Yet another noob question about cardio vs weight training.
Shereewhitney88
Posts: 87 Member
I hate cardio. I hate it. BUT I need to lose roughly 35 pounds to be in a healthy weight range for my height. That being said, should I suck it up and do the cardio until I lose the weight I want to lose then try to build muscle or should I be focusing on weight training? I've read that weight training while trying to lose weight is pointless and then some people swear by it. I'm not really too focused on how much I weigh, though I know I need to lose the weight. I am more interested in looking and feeling better. I want to be ... tighter and more toned, less jiggly. But I am literally at a loss as to what I should be doing to accomplish MY body goals. I've seen some of you, your bodies are amazing and I am hoping one of you can give me a little guidance. 
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Shereewhitney88 wrote: »I hate cardio. I hate it. BUT I need to lose roughly 35 pounds to be in a healthy weight range for my height. That being said, should I suck it up and do the cardio until I lose the weight I want to lose then try to build muscle or should I be focusing on weight training? I've read that weight training while trying to lose weight is pointless and then some people swear by it. I'm not really too focused on how much I weigh, though I know I need to lose the weight. I am more interested in looking and feeling better. I want to be ... tighter and more toned, less jiggly. But I am literally at a loss as to what I should be doing to accomplish MY body goals. I've seen some of you, your bodies are amazing and I am hoping one of you can give me a little guidance.
Absolutely not.
Lifting will help you retain (and in some cases increase ) LBM while in a caloric deficit. You can also increase strength while in a caloric deficit, if that is important to you. A caloric deficit is needed in order to achieve weight loss. You do not NEED cardio, but it can aid in the process by allowing you to be able to eat more or create a larger caloric deficit.0 -
I think you have to do both, I've been weight training for 2 weeks and eating clean but I've only lost 2lbs. I have had compliments that I look like I've lost a lot of weight but my scale doesn't show it. On other occasions, doing only cardio has helped me lose about 2-3 lbs a week so now I've decided to do both weight training and cardio everyday. Hope that helps0
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LolBroScience wrote: »Shereewhitney88 wrote: »I hate cardio. I f**king hate it. BUT I need to lose roughly 35 pounds to be in a healthy weight range for my height. That being said, should I suck it up and do the cardio until I lose the weight I want to lose then try to build muscle or should I be focusing on weight training? I've read that weight training while trying to lose weight is pointless and then some people swear by it. I'm not really too focused on how much I weigh, though I know I need to lose the weight. I am more interested in looking and feeling better. I want to be ... tighter and more toned, less jiggly. But I am literally at a loss as to what I should be doing to accomplish MY body goals. I've seen some of you, your bodies are amazing and I am hoping one of you can give me a little guidance.
Absolutely not.
Lifting will help you retain (and in some cases increase depending on the circumstances) LBM while in a caloric deficit. You can also increase strength while in a caloric deficit, if that is important to you. A caloric deficit is needed in order to achieve weight loss. You do not NEED cardio, but it can aid in the process by allowing you to be able to eat more or create a larger caloric deficit.
COSIGN0 -
I strictly consider my "exercise" to be weight training at this point. However I try to incorporate more cardio-like activities such as walking my dogs and hiking as bonus calorie burners (I don't count them). I hardly do real cardio exercises now and I am still losing weight at steady pace. Good luck
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Shereewhitney88 wrote: »I hate cardio. I hate it.
If you don't enjoy it, don't do it.
What I would question is what are you doing? Personally I fully understand not enjoying droning along on a machine in a gym, but I am happy going for a trail run, or a good long cycle out in the real.
Find something you enjoy, rather than feeling constrained to machines.
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A progressive strength training program + progressive cardio program can be ideal for getting lean. They must be fueled as they can wipe you out.
I think the key is to find a progressive (challenging) program you like.
