cardio or weights? best for fat loss?

[chiro_ange]

hi.

i have been an avid cardio slave for years and years, doing at least 40 mins (usually more) about 6 times per week. i would normally do about 30 mins of weights about 2 times per week. i'm now getting a lot more stress and repetitive strain injuries due to the pounding etc...so, i am wondering...what have your experiences been if you have decreased cardio and increased weights? i dont want to bulk up and i am a pear. i know it's hard to really get bulk, being a woman but i find my legs are stocky and my upper body is more lean. none of me is fat though...I am honsetly quite hesitant and worried about reducing my cardio bc i worry that i will gain weight. has anyone had any good experiences wrt body fat when reducing cardio...and if so, what sort of rotation did you follow? would i be able to find it on this site? thank you in advance for you help.

angela

 

[Renee McFar]

Hello Angela! I followed a routine very close to yours for years. That being really heavy on the cardio and average on the weights. I was ready for a change, in otherwors a little bored. I added the Intensity series to my routine. I still strive for 40-60 minutes of cardio 4-5 days a week and 30-40 minutes if cardio 1-2 days a week. But now some of my cardio comes from the Bootcamp workout, the Step,Jump and Pump workout and the Cardio and Weights workouts. These are circuit workouts that use alot heavier weights than I have been used to using. And I have been using the weight workouts in the Inensity series for my "weight" days. Even if a weight day follows one of the circuit days. I have lost 5-6 lbs since starting this (about one month ago). And I did not even mean to lose the weight. I think you should give one of Cathe's series a chance. Shake up your routine a little. Your body will like it

 

[DB1]

Hi Angela,
I was the biggest cardio "junkie" for the longest time, but noticed that the results were minimal. I started lifting weights via PUB and PLB and began cutting down on cardio because of a special I saw on Discovery Channel about weight lifting v. cardio. Well low and behold, I started to loose weight! Then I purchased P90X which is concentrates on weight lifting, but in such a way, that it is similar to circuit style which really keeps your heart rate up. Boy have I seen results!!!

I recently went on a beta-blocker for mitral valve prolapse and my Dr. told me I wouldn't be able to reach my target heart rate while doing cardio. Well, to my dismay, I gained 12 lbs. Intense cardio 5-6 days a week could not shake off the weight. The minute I reduced the cardio and added more weight work, BINGO, the weight came off.

I do realize that we are all very different; what works for one does not work for all. Just wanted to share my experience with you.

As a side note; my mother is morbidly obese at about 400# (obesity runs in the family). I am not thin by any means, but I am 5'-8" and weigh 138#, 28% body fat. I only mention this because genetics definitely do not work in my favor and I can gain weight just by looking at the wrong food. So don't be discouraged!! Keep working on different ratios of cardio and weights until you find what works for you!

Take care,
Rhonda

 

[Maximus]

Also a word of caution--weight lifting can stress your joints as much as high impact cardio. At this stage in the game I'd recommend you checking w/your dr.