Cardio or strength training. Pick a side!

2

Replies

  • tross0924
    tross0924 Posts: 909 Member
    Strength training following the principal that anything over 5 reps is just cardio work!
  • robertw486
    robertw486 Posts: 2,399 Member
    I'd just never pick a side. I personally think that many people that dislike one or the other and never find ways to overcome that are missing out. There are plenty of variations of both, and to some extent focus on one is more or less useless in many real world fitness challenges.

    So I will continue to pick both as my choice, with the emphasis geared towards any goals I'm shooting for over time.
  • DTrain351
    DTrain351 Posts: 37 Member
    How bout functional strength training? Look at the website strength 1st. Tactical strength training is good too! They're not quite like crossfit but they do increase strength (and mass if desired) while increasing cardiovascular ability.
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    For cardio I just lift faster ;)
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,427 MFP Moderator
    edited June 2016
    singingflutelady wrote: »
    For cardio I just lift faster ;)

    German Body Comp.... i thought my heart was going to explode.
  • singletrackmtbr
    singletrackmtbr Posts: 644 Member
    I do both like many here. I feel like each helps with the other.

    Have you tried HIIT? It's a great combination of both IMO.
  • TeaTimeAgain
    TeaTimeAgain Posts: 174 Member
    Depends on how you wanna fill out so to speak. Cardio is good for making you lean and toned because of the sections it focuses on. Strength training does exactly that. Bulks your muscles. A good mixture of both is best with a solid diet if your focus is to lose weight and get fit.
  • Neanbean13
    Neanbean13 Posts: 211 Member
    My god I love lifting. Yes u can loose weight lifting. However it's diet that will get u to lose weight. You just wanna burn calories lifting n not do cardio? Do circuits with weights. Lower weight higher reps gets your heart going.
    Normally I do cardio if I need to burn few more calories. However cardio isn't just running or sitting on a bike.
    For example
    12 x squat into shoulder press (w dumbell)
    12 x reverse lunges (w dumbell)
    12x push up on medicine ball
    300m row
    15 over head ball slams
    Plank with alternate front touch 10 each hand
    50 skip w rope

    Do 4 times with 2 mins rest between sets (or none if feeling fit)

  • singletrackmtbr
    singletrackmtbr Posts: 644 Member
    TeaTimeAgain wrote: »
    Depends on how you wanna fill out so to speak. Cardio is good for making you lean and toned because of the sections it focuses on. Strength training does exactly that. Bulks your muscles.

    Although this statement can be true, it is a gross generalization. There are plenty of strength training routines that don't lead to bulky muscles. They just make you stronger.

    I personally think everyone should strength train. Myths like this are what keeps girls out of the gym. I hope people do their research before coming to these types of conclusions.

  • Aine8046
    Aine8046 Posts: 2,122 Member
    edited June 2016
    I love running, but want to add strength training. Not sure where to start. Just do an abs/core class once a week for now and sore after almost every class...
  • chonji4ever
    chonji4ever Posts: 120 Member
    Hate cardio, so weights for me!
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,427 MFP Moderator
    Aine8046 wrote: »
    I love running, but want to add strength training. Not sure where to start. Just do an abs/core class once a week for now and sore after almost every class...

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10332083/which-lifting-program-is-the-best-for-you/p1

    You can start with one of these. StrongCurves seems to be popular with women.
  • FitPhillygirl
    FitPhillygirl Posts: 7,124 Member
    I prefer to do both just to mix things up a bit. Although, right now I like doing cardio more as I just had major surgery 6 weeks ago and find it easier to do cardio than lifting. I suspect that will change once my core muscles have healed enough to where I am able to lift heavy like I did before.
  • FitPhillygirl
    FitPhillygirl Posts: 7,124 Member
    edited June 2016
    psulemon wrote: »
    Aine8046 wrote: »
    I love running, but want to add strength training. Not sure where to start. Just do an abs/core class once a week for now and sore after almost every class...

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10332083/which-lifting-program-is-the-best-for-you/p1

    You can start with one of these. StrongCurves seems to be popular with women.

