I've read that strength training is better for weight loss than just cardio but I think cardio works better for me? Thoughts of fit/weight loss folks?

[xobrowneyedbeauty]

A few weeks ago I started trying to lose weight (again, it's not the first time haha). I've read that strength training is important and cardio can just exhaust your body and you'd just end up skinny vs if you were to do squats. I've lost weight in the past with just cardio relatively quickly but this time I haven't dropped any pounds and don't feel I am seeing a difference. I've been doing a little cardio with the strength training but I don't see any change whereas in the past with cardio there'd be a change by now. Is it possible my body just works differently and cardio fits my body type better?

[BertMacklinFBI]

well they say strength training and cardio combined is better for weight loss and being fit. your body will get used to the same routine over and over again, thus reaching a plateau in your progress and not gaining much results. if you change up your workouts then your body is constantly fighting a new battle, and it has to come into that battle fully prepared with everything its got. but if you fight the same battle over and over again, then your body knows how to enter that battle more efficiently and save more energy in the process. it is imperative that you change up your workouts, even when you combine strength training and cardio. this is where HIIT becomes effective, because you are constantly working at 90-95% of your bodies maximum power output. there is no getting used to it because you're working really freakin hard each workout that your body will need a break every time. if you think about it, doing uphill sprints, you will get better at it, but performing the same workout at 95% of your TOTAL power means you will never be superman at it, you will get better, but even after you've gotten better at it, working at 95% of your new improvement is still going to kill. thus HIIT is always a good workout, your body can't get used to it because once you improve, you only go harder on those new improvements, hence you are always improving, not maintaining. you can also do strength training combined with cardio HIIT, so performing supersets with weights and implementing cardio and calisthenics workouts all in 1. HIIT should only last about 15-20 minutes because it can do some major damage to your joints, so be careful.

[xobrowneyedbeauty]

super thorough lol thanks! HIIT also isn't supposed to be an everyday thing right?

[BertMacklinFBI]

HIIT can be done everyday, as long as you're not killing your joints. you can perform HIIT workouts that don't cause a lot of shock and impact on your knees but still wind you like crazy. people usually stick to HIIT about 3-4 days a week and fill in the other days with casual workouts, full day weight lifting, or rest.

[WeaponZero]

Weight loss is purely a result of calorie deficit. Exercise of any kind only helps to achieve that while being able to eat more food. The reason the scale reflects the numbers better when you're following a cardio-based plan over a strength training based-plan is because when you stress the muscles the way you do in strength training, you retain fluids in the areas of the muscles that were worked for a few days after. Keeping to a real plan basically means you'll be permanently in a state of fluid retention which means the scale won't reflect your progress as well.

Also when you do cardio without strength training you're also losing muscle mass, which is not good, especially as a woman. Bone density and lean muscle mass are directly linked, so building and maintaining lean muscle is key to helping avoid osteoporosis when you get older.

A proper strength training regimen with cardio as a supplement is the best choice. If you are looking for a single style of workout that will give you the benefits of both from a single workout, circuit training or complex work are your go-tos.

[far2gud4u]

u either drop weight or you build it up. The strength training adds muscle (making you bigger and heavier) and so odds are you are not losing anything. In my experience going for cardio and a little strength is better than equal measures... I am going to do cardio for the next month and then tone myself up to get my abs back before my hols in December :)

[Hans222]

I'd go for the strength training but while being very vigilant for pain in your muscles and joints... as soon as you feel any level of pain you've had more than enough training for that musle.
It's important to avoid pains since they demotivate one to continue working out :o
Strength training should help you trade fat for muscle :D
Good luck :D

[Kuraj]

Most broscientists would agree on HIIT if anything, and most would consider cardio useless for pretty much anything outside of cardiovascular health.

I'm not sure if it is "better" in your particular case, I would rather guess that your strength training is not thorough enough.

Also doing strength training AND cardio is the worst, it interferes with your recovery and muscle gain which is what burns calories in strength training.

[truthbeknown]

Yes, it is possible. Everyone is different and not every workout routine works the same for everyone. If cardio works better for you, then that is what you should stick with.

[Prof_Don]

Muscle volume weighs 8x as much as bodyfat volume. Your body is getting more fit and shapely gaining muscle, initially you are exchanging body fat volume for muscle volume. :)

[ihatethiswebsite]

With strength training you are losing fat but also gaining muscle so your weight might stay the same even though your body is improving. Body fat percentage is a better thing to measure yourself with if that's an option for you.

[medical2523]

a lot of biking or other cardiovascular exercise get your heart rate up doing it on a daily basis along with eating a certain way you should start dropping weight but honestly you don't look bad

[medical2523]

If you don't mind me asking how much do you weigh