Strength training or Cardio?

angelsimbre
angelsimbre Posts: 12 Member
in Getting Started
What is the best for losing weight?

Is it strength training like lifting more weights or more cardio? Some say lifting weights helps you lose more weight? And some say cardio is the best for losing weight?

Which one is the truth? Which one do you prefer?

Replies

  • MikePTY
    MikePTY Posts: 3,814 Member
    Food is probably 80-90% of the battle when it comes to weight loss. For exercise, both cardio and weight lifting can be effective for that extra 10-20% of the battle. Most people would benefit from a mixed program.
  • angelsimbre
    angelsimbre Posts: 12 Member
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    Losing weight comes down to having a calorie deficit...exercise in and of itself doesn't induce weight loss...if it did, people who exercise on the regular would just wither away. Exercise can make losing weight easier in that additional activities increase your body's calorie requirements...so as an example, without any exercise at all, I could lose about 1 Lb per week eating around 1900 calories...with regular exercise I can lose that same Lb per week eating 2300-2500 calories which makes my dieting a lot easier.

    As a matter of general fitness, both cardio and resistance training are important...cardio is short for cardiovascular...doing cardio improves and maintains good cardiovascular health. Resistance training supports the skeletal/muscular system. Cardiovascular exercise will burn more calories in the same given time...resistance training will do more to positively change your body composition than all of the cardio in the world would. Without resistance training, most people don't get the body they were actually hoping to with losing weight because they lose muscle along with the fat.

    Thank you so much! This is very helpful :smile:
  • angelsimbre
    angelsimbre Posts: 12 Member
    MikePTY wrote: »
    Food is probably 80-90% of the battle when it comes to weight loss. For exercise, both cardio and weight lifting can be effective for that extra 10-20% of the battle. Most people would benefit from a mixed program.

    I agree your diet and the way you eat is one of the main thing for losing weight. And for a girl like me who loves food and poor self control, i need a lot of good lucks lol thank you for your comment!
  • bunnyaa
    bunnyaa Posts: 18 Member
    I would prefer doing some of both. Eating at a deficit makes you lose both fat and muscle mass. In order to minimize muscle loss I highly recommend doing some weights in your workouts and eating moderate amounts of protein throughout the day.
  • Running2Fit
    Running2Fit Posts: 702 Member
    I do both - strength training three times a week and cardio twice a week. Strength training will help you preserve more muscle as you lose weight. Cardio usually burns more calories so you can create a bigger calorie deficit. But the real focus for your weight loss should be your diet. Exercise is important for health but you can't out exercise a bad diet.
  • hroderick
    hroderick Posts: 756 Member
    edited October 2018
    I'm trying to lose weight so have a heavy emphasis on cardio to burn more calories.
    Once I reach goal, I intend to eat the same but burn fewer calories by switching to strength training.

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