Is my weight lifting pointless?

butterfli7o
butterfli7o Posts: 1,319 Member
edited December 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
First off, I've started an early-morning cardio routine and just finished my first week. I'm starting off slow, doing every other day because the first time I attempted it (waking up before work to work out) I tried doing it every day, burned myself out and quit. Anyway, yesterday after I got home from work I sat down to watch some TV, and thought I may as well lift weights as I do so. So I got my 8lb dumbbells and lifted while I watched, and I'm definitely feeling it today.

My brother said that if I don't do some cardio beforehand, to get my heart rate up, the weight lifting isn't really doing much. Can you tell me if this is true? I thought it would be a good way to get some lifting in, but I don't want it to be for nothing.

Replies

  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,212 Member
    First off, I've started an early-morning cardio routine and just finished my first week. I'm starting off slow, doing every other day because the first time I attempted it (waking up before work to work out) I tried doing it every day, burned myself out and quit. Anyway, yesterday after I got home from work I sat down to watch some TV, and thought I may as well lift weights as I do so. So I got my 8lb dumbbells and lifted while I watched, and I'm definitely feeling it today.

    My brother said that if I don't do some cardio beforehand, to get my heart rate up, the weight lifting isn't really doing much. Can you tell me if this is true? I thought it would be a good way to get some lifting in, but I don't want it to be for nothing.
    Untrue. Cardio is aerobic (with oxygen) and weight lifting is anaerobic (without oxygen). Any exercise is better than none so you would NEVER be wasting your time regardless of what the exercise is. You can be inefficient, but that's not the same as wasting your time over adding physical exertion.


    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • melaniecheeks
    melaniecheeks Posts: 6,349 Member
    I'd say your brother is talking rubbish.

    I think that's a great way to get some extar weight lifting in!

    And also, good call on not doing cardio every day. Sounds like you're listening to your body (which seems a better idea than listening to your brother....)
  • aippolito1
    aippolito1 Posts: 4,894 Member
    Nope! The only reason to do cardio before strength training is to get your heart rate up, so you burn fat ... but you will build muscle by lifting either way, and then the muscle will burn fat for you. Don't listen to your bro! You're SUPPOSED to do strength training BEFORE cardio, just because by lifting, you're burning carbs and sugar first, THEN once you get into cardio, you start burning into the fat. But how you did it is fine. If you need to split your workouts, whatever works for you so you can get it DONE, is great!
  • lisa28115
    lisa28115 Posts: 17,271 Member
    I'd say your brother is talking rubbish.

    I think that's a great way to get some extar weight lifting in!

    And also, good call on not doing cardio every day. Sounds like you're listening to your body (which seems a better idea than listening to your brother....)

    I agree :bigsmile:
  • _HeathBar_
    _HeathBar_ Posts: 902 Member
    Broscience. That is all.
  • hiker282
    hiker282 Posts: 983 Member
    Your weight lifting may only be pointless because you're only lifting 8 pound weights. Lift more (heavier) if you really want to do your body a favor and get it in good shape.
  • dlwyatt82
    dlwyatt82 Posts: 1,077 Member
    Your heart rate will come up a bit on its own while you're lifting. When the weights are light at first, you don't even really need to worry about a warm-up.

    If you decide to start lifting heavy, you'll want to do warm-ups for each exercise to avoid injury. Start light and do a few reps, then add weight in 20-50 pound increments (doing a few more reps each time) until you reach your planned work weight for the day.
  • Awkward30
    Awkward30 Posts: 1,927 Member
    First off, I've started an early-morning cardio routine and just finished my first week. I'm starting off slow, doing every other day because the first time I attempted it (waking up before work to work out) I tried doing it every day, burned myself out and quit. Anyway, yesterday after I got home from work I sat down to watch some TV, and thought I may as well lift weights as I do so. So I got my 8lb dumbbells and lifted while I watched, and I'm definitely feeling it today.

    My brother said that if I don't do some cardio beforehand, to get my heart rate up, the weight lifting isn't really doing much. Can you tell me if this is true? I thought it would be a good way to get some lifting in, but I don't want it to be for nothing.
    Untrue. Cardio is aerobic (with oxygen) and weight lifting is anaerobic (without oxygen). Any exercise is better than none so you would NEVER be wasting your time regardless of what the exercise is. You can be inefficient, but that's not the same as wasting your time over adding physical exertion.


    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    I'd go a step further and say that the common thought now is that you should not do cardio and weight training in the same session, and that if you do, the cardio should be low to moderate intensity so that the weight training isn't hampered. That said, proper weight training requires you to use weights that challenge you. If you can lift the 8 lb dumbbell more than 10 times without struggling, you should look into get a heavier one. As the above poster said, though, doing something is far better than doing nothing!

    Best of luck with your progress!
  • BrettPGH
    BrettPGH Posts: 4,716 Member
    Good news! You get to tell your brother he's an idiot. And isn't that the most fun??


