Has strength training or cardio given you personally better results

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  • ttippie2000
    ttippie2000 Posts: 412 Member
    Jthanmyfitnesspal wrote: »
    I think each person has to answer the question training for what? That greatly helps you make choices about how to proceed. Picking goals also gives training some meaning. The goal can be as simple as wanting to be able to walk/hike/run/bike/swim/kayak/SUP some distance at some speed.

    (I will not denigrate appearance goals, but I have found them much less motivating in the long run-- joke intended.)

    Yes, this exactly. Can I slip an expert boxer's 2-3 combo? Can I tap out a purple belt? Can I set a PR on a triathlon? Those things I find to be fun and motivating challenges. But do I get motivation from standing in front of the mirror watching the old guy looking back at me? No.
  • chunkytfg
    chunkytfg Posts: 339 Member
    I guess in terms of answering your question you need to quantify what you'd call a result?

    As this is basically a weight loss forum then for me cardio is king. I can go and smash out a 4-6 hour cycle on a day off, burn a bunch of calories and put myself into a massive calorie deficit while doing something I really enjoy. Pure cardio also got me to the finish line of 2 Ironmans.

    However when I found myself chasing times when running I discovered how important lifting and other strength based training was. I do it because I need to to get the results I want but I don't really 'love it'. I do it as means to an end. Since adding Strength based training into to life my times has plummeted even if my weight stayed a bit stagnant.

    Now i'm eating better the weight is coming down too so hopefully i'll be even quicker soon.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    edited June 2018
    rikkejanell2014 wrote: »
    I have heard both sides from some people. Please explain your own personal experience. We all know that a calorie deficit is key for fat loss. Lately it seems a lot of people are saying that cardio is only best for your heart. Thoughts ?

    Cardio is short for cardiovascular...as in your cardiovascular system. Cardio improves your cardiovascular system...why is this important? The cardiovascular system consists of the heart, blood vessels, and the approximately 5 liters of blood that the blood vessels transport. Responsible for transporting oxygen, nutrients, hormones, and cellular waste products throughout the body, the cardiovascular system is powered by the body’s hardest working organ...the heart.

    As a matter of general health and well being and overall fitness, both are really important. Cardio is going to do very little in the way of body composition changes...lifting will do a lot in that regard. It's good to have both a strong cardiovascular system as well as a strong body.
  • pattyhouse1970
    pattyhouse1970 Posts: 51 Member
    For me, I do both strength and cardio. I have a leg day, ab day, upper body day, and a 'functional' training day. On the 5th day, I either do some yoga, stretching or cardio. Tuesday and Thursdays, I jog/walk 4 miles. Seems Most Sundays I do the walk/jog thing too.
  • etmadmin
    etmadmin Posts: 1 Member
    Both. I use an on-line WOD generator 3 days/week as they include cardio. The other 3 I run/rest intervals mixing the time running but keeping the rest to 1 minute. 68 years old
  • Azdak
    Azdak Posts: 8,281 Member
    Yes
  • HoneyBadger302
    HoneyBadger302 Posts: 2,085 Member
    I get the majority of my "cardio" through martial arts.

    I enjoy strength training.

    The key, ultimately, is finding something you enjoy. I also have other reasons for needing both strength and endurance, but tend to do most of my "endurance" training during the off-season for my races and just try to maintain with the MA over the summer months when it's harder to stick to my day-to-day workout routine.

    I also enjoy the aesthetics from lifting, so there's that factor, too.

    Personally, I loathe most any "steady state" cardio, be it running, walking, bicycling, rowing - doesn't seem to matter. I find them torture, at best, barely tolerable on occasion. So, I don't make it a regular part of my workouts except for planned, shorter periods of time (few months in the winter for example).
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    rikkejanell2014 wrote: »
    I have heard both sides from some people. Please explain your own personal experience. We all know that a calorie deficit is key for fat loss. Lately it seems a lot of people are saying that cardio is only best for your heart. Thoughts ?

    As others are saying, depends what you want to achieve. My objective is to be able to run a 50 miler, the only way to do that is to run quite a bit.

    I also need to do some strength training to maintain core strength, as that plays in to pursue, so making me less fatigued after a long distance, and helping to avoid an overuse injury.
  • huntersvonnegut
    huntersvonnegut Posts: 1,177 Member
    edited June 2018
    I do both but I’m much more consistent with cardio in the form of walking. It’s more convenient for me to do it every morning regaryof the weather for the most part. It’s helped me lose 40+ lb in the last three years. That and logging my meals. I also wear a weighted vest.
  • PowerliftingMom
    PowerliftingMom Posts: 430 Member
    edited June 2018
    Strength training has worked best for ME. I did almost exclusive cardio for 1 year and was constantly hungry. I did lose a lot of weight, but actually looked a bit sickly. Switched to almost all strength training and have been maintaining on 2000 calories and feel and look so much better. I only do minimal cardio for heart health. I'm 59 and I think strength training is extremely important for older folks.

    This is my personal opinion, but I think strength training you get a bigger bang for your buck. Strength training increases muscle mass and therefore you can burn more calories and don't have to spent hours doing boring (well for me it is) cardio.
  • swebb1103
    swebb1103 Posts: 200 Member
    Both in combination work best for me. I do 3 days of cardio and 2 days of strength training, alternating. I have not lost many pounds but I have lost a lot of inches and my blood sugars are fantastic (I'm Type 2).
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