Strength Versus Cardio
LiveMore101
Posts: 84 Member
If I gain enough muscle and become toned (like my profile picture), is it ABSOLUTELY necessary for me to do cardio, or can I just strength train and lift weights to maintain that physique? I mean, let's say I strength train and stuff 5 days a week and throw in a walk or two or maybe bike and swim occasionally (like when it gets warmer)... Would that be enough?
I'm just trying to figure out which is better: Building strength or increasing cardio!
Thanks!
Hopefully I will FINALLY figure things out after this post (I feel like I keep posting over and over again with all these questions, haha).
I'm just trying to figure out which is better: Building strength or increasing cardio!
Thanks!
Hopefully I will FINALLY figure things out after this post (I feel like I keep posting over and over again with all these questions, haha). 0
Replies
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Weights, cardio in between0
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I mean, let's say I strength train and stuff 5 days a week and throw in a walk or two or maybe bike and swim occasionally (like when it gets warmer)... Would that be enough?
This sounds like plenty to me, but what do you mean by "enough". Enough for what?0 -
Not sure why this is a versus question. They are BOTH beneficial in different ways. I personally don't see the point in being ripped if I still have a weak heart. Conversely I don't see much reason to have a health heart if I'm not willing to sustain muscles. Do you have to do Cardio? Not at all, do what makes you happy.0
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Strength training at the same intensitty will maintain strength
Eating properly will maintain the physique (when combined with strength training)
Some cardio will result in better recovery between sets and better overall fitness
You dont need 5 days lifting if you're a beginner.
If you dont do some type of conditioning you'll lack stamina and endurance. This can get so bad that tying your shoes leaves you winded. It also will hurt your lifts.
You stated no goals.
Anyone who says just lift and do no cardio has no Fing clue. They are elitist sheep. The amount can be pretty minimal though.0 -
Strength training at the same intensitty will maintain strength
Eating properly will maintain the physique (when combined with strength training)
Some cardio will result in better recovery between sets and better overall fitness
You dont need 5 days lifting if you're a beginner.
If you dont do some type of conditioning you'll lack stamina and endurance. This can get so bad that tying your shoes leaves you winded. It also will hurt your lifts.
You stated no goals.
Anyone who says just lift and do no cardio has no Fing clue. They are elitist sheep. The amount can be pretty minimal though.
Haha to the bolded part.
If you don't want to do cardio don't. It is good for your health (heart and lungs) and gives you extra calories.
BF% maintenance is done with your calorie intake
maintaining muscle while losing fat is done by resistence training with adequate protien.
I don't do "cardio"....I Lift 3x a week with a progressive load program (strong lifts) and do HIIT 2x a week...the HIIT is more bodyweight with some AMG cardio thrown in like jumping jacks but to get me out on a run...not gonna happen...I personally wont get on a treadmill, elliptical or stationary bike...ick....0 -
Strength training at the same intensitty will maintain strength
Eating properly will maintain the physique (when combined with strength training)
Some cardio will result in better recovery between sets and better overall fitness
You dont need 5 days lifting if you're a beginner.
If you dont do some type of conditioning you'll lack stamina and endurance. This can get so bad that tying your shoes leaves you winded. It also will hurt your lifts.
You stated no goals.
Anyone who says just lift and do no cardio has no Fing clue. They are elitist sheep. The amount can be pretty minimal though.
Haha to the bolded part.
If you don't want to do cardio don't. It is good for your health (heart and lungs) and gives you extra calories.
BF% maintenance is done with your calorie intake
maintaining muscle while losing fat is done by resistence training with adequate protien.
I don't do "cardio"....I Lift 3x a week with a progressive load program (strong lifts) and do HIIT 2x a week...the HIIT is more bodyweight with some AMG cardio thrown in like jumping jacks but to get me out on a run...not gonna happen...I personally wont get on a treadmill, elliptical or stationary bike...ick....
This reminds me of another thread where someone insisted they don't do cardio, but they did play tennis and another sport regularly. There was a very long thread where the poster insisted over and over that his sports were not cardio because he didn't "do" them for cardio, he did them because he enjoyed them. It was as if he was loathe to admit he does cardio. Or, perhaps loathe to admit that cardio can be fun.
We humans were meant to move around and "do" cardio. It's okay to like it.0 -
Strength training at the same intensitty will maintain strength
Eating properly will maintain the physique (when combined with strength training)
Some cardio will result in better recovery between sets and better overall fitness
You dont need 5 days lifting if you're a beginner.
If you dont do some type of conditioning you'll lack stamina and endurance. This can get so bad that tying your shoes leaves you winded. It also will hurt your lifts.
You stated no goals.
