Endurance or Strength Training

nelnova
nelnova Posts: 57 Member
edited November 12 in Fitness and Exercise
Endurance or Strength Training I guess my very general question would be which of the two would be more beneficial in continuing weight loss and muscle gains?

Replies

  • bahacca
    bahacca Posts: 878 Member
    Strength training. After all, who cares what the scale is saying if you are shaping your body to look more like you want it to look?
  • nelnova
    nelnova Posts: 57 Member
    thanks but will it contribute to weight loss more or less?
  • bahacca
    bahacca Posts: 878 Member
    Weight loss will be slower than if you do a bunch of cardio. If you care about the number on the scale, then stick with calorie deficit and cardio. Here is a great link-it is about a girl, but will demonstrate how the number on the scale is just that-a number. http://nerdfitness.com/blog/2011/07/21/meet-staci-your-new-powerlifting-super-hero/
    Muscle mass burns more calories than fat does, so keep that in mind as well. I went through a sort of "exercise attention defecit disorder" at the beginning of the year trying to figure out what I should do. I had goals that were basically at odds with each other. Running a half marathon in September and gaining muscle and strength to be able to do a pull up by year end. I have invested money in the 1/2 already from my entry fee, so this has won out-for now. I will train 3x a week for the 1/2 and do strength training probably 1 day a week. Once the 1/2 is over, I plan to switch them around-strength training 3x a week and cardio 1.
    If you still have weight to lose, but your goal is to get ripped, you are actually at a bit of an advantage--if I were you and this is your goal, I'd actually do a bulking cycle NOW, build that muscle, work out really hard and THEN start a cutting cycle where you cut calories and do more cardio to cut the fat so the new bigger muscles can show through. If I weren't having to start to train for a 1/2 marathon, I'd be bulking right now. I'm actually timing it so that after the 1/2 I'll do strength and I'll do a REAL bulk around the holidays--when it is more fun to do one;-) then cut in spring before summer hits.
  • slundy28
    slundy28 Posts: 3
    I cannot get my hour of srength training to register as burning calories on the my fitness chart. Why not?
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