happy to hear I was doing deadlifts and squats in addition to running.
  • TheEffort
    TheEffort Posts: 1,028 Member
    I think a combination of both strength and cardio will help you. :smile:
  • a_stronger_me13
    a_stronger_me13 Posts: 812 Member
    Here's the, largely, unspoken truth about weight loss - 80% of your results are going to come from nutrition. The exercise program you follow is only important in the sense that it must be something you enjoy enough to stick with it and be consistent.
    This is the important thing. I learned early on I couldn't outrun a folk, and only maintained my weight until I started tracking my food.

    Weight train to retain lean mass (muscle) as you lose weight, keep your bone density, and strength. Do cardio exercises because you enjoy them, for the cardiovascular benefits, and because they help you build a deficit while still being able to eat a decent amount. Lifting is also beneficial to your running and helping to prevent injury. My knee doctor was quite happy to hear I was doing deadlifts and squats in addition to running.

    This. It's a moderation situation, not an either or situation.
  • I don't know the answer but what I do know is that I love Zumba and running, I also do bootcamp, which I'm learning to love. I like to do different things to keep me going. I down hill ski in the winter and have 2 large dogs that I walk all year...anything that keeps you moving will get you to your goal as long as you keep doing them! That's the key, so do what you love!
  • sundancer1966
    sundancer1966 Posts: 478 Member
    I say a balanced routine of Cardio/Weights/Stretch is the best way to go. They are all interlated. Cardio is always necessary for heart lungs, etc. Muscles LOVES weight training. Stretch helps to make your muscles stronger.
  • _Calypso_
    _Calypso_ Posts: 1,074 Member
    I'm a cardio bunny who likes to lift. haha

    I think you can incorporate cardio with strength.
    Things like Box Jumps, Jump squats, Mtn. Climbers,, Plank Jacks, Burpees can be quite beneficial.
  • Hello there i am new to this so dont know where to post my questions well what i would like to know is if i ate 2 boiled eggs in 2 bread and little butter, and 2 small sausages and 1 choc dogestive buiscuite then cross train for 30-40 mins will that effect my weight loss ? also will be eating chicken veg and boiled potatoes for dinner once done with gravy i have also taken a capsiplex this morning. i dont usually eat like that but i suppose today i had those cravings if someone could help me i will be so grateful i would just like to know weather i should exersise or would it not do nothing and just do it tomorrow many thanks xx
  • It's not an either or nor is it a this vs that thing.

    It's whatever YOU want to do depending on what your goals are. There is no hard and fast rule that says you have to ONLY do cardio or ONLY lift weights.

    I do both.

    I do 30 min of cardio followed by an hour of lifting every day because I like cardio and I like lifting.
  • WhoHa42
    WhoHa42 Posts: 1,270 Member
    Only lifting will make you look better than only running in my opinion. A combination of the two is the best. Just make sure you get enough protein and recovery.

    Also cardio should be done after your lifting or at separate times because lifting is more strenuous.
  • sashanicole88
    sashanicole88 Posts: 180 Member
    I've been wondering this too! I'm doing a combination of both currently.
  • i have an elipicictal cross trainer i should have said that. and i do want to go on it just feel like ive set myself back have i by eating those types of foods? x
  • Tony_Von_Stryfe
    Tony_Von_Stryfe Posts: 153 Member
    I can't help but think the combination of the two will help, with more of an emphasis on resistance training
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    Hi all! I am returning to MFP after reaching my goal weight at the end of last year and than falling back in to old habits of unhealthy eatings and neglecting my work outs. My question is, after just about two weeks in to my workouts again, I have been having some curiosity of whether I can obtain my fitness goals with just strength training that includes lots of squats, box jumps, etc. I enjoy running so I wouldnt completely be void of the cardio but I have been seeing so many of my friends get awesome results from mostly lifting. For someone just starting out again is it beneficial to still have quite a bit of cardio in my routine or can I focus more on lifting and still get back to my goal weight. I have about 60 pounds Id like to lose. Any input is appreciated!
    What are your fitness goals?
    Without knowing that you are just going to everyone's personal bias.
  • I've done both. I was a cardio *kitten* two years ago and I lost a lot of weight doing it. However, I got bored with it and got fat again. I've been primarily weight lifting for the past 3 months and I feel much better than I ever did with the cardio. I'm still about 50 pounds away from my goal but I feel better than I did. With strength training, it's almost all diet. Running 5-10 miles a day will allow you to eat a good amount of food since you just burnt off 800 calories on your run. Strength training for an hour will burn off 200 calories if you are really going at it. Your diet has to be strict if you want to lose weight.

