Cardio vs Strength Training

Lifewisdom
Lifewisdom Posts: 2
Okay, so does anyone else hate cardio like me? Is there any way to burn as many calories by warming up with cardio and then going straight to machines? I would much rather do strength training. Most of my friends are the opposite!
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Replies

  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    Do what floats your boat. Maybe, just maybe, you haven't found a cardio activity that you enjoy yet (I would rather chew on broken glass than spend hours on a treadmill or elliptical etc but I love running outside, snowshoeing, skiing, biking etc etc etc)
  • fizzleh
    fizzleh Posts: 71 Member
    Every tried HIIT cardio?

    The afterburn effect means you'll burn more in less time doing it.

    It also builds strength due to explosive bursts
  • DeadliftAddict
    DeadliftAddict Posts: 746 Member
    You could do a small warm up with cardio. Then grab a barbell and weight plates and get to work. You will burn plenty of calories lifting heavy. Save the machines for last just for accessory work. Or, don't use them at all, that's up to you. Depends on your goals.
  • ehmadore
    ehmadore Posts: 72 Member
    You may not burn as many calories in the short period of time they are on the machine but strength training means you'll burn calories all day long. However, you really need to do some cardio IMHO. I have found cardio type classes are the best work out for me. I change it up, going from boot camps, to body combat, etc.
  • runner475
    runner475 Posts: 1,236 Member
    Stair master is one cardio m/c that if set correctly gives more bang for less bucks. Try warming up with it but take it easy with the setting.
    It's brutal.

    Next in line to stairMaster, IMHO, is Elliptical.
  • H_Factor
    H_Factor Posts: 1,722 Member
    The best exercise is the one you enjoy doing....because you're more likely to keep doing it. If your friends prefer the dreadmill, let them at it. If you prefer something else, do that other thing. I like boot camps and boxing classes....they mix cardio with resistance exercises (and very little work on the dreadmills, unless we're doing dreadmill intervals in a particular boot camp). I burn a crap load of calories, jack up my heart rate to trigger EPOC, get stronger, and feel great afterwards!
  • Thorbjornn
    Thorbjornn Posts: 329 Member
    Do what floats your boat. Maybe, just maybe, you haven't found a cardio activity that you enjoy yet

    This.

    For the most part I hate machines... elliptical, stationary bikes, rowers. But I can easily do 30-45 minutes walking on a treadmill using a random program, listening to IHeartRadio. The time flies by. When the weather is nice, I prefer to walk outdoors. Again, IHeartRadio and Map My Walk. MMW makes it a challenge.

  • BusyRaeNOTBusty
    BusyRaeNOTBusty Posts: 7,166 Member
    You don't have to burn extra calories. Just eat less and lift. And I'd recommend free weights and barbells over machines. Look into New Rules of Weight Lifting for Women, or Stronglifts 5x5.
  • Alidecker
    Alidecker Posts: 1,262 Member
    fizzleh wrote: »
    Every tried HIIT cardio?

    The afterburn effect means you'll burn more in less time doing it.

    It also builds strength due to explosive bursts

    I agree with doing HIIT, I hate the treadmill and the elliptical if I am on there for more than 10 minutes. If I am on them, I usually do intervals. Steady state cardio is not my thing.
  • mcibty
    mcibty Posts: 1,252 Member
    Your body stops burning calories as soon as you step off the treadmill.

    With strength your body goes on burning afterward, for quite some time.

    Of course, you can't measure the 'extra' residual burn, but you'll notice more and better changes in your body with lifting.

    I like to do both, and I have a love-hate cycle with both. Right now I'm really into running, but ask me in a month and I'll be deadlifting again.

    Do whatever feels good for you.
  • dieselbyte
    dieselbyte Posts: 733 Member
    You don't have to burn extra calories. Just eat less and lift. And I'd recommend free weights and barbells over machines. Look into New Rules of Weight Lifting for Women, or Stronglifts 5x5.

    ^This. Running and the like is a great tool for cardiovascular health, but if you are more interested in weight/strength training, you don't have to force yourself to do cardio just to burn calories. I look at cardio as allowing me to eat more and maintain cardiovascular health, and the gym primarily as a time to increase strength etc. Primary tool for less calories should be a lower caloric intake.

  • Hornsby
    Hornsby Posts: 10,322 Member
    You don't have to burn extra calories. Just eat less and lift. And I'd recommend free weights and barbells over machines. Look into New Rules of Weight Lifting for Women, or Stronglifts 5x5.