Anyone who says just lift and do no cardio has no Fing clue. They are elitist sheep. The amount can be pretty minimal though.
Haha to the bolded part.
If you don't want to do cardio don't. It is good for your health (heart and lungs) and gives you extra calories.
BF% maintenance is done with your calorie intake
maintaining muscle while losing fat is done by resistence training with adequate protien.
I don't do "cardio"....I Lift 3x a week with a progressive load program (strong lifts) and do HIIT 2x a week...the HIIT is more bodyweight with some AMG cardio thrown in like jumping jacks but to get me out on a run...not gonna happen...I personally wont get on a treadmill, elliptical or stationary bike...ick....
This reminds me of another thread where someone insisted they don't do cardio, but they did play tennis and another sport regularly. There was a very long thread where the poster insisted over and over that his sports were not cardio because he didn't "do" them for cardio, he did them because he enjoyed them. It was as if he was loathe to admit he does cardio. Or, perhaps loathe to admit that cardio can be fun.
We humans were meant to move around and "do" cardio. It's okay to like it.
yes that thread...I wont say his name but I remember it as well...I think when "we" say we hate cardio it means machine cardio or running etc for "exercise"...
For me biking outside is done for fun...it is cardio and it is exercise but will never be as boring as being on a bike inside...
So when I say "I don't like cardio" it is machines I don't like...running I don't like...exercise for the purpose of cardio makes me feel like I have to push it to the point where I am not having fun anymore...and why do something that's not fun...
If that makes any sense.0 -
Do both0
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I personally prefer Metabolic training which is a combination of the two. Start with an active warm-up followed by strength training with bouts of cario mixed in. AKA do a set of curls, followed by a minute of jumping jacks or jumping rope, then another set, and so on. I use all kinds of cardio in there, froggers, burpees, box jumps, Split leg jump lunges, etc, etc.0
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Is someone going to say something stupid and completely inaccurate soon? Im getting anxious.0
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When people say they don't do cardio what they mean is they don't elliptical for 90 minutes watching the wall, the TV, or the girl in yoga pants on the treadmill in front of them. There is no possible way someone takes such good care of themselves, watches every gram of food that goes in their body, and ignores their heart/lungs. Period.0
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Is someone going to say something stupid and completely inaccurate soon? Im getting anxious.
The best way to loose weight is to cut out sugar. I used to put so much sugar in my coffee it was crazy. Now I just use agave nectar instead. I feel really detoxed now.0 -
When people say they don't do cardio what they mean is they don't elliptical for 90 minutes watching the wall, the TV, or the girl in yoga pants on the treadmill in front of them. There is no possible way someone takes such good care of themselves, watches every gram of food that goes in their body, and ignores their heart/lungs. Period.
eh...I wouldn't say that ....there are lots here that are taking "good" care of themselves as far as weight, bf%, watching intake ie macros and still drink too much and/or smoke or do other things that compromise their health.0 -
Is someone going to say something stupid and completely inaccurate soon? Im getting anxious.
The best way to loose weight is to cut out sugar. I used to put so much sugar in my coffee it was crazy. Now I just use agave nectar instead. I feel really detoxed now.
that works.0 -
you should be doing both really0
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Is someone going to say something stupid and completely inaccurate soon? Im getting anxious.
The best way to loose weight is to cut out sugar. I used to put so much sugar in my coffee it was crazy. Now I just use agave nectar instead. I feel really detoxed now.
that works.
Honey from local bees has no calories. That's why I became vegan except like every couple weeks I'll have a fish taco and plus my Camry has leather seats too but it's cool. The leather is from locals cows who were free range.0 -
Both are beneficial in their own right and IMHO, both are necessary to overall fitness.
Your overall fitness goals would determine how much of either you would do. I know plenty of people who put their primary focus on their lifting and do 4x weekly splits, but have at least 2 days per week of some good conditioning/cardiovascular work, not to mention just going for walks and whatnot. That conditioning improves their lifts and overall fitness.
Conversely, I know people who primarily train for endurance events and do primarily cardio and conditioning work..but they still hit the weight room a couple of days per week as the weight training will help improve race times, etc.
Most of the time I'm pretty middle of the road...3 hours weekly of weight training and 3 hours weekly of cardiovascular work and some restorative yoga on rest days.0 -
Building muscle will help you burn more calories. You can get a cardio workout with weights. You can do more than run and or walk to get your cardio. In my opinion cardio is very important. If I had to pick one I would go with cardio though.0
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I do cardio, strength training and some yoga for stretching.
Do a combination of different stuff. Do them more often, and you burn more calories. The key is to stay active. For me, that means doing different things. Variety keeps my workouts more interesting, which keeps me going.
