What would you do?

ShiraDarling
ShiraDarling Posts: 232 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I'm would like to lose 15-20lbs. I have always been fairly fit but have let things slide a bit in the last few months.

My question is- if you were in my shoes- and only had 1 hr in the morning to workout- would you be spending that hour weight training or would you focus on cardio? Or should I be doing both in that 1 hour?

Maybe I should drop the weight first through diet and cardio.. then start lifting?? I dont know. Everyone seems to have a different opinion on the subject.


Oh, and I go to the gym 4-5x a week.

Replies

  • margannmks
    margannmks Posts: 424 Member
    If your going 5 days a week, do full body weights supersets mon wed fri and cardio tues thurs.. erin stern has a workout on bodybuilding .com you might like.
  • madbrainDotCom
    madbrainDotCom Posts: 193 Member
    Diet is more important than exercise for weight loss in general.
    Make sure you track your food intake.
  • myfitnesspale3
    myfitnesspale3 Posts: 276 Member
    Diet is more important than exercise for weight loss in general.
    Make sure you track your food intake.

    Agree. It's easier than working out more.
  • ShiraDarling
    ShiraDarling Posts: 232 Member
    Yes. The diet is in check. But I want to know about the working out part for the best results.. see original post. thanks.
  • SnuggleSmacks
    SnuggleSmacks Posts: 3,731 Member
    Cardio is great for increasing endurance and burning calories. If you have your diet in check already, and aren't in need of a quick burn to increase your calorie budget, then you're not going to get as much benefit out of cardio. Lifting will give you a great shape underneath the layer of fat that you're losing through diet.
  • OhReally42
    OhReally42 Posts: 138 Member
    I do both everyday, an hour of my stationary bike 5 days a week and every 20 minutes in that I stop and do my weight training. (I only alternate because it hurts to sit on that thing for an hour straight and it also helps me not get so bored on my work outs) It usually takes me about an hour and a half total. I'd say either both for like 30 minutes each or alternating days.
  • bebeisfit
    bebeisfit Posts: 951 Member
    I agree with 3 weight lifting sessions a week. One might be a fast paced boot camp style that incorporates high impact/plyometric moves...if your knees / joints can handle it. That gets your heart rate going and really works.

    How about yoga class one day a week..or 15 minutes a few days a week? You gotta get that core work in!

    I know that when I mix things up and challenge myself I see results.

    Oh..but it really won't help unless your food is in order. Simple math..take in less calories than you burn. Believe me, I've tried to exercise it away. it doesn't work.
  • 87Djones
    87Djones Posts: 145 Member
    I would do cardio for 20 mins 3x a week follow by circuit training than the other two or one day will be just 35 mins of slow cardio follow by quick core workout
  • SkimFlatWhite68
    SkimFlatWhite68 Posts: 1,254 Member
    I would always do weights over cardio if I only had the choice of one. With 5 days training available I would follow this:

    3 times a week - 5 minute warm up followed by 45 minutes full body weight training, stick with compound movements then cool down and stretch.

    2 times a week - 20 minutes HIIT

    Go for a walk every day, or be more active in your daily activities.
  • ShiraDarling
    ShiraDarling Posts: 232 Member
    Bumping for more input
  • civilizedworm
    civilizedworm Posts: 796 Member
    I'm would like to lose 15-20lbs. I have always been fairly fit but have let things slide a bit in the last few months.

    My question is- if you were in my shoes- and only had 1 hr in the morning to workout- would you be spending that hour weight training or would you focus on cardio? Or should I be doing both in that 1 hour?

    Maybe I should drop the weight first through diet and cardio.. then start lifting?? I dont know. Everyone seems to have a different opinion on the subject.


    Oh, and I go to the gym 4-5x a week.
    One day of cardio.

    Weights - compound movements (e.g. squats, deadlifts, bench press) for the balance.

    Pretty sure someone will eventually recommend this:
    http://stronglifts.com/5x5/
    Could work in great with your time limitations.
  • mousepaws22
    mousepaws22 Posts: 380 Member
    You have two great answers from SkimFlatWhite and margannmks. That's all you need to do IMO.
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    I would do 3 days of strength, two cardio, and then fit in a walk or two some other time during the week.
  • TrailNurse
    TrailNurse Posts: 359 Member
    I have been successful doing weight training 4 days a week along with a high protein diet.
  • mayfrayy
    mayfrayy Posts: 198 Member
    starting strength

    workout a
    squats 3x5
    bench 3x5
    deadlift 1x5
    abs (standing pulldown or on knees or whatever)
    15-20 mins cardio (like walking an incline treadmill)

    workout b
    squats 3x5
    standing military press 3x5
    pendlay rows 3x5
    abs
    15-20mins cardio

    off days (during week)
    30mins moderate cardio or HIIT

    saturday
    30mins cardio (moderate)

    can still gain strength while losing the weight, especially if you're a beginner
    after a while you can add in leg raises and some other girl stuff to make the tukush all nice.

    a lot of fit girls like the stair machines, them and treadmill probably the best for cardio, or just an elliptical with moderate settings.
  • deksgrl
    deksgrl Posts: 7,237 Member
    Depends on your goal. Do you want to just lose weight? Diet and cardio. Do you want to retain muscle and lose fat? Weight training, small calorie deficit, plenty of protein, a little bit of HIIT.
  • deksgrl
    deksgrl Posts: 7,237 Member

    after a while you can add in leg raises and some other girl stuff to make the tukush all nice.

    Uhm, what?
  • mayfrayy
    mayfrayy Posts: 198 Member

    after a while you can add in leg raises and some other girl stuff to make the tukush all nice.

    Uhm, what?

    pretty self explanatory, after a while you can add in isolated exercise to sculpt the butt.
    just like adding in front squats for quad improvement.
  • CharleneM723
    CharleneM723 Posts: 80 Member
    I'd do cardio twice a week, strength train twice a week and a Yoga DVD once a week. Make sure your cardio is intense enough to make you short of breath and sweat. That's how I find myself dropping weight, maybe the same would or would not work for you. Is there any chance you can make it to a pool during one of those mornings? I tend to think of swimming laps at a moderate effort to be an all-in-one workout, especially for the arms. Plus, it's FUN!

    Charlene
  • deksgrl
    deksgrl Posts: 7,237 Member

    after a while you can add in leg raises and some other girl stuff to make the tukush all nice.

    Uhm, what?

    pretty self explanatory, after a while you can add in isolated exercise to sculpt the butt.
    just like adding in front squats for quad improvement.

    Who said sculpting the butt was one of her goals? It seems to happen quite naturally with squats and deadlifts anyway, so this "girl stuff" came off as quite ridiculous.
  • mayfrayy
    mayfrayy Posts: 198 Member

    after a while you can add in leg raises and some other girl stuff to make the tukush all nice.

    Uhm, what?

    pretty self explanatory, after a while you can add in isolated exercise to sculpt the butt.
    just like adding in front squats for quad improvement.

    Who said sculpting the butt was one of her goals? It seems to happen quite naturally with squats and deadlifts anyway, so this "girl stuff" came off as quite ridiculous.

    not really, most girls go to the gym and do isolated leg exercise before building balanced strength. jsut like most guys do isolated biceps / pecs when they shouldn't.

    Question was what would I do, well if i were a girl, that is what i would do.

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