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LolBroScience wrote: »Shereewhitney88 wrote: »I hate cardio. I f**king hate it. BUT I need to lose roughly 35 pounds to be in a healthy weight range for my height. That being said, should I suck it up and do the cardio until I lose the weight I want to lose then try to build muscle or should I be focusing on weight training? I've read that weight training while trying to lose weight is pointless and then some people swear by it. I'm not really too focused on how much I weigh, though I know I need to lose the weight. I am more interested in looking and feeling better. I want to be ... tighter and more toned, less jiggly. But I am literally at a loss as to what I should be doing to accomplish MY body goals. I've seen some of you, your bodies are amazing and I am hoping one of you can give me a little guidance.
Absolutely not.
Lifting will help you retain (and in some cases increase ) LBM while in a caloric deficit. You can also increase strength while in a caloric deficit, if that is important to you. A caloric deficit is needed in order to achieve weight loss. You do not NEED cardio, but it can aid in the process by allowing you to be able to eat more or create a larger caloric deficit.
Absolutely this.
It is true you will gain hardly any new muscle, but without weight training part of your weightloss will consist of muscle. Through weight training you will limit (or even prevent) muscle loss.
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I think you have to do both, I've been weight training for 2 weeks and eating clean but I've only lost 2lbs. I have had compliments that I look like I've lost a lot of weight but my scale doesn't show it. On other occasions, doing only cardio has helped me lose about 2-3 lbs a week so now I've decided to do both weight training and cardio everyday. Hope that helps
ah no...actually don't have to do any exercise to lose weight..just calorie deficit.
and eating clean is what??? washing your food?
To the OP start weights now...don't wait...I waited for 2 months...mind you I was doing strength training but lifting is the bomb.
I run now...2 years after I started....hasn't helped me lose weight but my cardio is in pretty damn fine shape again
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Weight training ( with supporting protein ) while at a caloric deficit is muscle sparing ( reduces loss of mass ) and can have measurable and valuable results in both body composition and strength.
Cardio based exercises are not required to lose weight, they are a tool that can help create a caloric deficit. You don't have to, but it has value. There are other significant health benefits. Cardio doesn't have to be you on a machine in the gym ... most recreational sporting activities can provide a good cardio workout, if the intensity level is sufficient to increase your heart rate.
I read somewhere that 90% of weight loss is based on nutrition, and only 10% on exercise, for the average person. I don't know if those exact percentages are true, but I can tell you from personal experience that it is much more practical to control what you put in to create the deficit, then to create it solely via exercise when not eating sensibly.0 -
Agreed, you should lift.
Without the lifting, if you maintain a caloric deficit, yeah, you'll lose weight, but not just fat - you'll lose muscle.
The muscle is what you want to hang on to, so lift.
Cardio? I hate it. So I don't do it. But I walk, and walking is easy and really helps a ton. A simple fasted walk in the morning, or a brisk walk after dinner... You'll notice a difference in your fat loss rate.0 -
colors_fade wrote: »Agreed, you should lift.
Without the lifting, if you maintain a caloric deficit, yeah, you'll lose weight, but not just fat - you'll lose muscle.
The muscle is what you want to hang on to, so lift.
Cardio? I hate it. So I don't do it. But I walk, and walking is easy and really helps a ton. A simple fasted walk in the morning, or a brisk walk after dinner... You'll notice a difference in your fat loss rate.
Yup I started out saying "I hate cardio" so I just walked...and biked a bit...now I run 3x a week and lift 4x a week.0 -
MeanderingMammal wrote: »Shereewhitney88 wrote: »I hate cardio. I f**king hate it.
If you don't enjoy it, don't do it.
What I would question is what are you doing? Personally I fully understand not enjoying droning along on a machine in a gym, but I am happy going for a trail run, or a good long cycle out in the real.
Find something you enjoy, rather than feeling constrained to machines.
Agreed. Find what you enjoy doing. Some people run, dance, lift, play on playgrounds, hike, bike, jump, play sports, etc. If you enjoy what your doing, you'll be more likely to stick to and benefit from it.
