traineo community
Member of traineo? Sign in here
traineo Community / Exercise & Training Tips / Help, should I be doing weight training or cardio?
Author Message
Stitch K (temporary account)
traineo Fanatic
Posts: 117
Post History
 # Posted: 18 Apr 2008 05:12


I'm 125 pounds, and 5 foot 4 inches. I have a small problem, i'm not really overweight or anything, but I have flabby bits around my thighs that I want to get rid of. I know that the only way to do that is cardio, but should I be doing strength training at the same time? I do want to gain some muscle, but I don't know what to do first.

I assumed you do them evenly, as in, i'm doing the c25k 2-3 times a week, and strength training 3 times a week. Is that good?
Glovia L
Fitness Guru
Posts: 833
Post History
 # Posted: 18 Apr 2008 05:21


I think you should do both to yield the result you want.

I am a beginner in wt. In the past (~ 1yr), I did only running 3 to 4 times per week. I did lose some weight. But, then stuck with the similar weight for long long time. Since last month, I joined a boot camp that does wt 2 times per week. I start seeing the result now. Not only my bf% has decreased, but also my arm muscles are firmer. Of course, I also have to incorporate proper nutrient. I eat more (primary protein) than before. Sounds strange, I have to eat more to lose weight.


Stitch K (temporary account)
traineo Fanatic
Posts: 117
Post History
 # Posted: 18 Apr 2008 05:58


Exactly. That was my plans. I'm not gonna lost much more weight while running and doing cardio because I don't have much to lose anyway, though if I do weight training and some cardio at the same time, the muscle will burn more fat and i'll LOOK different. I was gonna take protien powder to help replenish the muscle and help build it, but I dont know, condsidering i'm not doing alot of weight training.
Danielle P
traineo Newbie
Posts: 9
Post History
 # Posted: 18 Apr 2008 18:28


A few weeks ago I looking through the magazine ile at a local winn dixie a book titled "Women's Health Training Guide for 2008" caught my eye. I ended up buying it and have read through most of it. Chapter 4 is completelly devoted to strength training vrs. cardio and goes into great length about what you do to do a little of both to get your desired results. The book was $10 I think and has helped a great deal in me setting up my weeklly routine. It is also were I found out about this web site.
Shawn W.
Fitness Guru
Posts: 490
Post History
 # Posted: 18 Apr 2008 21:21


Great results for you is doing both.

Depending on goals you can do a:

3 Day Cardio, 2 day lift

or

2 Day Cardio, 3 day lift

One focuses more on toning while the other is designed for endurance and calorie burning.

That said here's something fun too

Do a weight workout and cut your 'rest' times. For major muscle movement exercises (bench/squats/deadlifts/o-lifts) get a 1.5 min rest between sets. For other ones that are a focused muscle movement (curls/lat pull downs/tricep extensions/etc) take a 45second - 1 min rest period. Keep moving all the time. You'll find out that you'll be working out your muscles and also burning more calories as your heart rate will be up.

I've managed to get in a few good 'cardio' workout sessions while lifting weights And if all else fails squat for 8 minutes straight


Dave Nicholson
The Master
Posts: 2094
Post History
 # Posted: 18 Apr 2008 21:24


Quoting: Servinghim
And if all else fails squat for 8 minutes straight


puke, repeat...


Stitch K (temporary account)
traineo Fanatic
Posts: 117
Post History
 # Posted: 19 Apr 2008 02:36


wow ok thanks for that! Im actually thinking I should focus more on the weight training. But i'm doing 3 days of cardio for the c25k, I dont wanna cut down on that. Perhaps I should just do weight training for longer.

Whats something that builds muscles around the thighs/backside. If I get muscle there maybe then i'll lose some of the fat there because for some reason I just cant get rid of anymore damn fat!
Minu ~
The Master
Posts: 2592
Post History
 # Posted: 19 Apr 2008 10:22


Quoting: sianlee5
Whats something that builds muscles around the thighs/backside.


SQUATS...



Stitch K (temporary account)
traineo Fanatic
Posts: 117
Post History
 # Posted: 19 Apr 2008 14:11


Ok yes squats I did some today after reading all your squat posts... but I keep thinking im doing it bloody wrong. Even though I can feel this streching in my hamstrings.
Minu ~
The Master
Posts: 2592
Post History
 # Posted: 19 Apr 2008 15:05


Watch that video, as many times as necessary.

If you have a camcorder or a vid setting on a digital camera, film yourself doing squats (preferably from the side), and note well your: heals, (that they do not raise off the floor), your lower back, (that it doesn't round out on the bottom of the squat), your depth, (going deep, lower than 90 degrees is IMO, a plus, which actually stresses the knees less and makes you work harder on the way back up), and your head and chest--chin UP, chest OUT.

And like Splint suggested, from the get go do then with a broom across your traps, (NOT on the back of your neck), as it really helps align everything and prepares you for weighted barbell squats down the road. (I'll be buying a barbell this week, YAY!)