    Hmm I really oughtta call my brother, can't remember the last time I called him dumb...
  • howeclectic
    howeclectic Posts: 121 Member
    Weight training and cardio are a good compliment. Only in that a strong vascular system forms a good structure for weight training to best be built on. Warming up with cardio before weights can definitely help, but i don't think is necessary. With an 8 pound weight, its actually questionable whether its truly anaerobic. It might actually be aerobic as it is fairly light. Of course.. each person is different.
  • JMPerlin
    JMPerlin Posts: 287 Member
    Your brother is wrong, even if all you did was strength training you would lose weight. Because by building up muscle you keep your metabolism up as well. By doing both cardio and strength training you increase your metabolism in multiple ways. Now many people use cardio as a way to warm up but if you need to break out your training sessions you can replace the warm up cardio with stretching. Long story short you are correct and it appears that you are listening to your body as well as making good use of your time. Make sure you stretch.

    John
  • Nerdy_Rose
    Nerdy_Rose Posts: 1,277 Member
    Your weight lifting may only be pointless because you're only lifting 8 pound weights. Lift more (heavier) if you really want to do your body a favor and get it in good shape.

    Starting off too heavy can injure your joints. It's better to start with a lower weight and work your way up.
  • ldalbello
    ldalbello Posts: 207 Member
    No to this. I started at 5 lbs and am at 8 lbs now. Once the weight becomes too easy, then increase it.
  • butterfli7o
    butterfli7o Posts: 1,319 Member
    Your weight lifting may only be pointless because you're only lifting 8 pound weights. Lift more (heavier) if you really want to do your body a favor and get it in good shape.
    I definitely plan on working my way up, but for right now 8lbs is good. :) Those things feel heavy after a few sets of reps! But my plan is to increase the weight once it gets too easy.
  • 2April
    2April Posts: 285 Member
    First off, I've started an early-morning cardio routine and just finished my first week. I'm starting off slow, doing every other day because the first time I attempted it (waking up before work to work out) I tried doing it every day, burned myself out and quit. Anyway, yesterday after I got home from work I sat down to watch some TV, and thought I may as well lift weights as I do so. So I got my 8lb dumbbells and lifted while I watched, and I'm definitely feeling it today.

    My brother said that if I don't do some cardio beforehand, to get my heart rate up, the weight lifting isn't really doing much. Can you tell me if this is true? I thought it would be a good way to get some lifting in, but I don't want it to be for nothing.
    Untrue. Cardio is aerobic (with oxygen) and weight lifting is anaerobic (without oxygen). Any exercise is better than none so you would NEVER be wasting your time regardless of what the exercise is. You can be inefficient, but that's not the same as wasting your time over adding physical exertion.


    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    I'd go a step further and say that the common thought now is that you should not do cardio and weight training in the same session, and that if you do, the cardio should be low to moderate intensity so that the weight training isn't hampered. That said, proper weight training requires you to use weights that challenge you. If you can lift the 8 lb dumbbell more than 10 times without struggling, you should look into get a heavier one. As the above poster said, though, doing something is far better than doing nothing!

    Best of luck with your progress!
    Many athletes combine the two into a high intensity workout in some of their training sessions in order to improve their work capacity.
  • hiker282
    hiker282 Posts: 983 Member
    Your weight lifting may only be pointless because you're only lifting 8 pound weights. Lift more (heavier) if you really want to do your body a favor and get it in good shape.
    I definitely plan on working my way up, but for right now 8lbs is good. :) Those things feel heavy after a few sets of reps! But my plan is to increase the weight once it gets too easy.

    How many reps / sets are you doing? What lifts are you doing? I'm all for starting out light and working your way up, but 8 pounds still sounds incredibly light, but then I don't know if you're juggling them or what.
  • darrensurrey
    darrensurrey Posts: 3,942 Member
    Good news! You get to tell your brother he's an idiot. And isn't that the most fun??


    Hmm I really oughtta call my brother, can't remember the last time I called him dumb...

    :laugh:
  • leannems
    leannems Posts: 516 Member
    I'd go a step further and say that the common thought now is that you should not do cardio and weight training in the same session, and that if you do, the cardio should be low to moderate intensity so that the weight training isn't hampered.

    Wait - why is this? I do weights, and then turn around and do high intensity cardio afterwards. Am I hampering what I've done with my weights by turning around and doing cardio?

    I also do cardio on its own sometimes, but I never do weights without cardio after.
  • stormieweather
    stormieweather Posts: 2,549 Member
    You're not wasting your time, but I do recommend that you lift the heaviest weight you can manage while doing 3 sets of 8 repetitions each. You should be nearly unable to complete the final set. If you find it's easy, then up the weight a bit.

    I've done lighter and heavier is definitely more effective. :flowerforyou:
  • treetop57
    treetop57 Posts: 1,578 Member
    About 15 years ago, my then doctor was always pushing me to exercise. When I came back and told him I was lifting weights, he said, "Oh, I don't mean that. I mean cardio. Weight lifting can make you look good, but doesn't help your health at all."

    I emphasize that this was more than a decade ago. I think it's been clearly demonstrated since this that increasing lean body mass (or at least reducing body fat percentage) has direct health benefits. It sounds like your brother has the out-dated idea that only cardio has a health benefit, so weight lifting is only beneficial if you turn it into cardio by pumping up your heart-rate beforehand.
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