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If the only goal is for the scale to say a number, then 100% cardio is the way to go.
If you'd like to have some muscle to show when you strip off the fat, then a combo of the 2 is the way to go.
And don't try and stay at 1200cals while doing either version. Eat back some of the cals that you burn, otherwise you start winding up with loose skin from losing so fast you body can't adjust to the changes.0 -
I treat cardio like a multivitamin. Something I try to do daily, but don't beat myself up if I forget once in a while. Strength training is important for looking toned, but vigorous cardio is an amazing protective step against many types of physical and cognitive impairment later in life. Even if you hate cardio, consider it an investment in your retirement, like an RRSP or something. Personally, a mix of cardio and strength training has helped me maintain my goals and feel healthy and confident.0
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I think you have to do both, I've been weight training for 2 weeks and eating clean but I've only lost 2lbs. I have had compliments that I look like I've lost a lot of weight but my scale doesn't show it. On other occasions, doing only cardio has helped me lose about 2-3 lbs a week so now I've decided to do both weight training and cardio everyday. Hope that helps
ah no...actually don't have to do any exercise to lose weight..just calorie deficit.
and eating clean is what??? washing your food?
No need for rudeness and sarcasm, we're all here to help each other lose weight. Btw clean eating is eating unprocessed food, mostly fresh veggies, fruits, and lean protein.0 -
Shereewhitney88 wrote: »I hate cardio. I hate it. BUT I need to lose roughly 35 pounds to be in a healthy weight range for my height. That being said, should I suck it up and do the cardio until I lose the weight I want to lose then try to build muscle or should I be focusing on weight training? I've read that weight training while trying to lose weight is pointless and then some people swear by it. I'm not really too focused on how much I weigh, though I know I need to lose the weight. I am more interested in looking and feeling better. I want to be ... tighter and more toned, less jiggly. But I am literally at a loss as to what I should be doing to accomplish MY body goals. I've seen some of you, your bodies are amazing and I am hoping one of you can give me a little guidance.
why would lifting be pointless? if you don't do any resistance training, you're going to lose a greater ratio of muscle to fat as you lose weight...which in turn will NOT give you that "toned" look...having muscle is kind of important to being "toned"
also, your weight loss is going to be largely attributable to your diet, not your exercise. start to look at fitness for the sake of fitness...and in that RE I highly recommend both cardio and resistance training as a matter of general fitness. mind you, cardio doesn't have to mean droning away on some machine...go outside and run or ride a bike or swim or hike, etc...open up your mind to other possibilities besides sitting in a gym using some machine.
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I think you have to do both, I've been weight training for 2 weeks and eating clean but I've only lost 2lbs. I have had compliments that I look like I've lost a lot of weight but my scale doesn't show it. On other occasions, doing only cardio has helped me lose about 2-3 lbs a week so now I've decided to do both weight training and cardio everyday. Hope that helps
ah no...actually don't have to do any exercise to lose weight..just calorie deficit.
and eating clean is what??? washing your food?
No need for rudeness and sarcasm, we're all here to help each other lose weight. Btw clean eating is eating unprocessed food, mostly fresh veggies, fruits, and lean protein.
You missed the point of the sarcasm.
There's no such thing as "clean eating."
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I love all of you (even the sarcastic ones!) I appreciate all the feedback and amazing advice. From what I gathered a little of both can be most beneficial, so I will try doing both, but I will focus more on weight training and building my strength. I used to love cardio, when I had my treadmill I used it every single day but I burned out. I still enjoy doing things outside, hiking, biking (even though I am so clumsy it's ridiculous) and swimming but I don't get the chance to do those all that often, especially in 95 degree weather. Earlier this year we bought the max trainer from bowflex .. the thing kills me but using it a couple times a week for the greater good can be done lol I really appreciate you guys, thanks for taking the time out of your day to reply to my questions 0
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I think you have to do both, I've been weight training for 2 weeks and eating clean but I've only lost 2lbs. I have had compliments that I look like I've lost a lot of weight but my scale doesn't show it. On other occasions, doing only cardio has helped me lose about 2-3 lbs a week so now I've decided to do both weight training and cardio everyday. Hope that helps
ah no...actually don't have to do any exercise to lose weight..just calorie deficit.
and eating clean is what??? washing your food?
