Do you prefer cardio or strength training and why?

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Replies

  • CTcutie
    CTcutie Posts: 649 Member
    Also prefer strength, but do both and yoga :smiley: -)
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,610 Member
    Rowing, on water, because it's fun (and not because it's a nice tidy package of CV exercise and high-rep/low-resistance strength work . . . even though it is that.)

    Everything else I do is to stay in better shape for rowing season (OK, to stay in shape in order to delay my permanent move to assisted living facilities, too - I'm 62). I weight train in the rowing off season iiiffff IIIIII hhaaaave tooooo. ;) Also, spin all year long, a little swim in Winter, a little cycle in summer.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    I hate strength. I like cardio because I can do it while watching TV or something... or walk outside when it's nice out.

    Standing in place and counting reps is just incredibly boring for me and I'd rather do dishes... Seriously, I try to do 3 sets of push ups every other day and it's torture already!
  • gtm197
    gtm197 Posts: 58 Member
    At 65 I lift 3-4x per week. I spin indoors and cycle outdoors 3x a week. Love both.
  • spiriteagle99
    spiriteagle99 Posts: 3,749 Member
    I love to spend time outdoors, so cardio activities are pretty much all I do. I walk, I hike, I run, I bike. If I lived where there was more snow, I'd ski or snowshoe. Spending time inside a stinky gym is a total turn-off. I don't exercise for weight loss or looks, I exercise because I enjoy being active in the outdoors.
  • gymprincess1234
    gymprincess1234 Posts: 493 Member
    Cardio! I do spin classes, which is like dancing on a bike. Or elliptical or running, cause I can really get into the music, do intervals - sprint or put high resistance on chorus, pick up cadence on verses, etc. Cardio seems more creative, but I like body weight and kettle bell weight training as well.
  • Johnnyfields
    Johnnyfields Posts: 6 Member
    I prefer strength training myself , not only does heavy weights target the muscle intended but it applies pressure to your core and with enough sets and reps, you will lose fat as well. I will incorporate some ab training between my sets at each session .
  • LivingtheLeanDream
    LivingtheLeanDream Posts: 13,342 Member
    I enjoy both. I lift because it will be good for my bone health as I age and I like having good strength and visible muscle tone..the cardio I don't mind either as it helps increase my calorie burn so I get to maintain on more calories which I rather like :smile:
  • tonyv325
    tonyv325 Posts: 13 Member
    Love cardio and the after effects. Don't mind lifting but defo comes second. I tell you what does suck in my opinion and that's core work and stretching. I hate that stuff.
  • KarenSmith2018
    KarenSmith2018 Posts: 302 Member
    I love to run and it stops me killing people. Its my release, my freedom, my me time. I find inner peace and a calmer mind after a good run. I am hating the icy blast that is hitting the UK at the moment as it has restricted my run time some what. I also love CrossFit. I love olympic lifts, I love squat, I love deadlifts and I love the lifting variety CrossFit brings. I love the bodyweight movements as well. I also love team sports with my friends. A great bunch of girls I play netball with at the moment!
  • BeccaLoves2lift
    BeccaLoves2lift Posts: 375 Member
    I love strength training. I use a variety of rep ranges. At this time I'm doing a four day upper/lower split. I enjoy riding my bike, hiking, swimming, dancing, and walking my dog. I dislike stationary cardio equipment. I usually do some yoga once or twice a week.
  • AMC110
    AMC110 Posts: 188 Member
    edited March 2018
    I joined MFP in September and started with cycling on a stationery bike for about 5 - 10 minutes a few times a week. A few months ago I learned that I should be incorporating strength training into my workout so I ordered some 4 kg dumbbells and an 8 kg kettlebell and began using them for about 10 -15 minutes followed by 5 minutes of cycling. I'm surprised to say that the strength training part of my workout is the more enjoyable part for me as it seems to pass the time quicker. I just got a mini trampoline yesterday, however, to switch up my cardio and try to make things more interesting and fun. I started using that this morning for 12 minutes to see if I felt any benefit from it and it certainly got my calves burning! I'll probably try to fit in 5 minutes of that between the lifting and cycling from now on. I don't do as much exercise as most other MFPers but I'm slowly working up my stamina.
  • sgt1372
    sgt1372 Posts: 3,997 Member
    I do both because that's what works best for overall strength and fitness BUT, if I had to choose just 1, I'd choose my preferred form of cardio - - erg rowing which (unlike other forms of cardio) provides an upper and lower body workout that provides some overall strength as well as aerobic benefits.
  • Fitwithsci
    Fitwithsci Posts: 69 Member
    Get fit any way you can!
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