how often do you do weights?

[laura35]

I was wondering how often people did weights compared to cardio. I had a friend that said a trainer told her she was doing too much cardio and not enough weights. she only does 4days of cardio,no weights. but I currently workout 5days a week and do weights 2-3xweek and the other days is pure cardio. he told her she could change the shape of her body with more weights than cardio.
what do you think?

 

[kathryn]

The trainer is probably focusing on muscle hypertophy (growth) for your friend, to change her body shape. Cardio won't change your shape (if you're a pear and only do cardio, you'll end up being a smaller pear, but a pear nonetheless). Too much cardio can be conterproductive when trying to build muscle. The P90X system has rather minimal cardio, of moderate intensity, and it's great for muscle and strength building (upper body).

It really depends on your body type (ectomorphs or hardgainers would do best on the minimal cardio/heavier weights with good recovery type of rotation, while those who tend to build muscle very easily could get away with more cardio and still build).

If your friend is currently doing "no weights," then obviously she does need to do more in that area. You say she works out 4 days a week with cardio, but don't say at what intensity or for how long. 4 days a week of a 1 1/2 hour run is different from 4 days a week of a moderate 30-45 minute workout.

 

[Alhambra]

I like doing weights 2-3x per week and cardio at least 5 days a week. I find I prefer circuit as weights alone doesn't give me my endorphin rush. Although Gym Style workouts are fun on their own...mind you when I'm doing those lunges with the five pound weights I'm dying not saying fun...but when I've survived it's fun! I find variety has given me the best definition. In the past year I've acquired a dancer's butt and this has been from a combination of jazz dancing, high step workouts, blasts (plie jumps, airborne jacks, tuck jumps...) and focusing on the muscles during every repetition. I find the more you can focus to engage the muscle the better the results. The other critical thing is the one day of rest a week that has done tons for reshaping my muscles. My brother-in-law (with a degree in PhysEd) explained that muscles need that rest day to rebuild. I decided to take his advice a year ago and what a difference...although I still find it's hard to rest. I force myself to take one day off a week (I'm addicted to exercise).

 

[mogambo]

I work every muscle twice a week. Usually, I do one split routine and one total body workout. Abs I hit three times a week.

 

[Maximus]

I lift 3 times a week (each body part once a week).

 

[ldy_solana]

for me it depends what i want to do with that particular rotation. i have been doing upper body splits so i would work weights 3-4x a week(that includes a leg day and sometimes a 4th day of total body lighter weights) and aim for 3-4 days of cardio.

i think weights should be in any fitness routine,but it depends on what her goals are for how much cardio she wants to do. and its kind of true you can really shape your muscles with weights but change the shape of the body, well with all the workouts in my life i have never changed into an apple or a ruler shape, i will always be a pear just slightly smaller pear. like kathryn said LOL

but it should be up to her how much cardio she wants to do based on her goals but it is a good idea to add weights. maybe start with 2 days of total body work then work into splits for a change.

kassia

When they discover the center of the universe, a lot of people will be
disappointed to discover they are not it -- Bernard Bailey

 

[hippahips]

It depends on whether I'm bulking up or leaning out. When I'm bulking up, I do cardio only 2-3 times a week. When leaning out, I do more sessions, some of those being circuit-type workouts where I also use weights.

I believe the trainer. I've seen a big difference in my body with weights. I used to do all cardio, and although I was small, I had no muscle tone or definition. I had no functional strength either.

Pinky

 

[Boybert]

I do more of the leaning out type of lifting. So, I usually do 2-3 days of straight cardio w/ full body endurance routines and maybe 1-2 circuit workouts. Once in a while I throw in a slow and heavy to mix it up.


"you miss 100% of the shots you never take"


Debbie