    Agree with this. You can absolutely get by without cardio. Is that the best idea? That's another topic. Definitely look into some type of structured plan such as New Rules of Lifting for Women or Stronglifts. I like http://www.muscleandstrength.com/workouts/jason-blaha-ice-cream-fitness-5x5-novice-workout but there are tons out there. Whatever you do, I would try and get off the machines and onto free weights as soon as you can.
  • silver_arrow3
    silver_arrow3 Posts: 1,373 Member
    You don't have to burn extra calories. Just eat less and lift. And I'd recommend free weights and barbells over machines. Look into New Rules of Weight Lifting for Women, or Stronglifts 5x5.

    I agree with this^!

    I started New Rules in December and I love it! I do it MWF, but in between I'll do some kind of cardio on the "rest" days in between.
  • AgentOrangeJuice
    AgentOrangeJuice Posts: 1,069 Member
    MCIBTY wrote: »
    Your body stops burning calories as soon as you step off the treadmill.
    .

    Wait, what? When did that start happening? This is just plain untrue, you know that right?
  • dieselbyte
    dieselbyte Posts: 733 Member
    MCIBTY wrote: »
    Your body stops burning calories as soon as you step off the treadmill.

    With strength your body goes on burning afterward, for quite some time.

    Of course, you can't measure the 'extra' residual burn, but you'll notice more and better changes in your body with lifting.

    I like to do both, and I have a love-hate cycle with both. Right now I'm really into running, but ask me in a month and I'll be deadlifting again.

    Do whatever feels good for you.

    Um, no, it doesn't...
  • neurex
    neurex Posts: 58 Member
    I usually don't start really like running until a month or two after I start (I have been on again, off again for some time). It seems like I have to become fit enough to run a mile or two without stopping before I begin to enjoy it. Perhaps it is similar with other cardio? Anyways, do what you are motivated to do and enjoy it!
  • little_simon
    little_simon Posts: 37 Member
    fizzleh wrote: »
    Every tried HIIT cardio?

    The afterburn effect means you'll burn more in less time doing it.

    It also builds strength due to explosive bursts

    You won't build any strength from HIIT, that's quite a popular myth.

    Yes you can burn more cals in a shorter time, but if it's true HIIT you won't be able to do it very often which means over the space of a week you'll burn less calories than steady state cardio which you can do everyday without it impacting on other training sessions.

    Even full time athletes don't do much true HIIT, so why regular trainees think they can do it regularly is beyond me.


  • brianpperkins
    brianpperkins Posts: 6,124 Member
    fizzleh wrote: »
    Every tried HIIT cardio?

    The afterburn effect means you'll burn more in less time doing it.

    It also builds strength due to explosive bursts

    EPOC (aka afterburn) is normally greatly overestimated. Stimulating increased EPOC from HIIT requires going much harder than many here consider ... maximal and supermaximal VO2 efforts during cardio intervals (testing was 20 sprint intervals at supermaximal VO2 effort); 3 sets, 8 exercises, 3-8 reps at 80-90% 1RM when lifting ... all for about 50 cals of afterburn.
  • little_simon
    little_simon Posts: 37 Member
    fizzleh wrote: »
    Every tried HIIT cardio?

    The afterburn effect means you'll burn more in less time doing it.

    It also builds strength due to explosive bursts

    EPOC (aka afterburn) is normally greatly overestimated. Stimulating increased EPOC from HIIT requires going much harder than many here consider ... maximal and supermaximal VO2 efforts during cardio intervals (testing was 20 sprint intervals at supermaximal VO2 effort); 3 sets, 8 exercises, 3-8 reps at 80-90% 1RM when lifting ... all for about 50 cals of afterburn.

    This!

    So much misinformation about HIIT and EPOC.

    The unfortunate truth is people are better off just doing the boring steady state cardio if calorie burn is the goal, it's really that simple.
  • BarbellApprentice
    BarbellApprentice Posts: 486 Member
    fizzleh wrote: »
    Every tried HIIT cardio?

    The afterburn effect means you'll burn more in less time doing it.

    It also builds strength due to explosive bursts

    EPOC (aka afterburn) is normally greatly overestimated. Stimulating increased EPOC from HIIT requires going much harder than many here consider ... maximal and supermaximal VO2 efforts during cardio intervals (testing was 20 sprint intervals at supermaximal VO2 effort); 3 sets, 8 exercises, 3-8 reps at 80-90% 1RM when lifting ... all for about 50 cals of afterburn.

    This!

    So much misinformation about HIIT and EPOC.

    The unfortunate truth is people are better off just doing the boring steady state cardio if calorie burn is the goal, it's really that simple.

    Yes, This and That. The nice thing about HIIT is that it is time efficient. I also prefer doing my intervals on the stationary bike. There is no impact and I get an insane quad pump. But, yea, HIIT is not magic. I still follow it up with some incline walking.
  • bingfit221
    bingfit221 Posts: 105 Member
    I found a great way to break up cardio activity, is alternating in between my strength training. For instance, if I am doing upper body that day, I will work in a few intervals in between main muscle groups.

    ie... 12 sets on chest, 3 sprint intervals, 12 sets on back, 3 sprint intervals, etc....
  • Lena1967
    Lena1967 Posts: 94 Member
    The only way I can stand using the elliptical for longer than 5 minutes is to stream TV shows on my iPad. I actually look forward to it now.