But this is all in that video, so do check it out. I've added the link to it to my profile.
Stitch K (temporary account)
traineo Fanatic
Posts: 117
Post History
 # Posted: 19 Apr 2008 15:10


Cool thanks Minu, I'll check it out!
Rebecca Hirz
traineo Newbie
Posts: 2
Post History
 # Posted: 19 Apr 2008 16:37


Definitely both. I have read that muscle burn 3 times more calories plus weight training will be a huge help in toning!
Shawn W.
Fitness Guru
Posts: 490
Post History
 # Posted: 19 Apr 2008 19:24


Squats, dead lifts, lunges...

All good when done right

Now usually in order to help critique one in what they really need we ask for pictures of said areas that are trying to be targeted. As such we can then make comments on what we think needs to be done

Muscle also burns calories. Just by having them you have to support them and they require it to stay around.
Stacy M
traineo Newbie
Posts: 6
Post History
 # Posted: 20 Apr 2008 09:30


Lunges are insanely good for toning the thighs! When my trainer worked them into my program I lost 3" off my thighs in the first month and I wasn't even doing cardio. Squats are tricky, I use a machine at the gym which adds 70 pounds of resistance but it helps with the form a lot too. If you've got the budget for it a gym membership to a good gym with a lot of equipment and access to good trainers is always a good idea, they can fine tune your work out to get the results you want to see.
Stitch K (temporary account)
traineo Fanatic
Posts: 117
Post History
 # Posted: 20 Apr 2008 10:05


Thanks guys for your input, though I don't have enough money or transport to even get to the gym right now. So thats out of the question for a few years or so .

I do lunges, but only maybe once or twice a week, Stacy, how often did you do yours?
Minu ~
The Master
Posts: 2592
Post History
 # Posted: 20 Apr 2008 11:30


Stitch, the best way to determine how often you should do resistance training is go by the default and cycle it in ever 2-3 days.

If you are getting no soreness at all from the resistence work, then I reckon it's perfectly fine to do it as often as you like. That said, it'd be preferable to UP THE INTENSITY enough that you do indeed start feeling the rebuilding pains, and go by that to determine how often you should be workin' it.

Keep in mind too that the better you're eating, the more efficient the repairing will be, and of course the more you'll be able to put OUT.

Now, tell me that you've already started your kick-ass calisthenics routine and that you'll CONTINUE with it consistantly for one month straight.
Cindy N
Fitness Guru
Posts: 733
Post History
 # Posted: 20 Apr 2008 17:13


I don't go to the gym either, Stitch. Neither does Minu, and we've seen enough of her to know she's in tip-top shape! Don't let things like that get in your way. There are ways around everything.

I really think you need to make a plan and stick with it. There is always going to be something new and tempting to try, but to see results, you really have to stick to a routine. People are always going to give you lots of suggestions about different exercises to do and what is best, but you can't do everything. Pick what you think will work best, and then put on your blinders and stay with it for a few weeks. After 3-4 weeks, look at how it's going, and then make adjustments.
Stitch K (temporary account)
traineo Fanatic
Posts: 117
Post History
 # Posted: 21 Apr 2008 01:26


Minu, I have yet to start the routine, I will do it today since the weekends over. Wish me luck! I will do it for one straight month!

Cindy, that's true. I love routine with things, but because exercise ... well at the moment is hard to get into It's hard to keep routine. I completed roughly 2 weeks straight but now It's been skipping a few days here and there, I've got assignments to do but it's because I don't wake up early in the morning enough (10 am). If I got up early I could have all the exercises done and more before bloody 10 am. I don't know why but I just feel damn tired, but I don't know if its actual tired or I just like laying down


Dave Nicholson
The Master
Posts: 2094
Post History
 # Posted: 21 Apr 2008 14:16


FWIW, it takes approximately 3 weeks to form a habit (ala Stephen Covey), so you might have to force yourself for the first couple weeks, but after that it should begin to be second nature.
Stitch K (temporary account)
traineo Fanatic
Posts: 117
Post History
 # Posted: 22 Apr 2008 01:42


true


Minu ~
The Master
Posts: 2592
Post History
 # Posted: 22 Apr 2008 11:06


Quoting: sianlee5
Minu, I have yet to start the routine, I will do it today since the weekends over. Wish me luck! I will do it for one straight month!


Hmmmm, I just took a boo at your charts and I do not see calisthenics logged for the 21st...

*eyebrows*
Stitch K (temporary account)
traineo Fanatic
Posts: 117
Post History
 # Posted: 22 Apr 2008 13:09


I havent logged any of my trainings in this account really, only one. I was counting on getting my account back really soon, as I have told Windows Live Messenger and Traineo - Alistar said he would try to fix it but I havent from him since. So that's why I havent logged anything.

I done the crunches, the superman, the squats, and jabs. However, I couldnt do the pullups because I dont have a bar around here anywhere I've been trying to get one but need to save a little before I can.

I only done the 3 by 15 crunches though.
Please sign up to traineo or log in if you wish to post.
 
© traineo 2007