    Thanks for posting this link. :) I was looking for other lifting programs to try instead of Stronglifts 5x5 until my core muscles have healed up enough to do the deadlifts and OHP again with good form that is included in the 5x5 program.
  • cgvet37
    cgvet37 Posts: 1,189 Member
    Weight training, but I Iike curcuit training when I want to keep my heart rate elevated.
  • juliafitchick
    juliafitchick Posts: 11 Member
    Iam all about them weights (them weight) no treadmill
  • Fujiberry
    Fujiberry Posts: 400 Member
    edited June 2016
    100% strength training. Hitting PRs is an exhilarating feeling. Most traditional forms of cardio are boring to me. I'd prefer to take up a sport and have that be my cardio for the day.

    Plus, strength training gives me shape and muscles are attractive. :)
  • fishshark
    fishshark Posts: 1,886 Member
    i dislike cardio as in treadmill (running in general) but i love swimming, riding my bike, hiking ect. okay so i just hate running.
    love strength training.
  • workout_junkee
    workout_junkee Posts: 473 Member
    There is no side to pick. They are equally important for a well rounded regimen.
  • Savyna
    Savyna Posts: 789 Member
    For cardio I really enjoy jogging/walking outside. I try to do it outside as often as I can but during extreme weather I will go to the gym for it, the treadmill is so boring though so I try to do 5 minutes extreme jogging and then some kind of dumbbell cycle to keep it interesting. On my non cardio days I'll try and do either yoga or calisthenics. I like doing both cardio and strength.
  • bmj2015
    bmj2015 Posts: 31 Member
    I do both, but if I was forced to pick I would absolutely (!!!) choose strength training. This is the #1 thing that has helped me "look good naked", as you put it.

    I actually think diet + strength training + walking is a recipe for success! (The only reasons I do any vigorous cardio is because I sometimes enjoy it, and sometimes I want to eat a little more.)
  • wtliftchick
    wtliftchick Posts: 84 Member
    So I'm pretty new to the fitness pal site. I've gotta say, I'm surprised how much I'm burning from just walking my foster dog. I'm averaging around 500 calories a day from walking. I'm trying not to eat all my exercise calories, just because there's no way to know exactly how many I burn exercising . I'm given 1200, I burn about 500 from walking and another estimated 300-400 from weight lifting. I try to eat 1500-1600.
  • wtliftchick
    wtliftchick Posts: 84 Member
    A few posters have offered suggestions on cardio that are fun. Part of my problem is my foot injury. I Can't jump, bend my foot or apply heavy pressure to my foot. my doctor actually said biking for cardio is too much due to the applied pressure. Walking a lot actually hurts my foot. I take ibuprofen and it helps

    This is just so depressing!
  • FatMoojor
    FatMoojor Posts: 483 Member
    Both, the best way to get the best level of health is to ensure that you are improving your body as a whole and not just focusing on one thing.

    5x5sl - Monday/Wednesday/Friday

    Cardio - Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday

    Rest - Sunday

    This is my current routine, while training for a 70 mile run at the start of July.
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    I do both.

    Always have. for the first 3 years I mainly did strength training with Stronglifts 5x5 and 5/3/1 and after I quit smoking I added in running and now I lift 4x a week and walk at least 20miles a week and as soon as the bikes are tended to we will be biking and I might run again this summer who knows...

    They compliment each other very well actually...weights helps with muscle endurance for runs/rides and runs/rides help with the breathing while lifting...
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  • RoxieDawn
    RoxieDawn Posts: 15,488 Member
    Don't make me choose sides.. I just cannot do it and one with out the other is like drinking chocolate milk without the chocolate!
  • StealthHealth
    StealthHealth Posts: 2,417 Member
    Why can't we all just get along!
  • StealthHealth
    StealthHealth Posts: 2,417 Member
    srsly for me...

    bulking = zero cardio lots of lifting
    cutting = 3 cardio sessions per week + lots of lifting
  • michellemybelll
    michellemybelll Posts: 2,228 Member
    i am an absolute self-proclaimed cardio junkie. I'm a runner, and i love getting sweaty. Absolutely nothing better than the feeling of being drenched in sweat and so satisfied after a nice long run. Plus, i love to eat.

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