****Official Weight Loss and Exercise Thread****

[SenselessChiefsFan]

Originally Posted by Silock

See, now you've got me curious. Obviously, everyone should be cardiovascularly fit, but that can be accomplished without specifically training for cardio. So I'm curious as to why you feel this way.

It comes down to the fact that lifting alone doesn't burn as many calories as cardio, unless you are doing circuit training.

Most people don't lift with a purpose. They lift, they rest, they lift, they rest.

The reality is that it is not cardiovascularly challenging and doesn't burn nearly as many calories.

You get a ton of cardio in everyday life. You are an active person. For those that the gym is the only activity in their day, cardio would burn more calories, increase circulation, and lower blood pressure much more than lifting will do.... given that they aren't circuit training.

Personally, I go to the gym twice a day. I eat differently for each trip. In the mornings, I go without any food until after my workout. That way, I burn fat.

But, in the evenings, I make sure I have had enough protein and carbs for the evening workout. Then, I take Shotgun before, and Synthesize after.

I think you are a pretty sharp guy, who knows what he is talking about. I also try to look at things from a realistic perspective. Most guys who lift, aren't doing it fast enough with littel enough rest to make it pay off for them cardiovascularly.

[Silock]

Originally Posted by SensibleChiefsfan

It comes down to the fact that lifting alone doesn't burn as many calories as cardio, unless you are doing circuit training.

Cardio doesn't burn that many calories, either. Using my HR monitor, I burn roughly the same amount of calories in a session of resistance training and HIIT work that I do if I JUST do cardio. Of course, the elliptical and treadmill all read ridiculously high numbers that aren't even close to being accurate.

The reality is that it is not cardiovascularly challenging and doesn't burn nearly as many calories.

Most people that do JUST cardio don't make it cardiovascularly challenging, either. You're only going to get out of it what you put into it.

You get a ton of cardio in everyday life. You are an active person. For those that the gym is the only activity in their day, cardio would burn more calories, increase circulation, and lower blood pressure much more than lifting will do.... given that they aren't circuit training.

I guess I would then question WHY they aren't circuit training. It's not like they don't have time. It doesn't take equipment to circuit train, just like it doesn't take equipment to do cardio. In the modern age, "either or" just isn't a real problem. It's all there. It's all available. You don't have to pick one or the other.

[BIG_DADDY]

Originally Posted by Silock

See, now you've got me curious. Obviously, everyone should be cardiovascularly fit, but that can be accomplished without specifically training for cardio. So I'm curious as to why you feel this way.

I wanted to get back to you on this but I had to leave right after I noticed it. I have always been an athlete as well as running health clubs and training people my entire adult life until 12 years ago. I have been in all kinds of different shape but what I noticed with myself was that I felt my best and most athletic when cardio was a big part of my program. To be specific when I lifted, did cardio and jiu-jitsu I felt awesome. I have never felt better than that. If I had to do it all over again I would have backed off of some of the really heavy lifting and went a little lighter. I would also maintained heavy cardio and put a litle more emphasis on stretching. Although I was limber I eas never as limber as I would have liked. This being said nobody could have told me to back off the really heavy lifting as a kid. I would have said **** getting older I want to be as big as possible now. I will say this though. I did myself right by staying off barbell benches and working with dumbbells.

I don't know if you know this but I had major shoulder surgery awhile back. I am going to try one last time to go back to jiu-jitsu after the first of the year. Jiu-jitsu, light lifting, yoga and cardio. If I had done light heavy to heavy instead of real heavy I would still be competing. Just saying.

Enough of my rant. BTW, great to see you really getting into your program, it's obvious that you are really doing your due diligence. If you ever want to try something really challenging try cross-fit sometime. Some of the athletes that is developing are amazing.

[keg in kc]

I think I've learned my lesson about stretching finally. Now that all the back and knee problems have abated, I got the running going again yesterday and spent a good 10 minutes stretching before and after, which was a first for me. I hated every second of it and I was bored out of my mind, but I'm not the least bit sore today.

My problem is going to be what it's always been: trying to do too much too soon. So I've gone all the way back to week 1 of my jogging program, like I'm starting over.

Because reality is that I am...

Which ****ing sucks. But what can you do.