No need for rudeness and sarcasm, we're all here to help each other lose weight. Btw clean eating is eating unprocessed food, mostly fresh veggies, fruits, and lean protein.
actually, that's not true at all...last I checked this was called My Fitness Pal, not My Weightloss Pal or My Diet Pal...people here have numerous goals that go beyond weightloss...hell, I lost all of my weight over two years ago.
also, if you can't handle a little sarcasm, you're seriously doomed...and probably should just stay off of the internet in general.0 -
Shereewhitney88 wrote: » I love all of you (even the sarcastic ones!) I appreciate all the feedback and amazing advice. From what I gathered a little of both can be most beneficial, so I will try doing both, but I will focus more on weight training and building my strength. I used to love cardio, when I had my treadmill I used it every single day but I burned out. I still enjoy doing things outside, hiking, biking (even though I am so clumsy it's ridiculous) and swimming but I don't get the chance to do those all that often, especially in 95 degree weather. Earlier this year we bought the max trainer from bowflex .. the thing kills me but using it a couple times a week for the greater good can be done lol I really appreciate you guys, thanks for taking the time out of your day to reply to my questions
I ride about 80 miles per week...and we're generally approaching 100* plus...I've never let the weather interfere with my training.0 -
I think you have to do both, I've been weight training for 2 weeks and eating clean but I've only lost 2lbs. I have had compliments that I look like I've lost a lot of weight but my scale doesn't show it. On other occasions, doing only cardio has helped me lose about 2-3 lbs a week so now I've decided to do both weight training and cardio everyday. Hope that helps
ah no...actually don't have to do any exercise to lose weight..just calorie deficit.
and eating clean is what??? washing your food?
No need for rudeness and sarcasm, we're all here to help each other lose weight. Btw clean eating is eating unprocessed food, mostly fresh veggies, fruits, and lean protein.
A little sarcasm is healthy. Seriously, "clean" is not a term that should be applied to food beyond washing it. If you asked every person in here what their definition of "clean eating" is, most of it will differ from yours. I know mine does.
OP, if you don't like cardio, don't do it. I quite frankly love your attitude and your goals, partly because they align with mine and because they are so different from the usual we see around here. I started on MFP 4 years ago just wanting to "lose 15 pounds". It took me a few years to realize that what I really wanted to do was lose body fat. So I started lifting weights last May while eating only slightly under maintenance. The difference is amazing. I can wear the same clothes I was wearing when I was 10 pounds lighter a few years ago, the jiggle under my upper arms is gone and I'm much happier because I don't need to eat as little to support my size as I would if I had simply "lost weight" rather than losing fat.
By the way, I do run 3 or 4 days each week but I do it because I enjoy running (I loathed it 4 years ago!). If you're going to do cardio find something you enjoy and do it as much as you enjoy it, not more.0 -
cwolfman13 wrote: »Shereewhitney88 wrote: » I love all of you (even the sarcastic ones!) I appreciate all the feedback and amazing advice. From what I gathered a little of both can be most beneficial, so I will try doing both, but I will focus more on weight training and building my strength. I used to love cardio, when I had my treadmill I used it every single day but I burned out. I still enjoy doing things outside, hiking, biking (even though I am so clumsy it's ridiculous) and swimming but I don't get the chance to do those all that often, especially in 95 degree weather. Earlier this year we bought the max trainer from bowflex .. the thing kills me but using it a couple times a week for the greater good can be done lol I really appreciate you guys, thanks for taking the time out of your day to reply to my questions
I ride about 80 miles per week...and we're generally approaching 100* plus...I've never let the weather interfere with my training.