    But if you really don't like cardio, you could just do strength training.
  • logicman69
    logicman69 Posts: 1,034 Member
    Do what floats your boat. Maybe, just maybe, you haven't found a cardio activity that you enjoy yet (I would rather chew on broken glass than spend hours on a treadmill or elliptical etc but I love running outside, snowshoeing, skiing, biking etc etc etc)

    This. Elliptical is boring to me. So is the bike and treadmill. Running outdoors, however, is amazing to me. Also going a few rounds on the heavy bag is a great way to get your HR up without as much impact on your knees. Plus its great stress relief.
  • _lyndseybrooke_
    _lyndseybrooke_ Posts: 2,561 Member
    1. Weight loss happens in the kitchen.
    2. If you don't like cardio, don't do it. It's not required for weight loss. Find what you like to do, and do that. Even if that's no exercise at all, you can still lose weight. Refer back to #1.
    3. Get off the machines and do compound lifts with free weights for a good full-body workout as opposed to isolation lifts, which will not be beneficial to you at this point.
    4. I agree that you should try HIIT. Say goodbye to the treadmill and elliptical, which are torture devices, and visit sites like FitnessBlender.com for more fun cardio workouts. You could also try cardio kickboxing. If you try a few things and still don't like it, refer back to #2.

    I used to despise cardio. Now I like it a lot more, and have even tacked on extra HIIT sessions after I'm done lifting. I don't exercise to lose weight...I exercise for my health and fitness, and because I like to do it.
  • bingfit221
    bingfit221 Posts: 105 Member
    edited January 2015
    fizzleh wrote: »
    Every tried HIIT cardio?

    The afterburn effect means you'll burn more in less time doing it.

    It also builds strength due to explosive bursts

    You won't build any strength from HIIT, that's quite a popular myth.

    Yes you can burn more cals in a shorter time, but if it's true HIIT you won't be able to do it very often which means over the space of a week you'll burn less calories than steady state cardio which you can do everyday without it impacting on other training sessions.

    Even full time athletes don't do much true HIIT, so why regular trainees think they can do it regularly is beyond me.


    http://www.acefitness.org/fitness-fact-article/3317/High-Intensity-Interval-Training/

    They just released another article in the trainers journal about how you need 48 hours of recovery after HIIT because of the effects on your muscle fibers claiming too much would break down the muscle tissue.

    Although they do say you can do long steady state when recovering.

    That's the crazy thing about this industry is that everything is constantly changing.

    10 years ago planks and lunges were the worst exercises you could do... now they are in the top of the field. Crazy.

    BUT, in theory, HIIT you post burn calories up to 48 hours. Steady state, you do not. Therefore, you would probably still burn more calories via HIIT than steady state when you factor in post burn. They do say you burn roughly 5% more calories from fat via HIIT than steady state.
  • chivalryder
    chivalryder Posts: 4,391 Member
    I remember reading an article about HIIT before it became the now "thing" everyone should do.

    It was originally created and designed for intermediate to professional athletes to squeeze that little extra performance for competitive environments. By performing 15-20 minute sessions of a very specific activity (rowing, cycling, sprinting, etc.) these advanced athletes were able to improve their performance by 5-10%. The first group to put it on trial was an American Olympic men's rowing team. by doing HIIT, they managed to cut their 1000m time by about 20% - a huge improvement.

    However, it's an extremely stressful, taxing, and difficult type of training. They only did it as a supplement to their regular training - maybe once or twice a week. It was never intended for a beginner, especially someone who has very little to no experience in training, and definitely not intended as your only form of "cardio" exercise.

    The biggest thing one should remember is that, with doing it, you should rest afterwards. I don't mean "take it easy and do light exercise." I mean don't do a damn thing. Sit on your *kitten* and watch some tv. More recovery = more power during your next session = greater results.

    If you just want to burn calories, you're better off doing a longer session of steady-state cardio, or doing regular intervals. You'll burn significantly more calories doing "lighter" (not really light though) exercise over an extended period of time.

    If you're doing HIIT and manage to keep it up for an hour or more, you're not pushing hard enough.

    Here's another reason why HIIT is designed for internediate or advanced athletes: The basis behind it is you're supposed to push yourself to 95%+ of your maximum effort for 20-60 seconds, then rest for 10-30 seconds. In that 10-30 seconds, your heart should go from 95+% of your maximum heart rate to resting heart rate. Only someone with an extremely strong cardiovascular system can do that. To achieve an extremely strong cardiovascular system takes years or steady-state and regular interval training. As a beginner, you'll only be able to get your heart to maybe 80% of your MHR, and in that 10-30 seconds of rest, it will only drop by 20-30bpm.

