cardio vs weight training ????

Change0119
on 9/12/06 10:01 am - Toledo, OH

Ok, Ive heard such conflicting stories about what is better for us. I'm almost 4 months out lap rny, and trying to make the most of my workout. Can you tell me how much of my routine should concentrate on cardio and how much of it should be weight training? What are the pros and cons of both, and how do I decide when to add or subtract from either??

LadyDi9080
on 9/13/06 7:43 am - Tallahassee, FL

DS on 03/15/06

I am not an expert - but I know those that know...(does that make sense?) Personally, I believe in both. Building muscle mass helps your metabolism work more efficiently. Those of us that have been on starvation (Adkins type) diets have horrible, yet very efficient metabolisms and must kick start them to get them to work harder. Building muscle mass helps you burn more energy (fat) while sitting on your butt. I like that idea. It just takes more energy to maintain the muscle than fat.

Some say that muscle weighs more than fat. I'll take a pound of muscle over a pound of fat any day. Muscle is more dense and makes your body look more lean (eventually).

That said, we have to reduce the fat cell size and get our over worked hearts in shape. Enter the cardio routine. I call cardio work the "melting butter" part of my work out. Cardio work (when you get your heart rate up and keep it there for a period of time) helps your heart, lungs, brain, and other organs work more efficiently. You work "in oxygen" by breathing heavier and getting your heart beat up. (Just do it safely…buy a heart rate monitor.) If you walk, try walking further each time…or faster each time. You'll find that you'll be able to work harder or faster as you progress – and it won't take that long!

Both resistant training and cardio are important aspects to the overall health and well being of an obese person. Be consistent about doing the workout, but mix it up a bit. When you get comfortable, move it up a notch (whether weights or a level on the tread mill). Just WORK IT – and you'll be amazed at the results.

Hope this was not too much information. Dianne from FL

Kari M.
on 9/18/06 7:22 am - Pasadena, CA

RNY on 10/10/05

here's what the pasadena city college baseball coach/my personal trainer had to say on the matter for what it's worth. cardio vs. weight training: you need both. sustained cardio burns fat. you need to hit a target heart rate of about 120-150 (depending on fitness level) for at LEAST 20 MIN. at a time. apparently, 20 min. is the point at which the body really gets into it and burns the most fat calories or something. he explained it all using scientific terms which i've forgotten. i just remember the 20 min. bit. weight training helps those of us loosing so much weight so fast retain the muscle we have. it is not likely you'll be putting on muscle at this point. as he explained it, the body is cannibalizing itself to loose weight and it'll go to the easiest and best tissue first, muscle, before hitting the fat. so you want to do light lifting to keep those muscles. imagine, weighing half your size but retaining the same muscles you had at your highest weight. also, weight training helps the body burn more calories ALL THE TIME, not just when working out! now that's something that gets me excited. i'm burning more calories sitting on my ass typing this because i've been working with weights these past few months than i would before i started working out. sweet!

cardio vs weight training ????

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cardio vs weight training ????