cardio, then strength training or both?

Kelly845
Kelly845 Posts: 37 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hello, everyone. I weigh 52.6 kilos (115.72 lbs) right now. My height is 162 sm (5.3 ft). I am very active throughout the day (depending on my mood I walk, dance, run, ride a bike). I lost some weight several times using MFP, logging the food. But I am a student, and most of the time I spend in the library or somewhere else, not at home. So I can't log it anymore. Now I want to start strength training, but I still need to get rid of some fat. I want to know if I should first lose some weight and then start strength training or it doesn't matter. Thanks for any reply
P.S. I want to get toned

Replies

  • RECowgill
    RECowgill Posts: 881 Member
    People who usually start with cardio believing they needed to do it in order to lose weight (and then later added strength training maybe six months or year after they start) often wish they could go back and start with strength training. I think that tells you all you need to know.

    I started with strength training from the beginning and have lost over 50 pounds since then. I do very little cardio.

    I would tell anyone who listens don't waste your time with a cardio only routine. Cardio is only good if you are training for a very specific thing, like marathon running or swimming the English Channel. If something like that isn't your sport, then proceed directly to strength training. It is vastly superior in just about every way.
  • zetodd
    zetodd Posts: 22 Member
    Being as active as you are would indicate strength training to be most beneficial. You can always incorporate a couple sessions of HIIT in per week.
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    I would do both. I do 3 days of each but effort-wise it's more like 65/35 in favor of strength training. There's no reason why you need to forego one entirely in favor of the other. And you can always change focus as you go along. Earlier this year I focused more on running because I wanted to build a base but now that I'm there, I'm happy just maintaining it while I focus on building strength.
  • h7463
    h7463 Posts: 626 Member
    Hi there!
    At your height/weight, you will benefit most from strength training. It will most likely change your body composition according to your goal, and it will help you get the 'toned' look that you want.
    However, you will have to step off the scale for a while, and not focus on actual weight loss. Pick up a tape measure and a body fat caliper. The lean muscle mass that you will gain from strength training will result in the scale going up, but the inches on your body going down.
    I get the best results from high intensity interval training (HIIT) and lifting. For me, light, steady state cardio sessions (stationary bike, power walk outdoors) are only used, if I feel that I need to work off a few extra calories. When done on days that I lift, I always do them after the lifting session, because I don't want to pick up heavy stiff when I'm already tired....
    A regular lifting session starts with a warm-up, progresses to heavy weights, and always ends with stretching and cool down.
    Don't neglect your nutrition and take your rest days. Heavy lifting demands sufficient food and time for recovery and healing of the muscles that you're trying to grow!
    Have fun, train safe!
  • Kelly845
    Kelly845 Posts: 37 Member
    Thank you all a lot :smile:
  • jrodri0105
    jrodri0105 Posts: 91 Member
    Eat at a surplus and lift heavy

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