    Technically, as a beginner, you're not doing HIIT, because you're not doing true intervals.
  • little_simon
    little_simon Posts: 37 Member
    bingfit221 wrote: »
    fizzleh wrote: »
    Every tried HIIT cardio?

    The afterburn effect means you'll burn more in less time doing it.

    It also builds strength due to explosive bursts

    You won't build any strength from HIIT, that's quite a popular myth.

    Yes you can burn more cals in a shorter time, but if it's true HIIT you won't be able to do it very often which means over the space of a week you'll burn less calories than steady state cardio which you can do everyday without it impacting on other training sessions.

    Even full time athletes don't do much true HIIT, so why regular trainees think they can do it regularly is beyond me.


    http://www.acefitness.org/fitness-fact-article/3317/High-Intensity-Interval-Training/

    They just released another article in the trainers journal about how you need 48 hours of recovery after HIIT because of the effects on your muscle fibers claiming too much would break down the muscle tissue.

    Although they do say you can do long steady state when recovering.

    That's the crazy thing about this industry is that everything is constantly changing.

    10 years ago planks and lunges were the worst exercises you could do... now they are in the top of the field. Crazy.

    BUT, in theory, HIIT you post burn calories up to 48 hours. Steady state, you do not. Therefore, you would probably still burn more calories via HIIT than steady state when you factor in post burn. They do say you burn roughly 5% more calories from fat via HIIT than steady state.

    Very few could do enough true HIIT to beat steady state cardio over the period of a week.

    http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/stead-state-versus-intervals-finally-a-conclusion.html/
  • bingfit221
    bingfit221 Posts: 105 Member
    bingfit221 wrote: »
    fizzleh wrote: »
    Every tried HIIT cardio?

    The afterburn effect means you'll burn more in less time doing it.

    It also builds strength due to explosive bursts

    You won't build any strength from HIIT, that's quite a popular myth.

    Yes you can burn more cals in a shorter time, but if it's true HIIT you won't be able to do it very often which means over the space of a week you'll burn less calories than steady state cardio which you can do everyday without it impacting on other training sessions.

    Even full time athletes don't do much true HIIT, so why regular trainees think they can do it regularly is beyond me.


    http://www.acefitness.org/fitness-fact-article/3317/High-Intensity-Interval-Training/

    They just released another article in the trainers journal about how you need 48 hours of recovery after HIIT because of the effects on your muscle fibers claiming too much would break down the muscle tissue.

    Although they do say you can do long steady state when recovering.

    That's the crazy thing about this industry is that everything is constantly changing.

    10 years ago planks and lunges were the worst exercises you could do... now they are in the top of the field. Crazy.

    BUT, in theory, HIIT you post burn calories up to 48 hours. Steady state, you do not. Therefore, you would probably still burn more calories via HIIT than steady state when you factor in post burn. They do say you burn roughly 5% more calories from fat via HIIT than steady state.

    Very few could do enough true HIIT to beat steady state cardio over the period of a week.

    http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/stead-state-versus-intervals-finally-a-conclusion.html/

    More so in an athlete than a regular joe, yes. I attempt to do true HIIT but I am not athletic enough to hit 90% of my maximum HR for 20-60 seconds. My HR is too conditioned versus how fast my legs can move haha. I am more so in an anabolic state of cardio.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    MCIBTY wrote: »
    Your body stops burning calories as soon as you step off the treadmill.

    well- this may come as some shock to you- but even laying in bed just barely breathing- your body is burning calories.

    so stepping of the treadmill and saying you stop burning calories pretty much means you stepped off of there and had a heart attack.

    Just saying.

    That being said- people like to rave about EPOC from HIIT_ it's not like you can do 15 min of HIIT and continue to burn calories at 300 calories /30 min for the rest of the day- that's just not the way that works.

  • bingfit221
    bingfit221 Posts: 105 Member
    JoRocka wrote: »
    MCIBTY wrote: »
    Your body stops burning calories as soon as you step off the treadmill.

    well- this may come as some shock to you- but even laying in bed just barely breathing- your body is burning calories.

    so stepping of the treadmill and saying you stop burning calories pretty much means you stepped off of there and had a heart attack.

    Just saying.

    That being said- people like to rave about EPOC from HIIT_ it's not like you can do 15 min of HIIT and continue to burn calories at 300 calories /30 min for the rest of the day- that's just not the way that works.

    Be more specific about EPOC from HIIT and post burn. I don't get what you're saying. Are you saying HIIT you are not achieving EPOC?
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