You're amazing! I know I shouldn't let the weather effect my outside play time but between the temp AND the humidity I become a total grump when I've been outside too long when its this hot/humid lol I seriously HATE hot weather. I am much more active Fall-Spring. I should move somewhere like Alaska ... might be a better fit for me instead of TN lol
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You could try a "lift weights faster" approach. Gets your strength and conditioning in without boring cardio.0
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Cardio is so varied and feels so great, I don't know how you can't NOT do it. But, to each his (or her) own.
I'm doing more calisthenics and resistance bands - so far so good.
But don't ever take my cardio away.0 -
it's all about how much you eat, not about what kind of exercise you do.0
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Shereewhitney88 wrote: »cwolfman13 wrote: »Shereewhitney88 wrote: » I love all of you (even the sarcastic ones!) I appreciate all the feedback and amazing advice. From what I gathered a little of both can be most beneficial, so I will try doing both, but I will focus more on weight training and building my strength. I used to love cardio, when I had my treadmill I used it every single day but I burned out. I still enjoy doing things outside, hiking, biking (even though I am so clumsy it's ridiculous) and swimming but I don't get the chance to do those all that often, especially in 95 degree weather. Earlier this year we bought the max trainer from bowflex .. the thing kills me but using it a couple times a week for the greater good can be done lol I really appreciate you guys, thanks for taking the time out of your day to reply to my questions
I ride about 80 miles per week...and we're generally approaching 100* plus...I've never let the weather interfere with my training.
You're amazing! I know I shouldn't let the weather effect my outside play time but between the temp AND the humidity I become a total grump when I've been outside too long when its this hot/humid lol I seriously HATE hot weather. I am much more active Fall-Spring. I should move somewhere like Alaska ... might be a better fit for me instead of TN lol
Oh, geez, I certainly get this. I live in Tucson. It's HOT and in the summer it's hotter and a lot more humid. I shift my runs from afternoons in the winter to early mornings in the summer but most summer mornings it's already around 80° when I get up at 5:30 am. I've learned a few tricks such as wetting my t-shirt before (and for long runs, a few times during because it's dry after a mile and a half) a run and that really helps to keep me cooler but I don't know if it would work as well where the humidity is much higher than it is here.
My husband bought me one of those Enduracool things last week that was amazing when I used it on my run on Sunday. It's a tube of fabric that you wet and it's then about 20° cooler than the air around it. I simply wore it around my neck and occasionally pulled it up to wet my face because both get hot when I run. I highly recommend it!0 -
I am also a noob and trying to lose about 30 pounds. I cycle somewhere around 100 miles a week and I also do yoga 2-4 times a week. A question for everyone stating lifting will help you to not lose any muscle. Is 3 vinyasa yoga classes per week a good way to help prevent muscle loss? I am not really interested in lifting at this time, but I do enjoy yoga quite a bit.0
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if you enjoy yoga, keep going. it's a great stretch, and has some body weight movements, but it won't really help you not lose muscle... but it won't hurt either!! cycling 100 miles a week, doing your yoga, and watching what you eat will help you reach your goals though.0
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So weight lifting and cardio do different things. As many have pointed out, lifting is helps you retain LBM through your weight loss process, but cardio allows you to eat more during the day. Personally I think a combination is good because cardio works out your heart and lungs differently than weightlifting.
There are lots of types of cardio. Maybe you really do hate all of them. I hate treadmills and the elliptical. I LOVE racquetball and swimming. I SUCK at both but swimming is a good skill to have and racquetball helps me with eye hand coordination and balance. I also love Zumba because at my class it is like a huge party.
The bottom line is do what you love and what you can stick to, but also try new things because you might find a new love.0
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