Weights vs. Cardio

[ukcharlatans]

Hello everyone,

After Cathe's post on the forum about doing more weights and less cardio as of late, I'm wondering what everyone else does here. I've been having a few conversations about whether more weights then cardio is more efficient/beneficiary.

What does everyone else think? What do you do?


Susan

 

[Luv2WorkHard]

I have been an advanced cardio exerciser for many years, but not an advanced weight lifter. I wasn't exactly a member of the pink dumbell crew, but I am/was nowhere near the level of Cathe and many of the more experienced "heavy" lifters around here. I am strong, but skinny...toned, but not really muscular.

Well...after years of cardio without the desired results (I want more mass on upper body, more cut muscles), I have resigned to the fact that I need to step up my weight lifting regime and perhaps back down a bit of my cardio. So...rather than 6 days a week of intense cardio with 2-3 days of lighter weight lifting, I am changing things up to 5 days of cardio with 2 days of heavy lifting (per body part).

Since I just started this, I cannot offer you a success story. I would also be interested to hear what others have to say about this. I am confident that my new focus will provide some good results, but it would be great to hear from those who have been there and done that.

 

[hippahips]

In general, more weights than cardio. But this is primarily because of my bad joints. However, I'm fortunate that this way of working out has given me good results. It's when I'm leaning out and NEED to do more cardio that my bad joints become an obstacle. I constantly have to find ways to work around this problem.

Pinky

 

[kathryn]

I got great results when I was doing P90X, and that minimizes cardio, and emphasizes weights, so I do think it is beneficial and effective.

BUT, maybe it's most effective if you've been doing more cardio for a while, to get rid of extra body fat, then doing more weights and reducing cardio helps form the muscle.

A lot of male bodybuilders minimize cardio (and think that cardio is for weenies!, but that might work better for men, because they have fewer fat stores than women in the first place.

 

[Fit_mommy]

Hi Susan.

As a rule I spend more time doing cardio then weights. I guess if I were as lean as I wanted to be then I wouldn't put so much emphasis on cardio but until that happens, I'm a 6 day a week cardio girl and my weight work outs change constantly...I am currently lifting full body 3x per week-some in circuit and some regular.

To me both weights and cardio hold equal importance BUT the ratio will change depending on goals, etc.

 

[step_a_holic]

Hi Susan. I just recently started doing more weights and less cardio with great results. For the past 3 years my focus has been on cardio but about three weeks ago I had to cut down on my cardio due to an issue with my knee and I increased my strength training, primarily upper body. Now that my knee is better, I have started incorporating cardio again, but am limiting it to three times a week. The cardio that I am doing is also a little different. I used to do 45-60 minutes of step. Now I do more circuit and interval training, like Imax 2 and Boot Camp.

I was actually surprised to see such great results. I always thought my body needed all of that cardio and I am still perplexed that I get better results with more weights and less cardio.

Take care,

Melissa