Cardio Versus Weight Training

L

leahjz

New member
Before I start I would like to say that I have searched the forums and couldn't find what I was looking for, so if this topic has been "done to death" I apologise.

I would like to lose about 15-20 lbs, hopefully at least half in the next 3 months. I think that is reasonable, but I would just like to clarify:

If I am going to commit to a program, I understand that my best chances at success are cardio approx 3x a week and weight training approx 3x a week. I looked at Steve's sticky on starting a weight training program.

I have never felt comfotable weight training, I always feel like I don't really know what i'm doing, and have stuck to just an hour of cardio when I go to the gym.

I am willing to try weight training again, as it sounds like something that I need to learn to do to have the best results. I just wanted to make sure I am understanding this right, that sacrificing some of my cardio in favor of strength training will get me further ahead?
 
It may not get you 'further ahead' but it will preserve your current muscle mass, whereas cardio only tends to make muscle deteriorate. Heavy lifting is very important during weight loss, it'll preserve your muscles and make sure you're losing mostly fat.
 
Right...

It's really about what you are after. I presume this to be a 'good' physique. If that's the case, the most surefire way to achieve it is a caloric deficit accomplished through controlled, organized eating coupled with strength training.

With the former (caloric deficit), people tend to think cardio is necessary for fat loss. It's not. The same caloric deficit one uses with cardio and controlled eating can be accomplished with diet alone. In this latter case, the individual would simply need to eat less.

So diet and cardio, together, are one front.

On the other front, the latter front, you have weight training.

As noted in the above post, it's important in the context of establishing a good physique because of its muscle preserving qualities. Losing weight is easy. Losing fat while preserving muscle takes a little more work.

What are you uncomfortable with, specifically, when it comes to weight training?
 
Thanks, I think that cleared some things up for me...

In regards to weight training, I just find I can't get into a rythim the same way I do cardio. I feel like I don't really know what i'm doing. I think I just need to have a better plan of what I want to accomplish and get into a routine of doing it...
 
For starters, don't confuse how weight training should 'feel' with how cardio 'feels.'

You might not be.

But many do.

Many people don't think they're getting a good workout in unless they're sweating and out of breath.

That's not weight training in many instances.

Yet weight training provides a ton of benefits on many fronts.

What sort of rhythm are you talking about?
 
I normally do cardio training before weight training because it can help my heart get warmed up.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top