[Silock]

Originally Posted by BIG_DADDY

I did myself right by staying off barbell benches and working with dumbbells.

I never use the barbell, except when I'm doing Crossfit stuff.

If you ever want to try something really challenging try cross-fit sometime. Some of the athletes that is developing are amazing.

I actually do some Crossfit stuff a couple of times per month in between lifting and soccer. It's a nice change of pace for sure.

I'd do it more often but 1) my gym isn't a Crossfit gym and doesn't always have the necessary equipment for the WODs and 2) most of it incorporates too much leg training for me right now. I can't play soccer 4 times a week AND train legs. It's just too much. It's nice every one in a while.

[kcxiv]

Originally Posted by BIG_DADDY

We could go rounds on this but Cardio is far and away the most important part of anyone's workout.

i just had my doctor tell me i have to have my heart rate up by cardio for at least 30 min a day. Either by walking, jogging, shadow boxing something, but some form of exercise. I dot have work for a few more months, so i dont do anything really right now. Its time to get on it. End of the year is so ****ing horrible for me to diet. Got Tamales and all kinds of mexican goodness coming in the next week .

[luv]

Isn't cardio goo for metabolism?

[Silock]

Originally Posted by luv

Isn't cardio goo for metabolism?

There's not much you can do to raise or lower your metabolism. It's by and large set by your genetics.

[SenselessChiefsFan]

Originally Posted by Silock

There's not much you can do to raise or lower your metabolism. It's by and large set by your genetics.

True, but if you work out in the morning, you raise your body temperature, which allows you to burn more calories over the course of a day.

The other thing that I think is that you can do cardio in the morning on an empty stomach without much risk of your body canabalizing your muscle. Or, do you think that I am wrong there?

[chiefzilla1501]

Apologize if this has been said already. Haven't read through the entire thread.

But I started P90x and it's a ridiculously intense workout. But they also offer much easier workouts which will still kick your ass. I did the Power 90 to prepare for the P90x.

http://www.beachbody.com/product/fit...dio/power90.do
Best workout I've ever done. I've always tried to lift and do cardio, but always favored lifting over cardio and always felt guilty when I didn't devote a half-hour to each. These workouts are really great at mixing it up so you get a full body workout within a half hour. So I do it in the morning and for the first time in a while, I don't spend the entire afternoon feeling guilty for not having done more.

Just one option. I'm getting great results with it and have heard from lots of people who have said the same.

[Silock]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

Just one option. I'm getting great results with it and have heard from lots of people who have said the same.

Heh, funny enough, this concept is exactly what we've been talking about today. How to use resistance training to lose weight and get in shape.

[Silock]

Originally Posted by SensibleChiefsfan

True, but if you work out in the morning, you raise your body temperature, which allows you to burn more calories over the course of a day.

The increase in calories burned via the thermic effect is really, REALLY small.

The other thing that I think is that you can do cardio in the morning on an empty stomach without much risk of your body canabalizing your muscle. Or, do you think that I am wrong there?

You can, provided you do weight training also. You don't have to do it in that session, but any time within about a 48 hour window will prevent muscle loss.

I've been doing cardio on an empty stomach for a few weeks now (and I even go so far as to not have a post-workout shake, either... I don't eat for 2 hours after I finish). I haven't lost any upper body mass because I train it 3 days per week. I did lose some in the legs, though, which was my goal.

[luv]

Is it okay if I focus more on cardio while I'm losing weight? I mean, like the first 50 lbs or so. Then work in more muscle toning once I get down to 180?

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by luv

Is it okay if I focus more on cardio while I'm losing weight? I mean, like the first 50 lbs or so. Then work in more muscle toning once I get down to 180?

No. I started with weight from the beginning. It's for the best.

Push yourself. In fact, working your back and legs will make the cardio easier on your joints.

[NewChief]

Originally Posted by luv

Is it okay if I focus more on cardio while I'm losing weight? I mean, like the first 50 lbs or so. Then work in more muscle toning once I get down to 180?

I'll just echo what keg or someone said earlier in this or one of the other threads: do whatever gets you off enough that you can maintain the routine. If that's walking 5 miles at a snail's pace... just do it. If you have a bunch to lose, you'll probably start dropping pounds with any kind of change in habit and diet.