Which is more important when exercising?

llWishfulShrinkingll · May 2014

I workout on the elliptical for an hour and 15 minutes 5 times a week. When exercising I guess my main goal is a higher calorie burn. I know that both are important but will going faster on the elliptical burn more calories or should I focus on a higher resistance? Sorry if this question is stupid or a common sense thing I should just know. I have never thought about it until today when I put the elliptical on the highest resistance and realized I could not go the speed I usually am at.

VJakeV · May 2014

I hate running!....When I use the eliptical (or as I call it "elipticizing") I start with half resistance. After 3 minutes I bump it up to the hardest setting and try to see how long I can go at about 5mph. Then I drop it down to about 3 out of 10 and go for about 5 min until I feel ready to bump it back up to 10 (max). This works as a killer leg workout as well as great cardio. Last week when I reluctantly hit the road running it was easy for me. I am going to continue doing this. Let me know if it work for you!

Jake

usmcmp · May 2014

I know you didn't ask this, but you should spend the first half of your workout lifting weights. Lifting is great for fat loss and body composition. Other than that when doing cardio I don't think it matters if you are doing high resistance and slower or lower resistance and fast.

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/8-reasons-women-should-lift-weights.html
http://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/weight-exercises-women
http://www.prevention.com/fitness/fitness-tips/9-reasons-women-should-lift-weights

llWishfulShrinkingll · May 2014

I hate running!....When I use the eliptical (or as I call it "elipticizing") I start with half resistance. After 3 minutes I bump it up to the hardest setting and try to see how long I can go at about 5mph. Then I drop it down to about 3 out of 10 and go for about 5 min until I feel ready to bump it back up to 10 (max). This works as a killer leg workout as well as great cardio. Last week when I reluctantly hit the road running it was easy for me. I am going to continue doing this. Let me know if it work for you!

Jake

I will consider trying this! SInce I workout for so long I tend to get bored so I find things to do while on the elliptical Like listening to music or reading and sometimes forget where I am at.

llWishfulShrinkingll · May 2014

I know you didn't ask this, but you should spend the first half of your workout lifting weights. Lifting is great for fat loss and body composition. Other than that when doing cardio I don't think it matters if you are doing high resistance and slower or lower resistance and fast.

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/8-reasons-women-should-lift-weights.html
http://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/weight-exercises-women
http://www.prevention.com/fitness/fitness-tips/9-reasons-women-should-lift-weights

I do notice I lose more when I am lifting. I use to go to the gym but stopped so I do my workouts at home. I just have to figure out a lifting routine that works for me.

usmcmp · May 2014

I know you didn't ask this, but you should spend the first half of your workout lifting weights. Lifting is great for fat loss and body composition. Other than that when doing cardio I don't think it matters if you are doing high resistance and slower or lower resistance and fast.

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/8-reasons-women-should-lift-weights.html
http://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/weight-exercises-women
http://www.prevention.com/fitness/fitness-tips/9-reasons-women-should-lift-weights

I do notice I lose more when I am lifting. I use to go to the gym but stopped so I do my workouts at home. I just have to figure out a lifting routine that works for me.

If you don't have access to a gym with weights you can start with You Are Your Own Gym. If you have access to a gym with weights there is Stronglifts or New Rules of Lifting for Women. You could also pick a free workout off of Bodybuilding.com.

llWishfulShrinkingll · May 2014

I know you didn't ask this, but you should spend the first half of your workout lifting weights. Lifting is great for fat loss and body composition. Other than that when doing cardio I don't think it matters if you are doing high resistance and slower or lower resistance and fast.

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/8-reasons-women-should-lift-weights.html
http://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/weight-exercises-women
http://www.prevention.com/fitness/fitness-tips/9-reasons-women-should-lift-weights

I do notice I lose more when I am lifting. I use to go to the gym but stopped so I do my workouts at home. I just have to figure out a lifting routine that works for me.

If you don't have access to a gym with weights you can start with You Are Your Own Gym. If you have access to a gym with weights there is Stronglifts or New Rules of Lifting for Women. You could also pick a free workout off of Bodybuilding.com.

Thank you I will look for something now!

AnthonyThrashD · May 2014

Increasing the resistance will increase calorie burn. You can increase calorie burn even more by doing interval training. Start out slow, then burst for speed, then slow down, increase resistance and repeat. When resistance becomes too difficult (you can't talk and do the exercise), lower resistance and increase speed. Lifting weights as suggested, doesn't burn nearly as many calories as the cardio will. BUT weight lifting gives you what trainers call "After-burn"...higher metabolism and more muscle eats up calories! I have no idea how to estimate after-burn calorie burn from lifting weights.

Which is more important when exercising?

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