I've lost more weight more quickly in the past couple months, and it's solely because I'm doing MORE cardio AND strength training. And, I don't even have a gym membership.0 -
Building muscle will help you burn more calories. You can get a cardio workout with weights. You can do more than run and or walk to get your cardio. In my opinion cardio is very important. If I had to pick one I would go with cardio though.
not me given a choice I would lift.0 -
Building muscle will help you burn more calories. You can get a cardio workout with weights. You can do more than run and or walk to get your cardio. In my opinion cardio is very important. If I had to pick one I would go with cardio though.
not me given a choice I would lift.
Good thing I don't have to choose!
0 -
Strength training at the same intensitty will maintain strength
Eating properly will maintain the physique (when combined with strength training)
Some cardio will result in better recovery between sets and better overall fitness
You dont need 5 days lifting if you're a beginner.
If you dont do some type of conditioning you'll lack stamina and endurance. This can get so bad that tying your shoes leaves you winded. It also will hurt your lifts.
You stated no goals.
Anyone who says just lift and do no cardio has no Fing clue. They are elitist sheep. The amount can be pretty minimal though.
Haha to the bolded part.
If you don't want to do cardio don't. It is good for your health (heart and lungs) and gives you extra calories.
BF% maintenance is done with your calorie intake
maintaining muscle while losing fat is done by resistence training with adequate protien.
I don't do "cardio"....I Lift 3x a week with a progressive load program (strong lifts) and do HIIT 2x a week...the HIIT is more bodyweight with some AMG cardio thrown in like jumping jacks but to get me out on a run...not gonna happen...I personally wont get on a treadmill, elliptical or stationary bike...ick....
This reminds me of another thread where someone insisted they don't do cardio, but they did play tennis and another sport regularly. There was a very long thread where the poster insisted over and over that his sports were not cardio because he didn't "do" them for cardio, he did them because he enjoyed them. It was as if he was loathe to admit he does cardio. Or, perhaps loathe to admit that cardio can be fun.
We humans were meant to move around and "do" cardio. It's okay to like it.
yes that thread...I wont say his name but I remember it as well...I think when "we" say we hate cardio it means machine cardio or running etc for "exercise"...
For me biking outside is done for fun...it is cardio and it is exercise but will never be as boring as being on a bike inside...
So when I say "I don't like cardio" it is machines I don't like...running I don't like...exercise for the purpose of cardio makes me feel like I have to push it to the point where I am not having fun anymore...and why do something that's not fun...
If that makes any sense.
It does, but I think many posts are misleading or downright untruthful. I'm not talking about yours, because you did point out your cardio. But posts that claim all their success is from strength training alone because they hate cardio and don't do it. Except for when they do.
Cardio exercises can be very fun. Hiking, biking, swimming, sports, frisbee, walking, playing, ...
I am a self proclaimed cardio bunny and I can't remember the last time I was on an exercise machine and I dislike running (except during play).0 -
Building muscle will help you burn more calories. You can get a cardio workout with weights. You can do more than run and or walk to get your cardio. In my opinion cardio is very important. If I had to pick one I would go with cardio though.
not me given a choice I would lift.
I'd choose things that are both cardio and strength like calisthenics. 0 -
I don't discriminate. It's all good IMHO.0
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From my understanding cardio helps get oxygen back into your muscles. So i'd assume cardio is always a good thing. A workout for your heart 0
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I've recently started with a trainer for heavy lifting/adding lean mass. He has me doing strength 3x per week with HIIT runs 2x per week to maintain my cardio. (This means 1.5 min of intense run on incline, followed by 3 min of absolutely nothing, repeat). Yoga is fine. He doesn't want me doing cardio "ad nauseam" because it's basically conflicting with what we're trying to accomplish--the strength and cardio are training the muscles to do two different things. He's okay with me doing some cardio if I like it, but no longer than 40 minutes at a time and no more than 70% of my AT.0
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It seems you weigh 109 lbs at 5'1" and wish to get down to 103, correct? So is your second goal to increase muscle mass - and then reduce fat mass again - to ultimately reach a certain physical look?0
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I know plenty of women on here that lift heavy and skip the cardio. They see results, so I don't see why you can't. If you're already a tiny thing, which you are if you're 109 lbs, then you don't need the extra calorie burn cardio would give you. It's good for your health in general, though.
I hate cardio and strength, so I compromise and do both. 0 -
Strength training builds muscles and helps to burn fat. Cardio will build muscle as well but the muscle it works most is your heart. Personally, I like having a healthy heart.0
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Is someone going to say something stupid and completely inaccurate soon? Im getting anxious.
:bigsmile: :bigsmile: :bigsmile:0
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