Cardio only or Cario AND weights??

Question

I am only interested in losing the fat, I dont care about gaining muscle...when I excercise, should I just do cardio or include weight lifting with cardio??

If anyone has been successful in this crazy world of trying to lose weight and did it the natural way, how much did you excercise?

Answer 1

You should also lift weights. Use a low/light amount of weights and do more reps.

Muscles burns more calories than fat, and it will help you lose the fat faster than just cardio.

Also, having some lean muscle looks good and healthy on anyone.

Answer 2

Toned and strengthened muscle is efficient at burning fat. You don't have to be a muscle woman, but if you do a lot of cardio and neglect the strength straining, you will get leaner but you will look limp, like a wet noodle. I've seen this in people that just burn fat. They are lean but weak looking.

Do sets for the different muscle groups, just enough reps to feel the burn. Rest and repeat. 3-4x a week. You'll be glad later when the weight comes off, you will be trimmer but also look fit, not lame, and good muscle will burn calories better in the future..

Answer 3

Krista,
Although doing cardio does burn off alot of fat youshould also do weights. This will help burn fat at a more rapid pace and tone your mucles as you shed the fat. Doing weighs only will not help because instead of burning all of the fat you're just making more and more muscle which makes you bulky.
My suggestion, get a Billy Blanks Boot Camp DVD or any cardio DVD and soem light 3-5lbs free weights (if you want to work out at home). I fyou go to a gym, I suggest to get on an Eliptical Machine. That helps alot with the cardio.
I did the DVD. I have TURBO JAM. That totally worked for me. One of the tricks that did work for me was sipping water (small sips) in between the workout. I also walked alot and ate really healthy. Meaning no carbonated drinks, no white bread, and kept the fat intake down to a very minumum. Drink Lots and lots of water and go for the fruits and veggies. More veggies on you plate than anything else and cut the fried foods for good.
I started at 125 and ended at 107. in one month
I'm 5'0 do I was over weight for my height.
I did this cardio and weights program 1 hour in the morning, walked alot during the day, and did ab work at night, lots of water and cut all of the unnecesary fat out. I basically stuck to grilled chicken, lean beef and lots and lots of raw veggies or steamed and fruit.
Good Luck!

Answer 4

Combine light weight lifting with your cardio routine. This will help cut the muscle without bulking too much.

Remember, your leg muscles are the biggest muscles in your body, so using them burns more calories. That means running, jump roping, squats, lunges, etc. are most effective in burning fat.

Also, if you do build muscle, that will help burn fat because people with more muscle burn more calories than people with less muscle. That means that just sitting and watching tv, you'll be burning more calories than you would otherwise if you build a little.

Also, a bit of dietary advice. If you drink sodas or a lot of juice, cut back to mostly water, and cut sugars out of your life. That alone should help.

Best of luck.

Answer 5

Cardio is the only way to burn fat. However, doing some light weight lifting will help you tone up and make sure you don't lose lean muscle along with the fat.

Answer 6

resistance training has a much more positive effect on the endocrine system than does cardio. the production of both testosterone and growth hormone are both elevated with regular resistance training. the androgenic properties of testosterone help to increase the rate that muscle tissues uses fatty acids for energy. women produce 1/10 the amount of test that men do and this is one of the major reasons in the difference of our metabolisms. also, growth hormone is the most powerful fat burning substance that the human body produces, it also thickens the skin which helps to reduce the effects of cellulite. neither test or GH are increased substantially with traditional cardio only training, with the exception of when all out sprinting is performed as that is performed at maximum effort.

weight loss will always be faster when resistance training and cardio are both performed on a regular basis

Answer 7

lift weights and you will burn fat at a much higher rate!! more so than cardio:) and if you start lifting on a regular basis your body will burn more calories during your cardio sessions!! so you sere weight training is awsome.. to just tone up and not become muscular do 2 - 3 sets of 12-20 reps
light weight 5lbs - 10lbs bicep curls, shoulder presses... body weight squats lunges. planks , stability ball squats.. any more Questions Email I am currently studying to be a personal trainer and love giving advise good luck and get lifting

Answer 8

you can do both simultainiusly. they are called complexes. by doing them you'll get he best cardio ever and not lose any muscle mass. most weight lifters do them bc regular cardio uses muscle as fuel.