    Find what you enjoy doing, what makes you happy, and stick with it. As always, count your calories and adjust your diet based on what your personal goals are.
  • thanks
  • BeckyGee84
    BeckyGee84 Posts: 124 Member
    Do whatever you want and have fun! If you do workouts that you hate, you won't be exercising for very long. Any any workout is better than no workout.
  • btsinmd
    btsinmd Posts: 921 Member
    Hello there i am new to this so dont know where to post my questions well what i would like to know is if i ate 2 boiled eggs in 2 bread and little butter, and 2 small sausages and 1 choc dogestive buiscuite then cross train for 30-40 mins will that effect my weight loss ? also will be eating chicken veg and boiled potatoes for dinner once done with gravy i have also taken a capsiplex this morning. i dont usually eat like that but i suppose today i had those cravings if someone could help me i will be so grateful i would just like to know weather i should exersise or would it not do nothing and just do it tomorrow many thanks xx
    What you eat will affect your weight loss.
    How much you exercise and how you exercise with affect your weight loss.
    When you eat won't affect it unless eating at a certain time affects how much you eat
    When you exercise won't affect it unless exercising at a certain time will make you exercise harder or easier due to your energy level.

    Although if you do eat a lot and then immediately exercise and then vomit, that will affect your weight loss.
  • i ate that about 4pm and i dont usually eat that very heathy usually just an. off day i suppose usually do 30-45 mins cross trainer 5 days a week x
  • I have read in Men's Health books that doing total body workouts will increase your metabolism up to 48hrs as opposed to 24hrs if you were to just do cardio. Working all your muscles burns the most calories and will continue burning them for longer. When I started here I had been doing the total body workouts 4 times a week with some short cardio before and after. It helped me lose 38lbs in 4 months. So you certainly can't go wrong with doing just strength training. This is what worked for me at least. There are others that are more knowledgeable on this subject and they may be even more help. Best of luck to you!
  • really! thankyou x
  • BeachGingerOnTheRocks
    BeachGingerOnTheRocks Posts: 3,927 Member
    It's not an either or nor is it a this vs that thing.

    It's whatever YOU want to do depending on what your goals are. There is no hard and fast rule that says you have to ONLY do cardio or ONLY lift weights.

    I do both.

    I do 30 min of cardio followed by an hour of lifting every day because I like cardio and I like lifting.

    Good advice. I try to get in some form of cardio daily (biking, boxing, running, etc.), and I lift 3-4 times a week. There is no this vs. that for me.

    The best thing you can do is the thing you're going to want to keep doing.
  • yes it is good advice and that aounds good :-) i only use cross trainer at home x
  • angel013183
    angel013183 Posts: 26 Member
    Thank you all for your responses. Im definitely not new to weight loss/healthy lifestyle and like to think Im pretty educated about what it takes but Ive always been focused on more cardio then strength training and am really quite clueless to whether predominately doing strength training will get me to my goals of losing inches and becoming tighter. I know the nutrition side of things so thats not the problem and I understand that nutrition is most of what it takes to trim down. I used to enjoy cardio so much but have found it monotonous as of late and really enjoy lifting (well, from what Ive done which consists of dead lifts, lots of squats with weight bar, bench presses, etc.) I understand that a combination is best but if I could get away with only doing cardio once or twice a week and be able to get the body I want it would be ideal. Is Jennifer Aniston's booty too much to ask for? Hah.
  • BlueBombers
    BlueBombers Posts: 4,064 Member
    Do both!
  • Songbirdcw
    Songbirdcw Posts: 320 Member

    Here's the, largely, unspoken truth about weight loss - 80% of your results are going to come from nutrition. The exercise program you follow is only important in the sense that it must be something you enjoy enough to stick with it and be consistent.

    That said, building strength can make your body more efficient at burning calories. It also has the side benefit, particularly with women, of instilling greater confidence (if you're strong, you feel strong), which can keep you motivated. If you like running and enjoy doing it, keep running. If you want to try resistance training, give it a shot. Lots of people have great success by alternating weight lifting days with running days. But make sure you have someone show you proper form before you do any weight lifting.

    -Tex

    This ^. I've found that good nutrition has done so much more than for me than exercise. All in all, I believe everything requires balance. I would incorporate both. I love how my body looks as I have incorporated weight training vs. all cardio. I didn't like my body with just completely weight training either. Nutrution is 1st, next is balance. My theme is fun and fit! :-)