[paula1]

Hi Ladies,

I want to lose about 15kg's and I'm doing weights and cardio in the gym as per the 12 WBT.
I'm wondering whether I should concentrate more on cardio and continue with weights but perhaps do less until I've lost some more weight?
I understand the importance of weights but I wonder if maybe for the next 6 weeks I should make the focus of my workouts more cardio.

Any opinions would be great

This post has been edited by paula1: 06/11/2012, 07:20 PM

[brazen]

not that i'm very successful at losing weight but i have read that doing weights is just as important as it is better at increasing your metabolism i try to do 1/2 / 1/2 most gym visits

[OnePinkStar]

Both are important.

Weights increase muscle mass which need more calories just to work. So you will continue burning more calories long after your work out.

How many weight and cardio days are you doing? I do 2 weight days but as my warm up I jog on the treadmill for 2km so still fitting in cardio even on weight days.

[*molly*]

No way, I'd put more effort into my weights. Works for me

[paula1]

On the program they want us to do 2 days of cardio, 2 days of toning (weights) and 1 super Saturday which we are required to burn approx 1000 calories.

On the toning days I work hard but i'm not burning many calories. I was wondering if maybe i should spend more time doing cardio and maybe only 15 mins of weights until i've lost more weight and the results of the weight training will be visible.

This post has been edited by paula1: 06/11/2012, 07:57 PM

[Phoenix Blue]

Weights.

Up the intensity of your 'toning'. Add shuttle runs, skipping, mountain climbs, etc between your weight sets. Keep your HR up.

More importantly, make sure you are lifting weights that are heavy enough. You should struggle to do the last rep. 'Toning' is a really blurgh word and I personally hate it. I'm surprised that MB uses it?

[TPS]

Weights.

Up the intensity of your 'toning'. Add shuttle runs, skipping, mountain climbs, etc between your weight sets. Keep your HR up.

More importantly, make sure you are lifting weights that are heavy enough. You should struggle to do the last rep.

^^ this

The higher your lean muscle mass, the higher your basal metabolic rate, meaning you burn more calories ALL THE TIME compared to having a lower muscle mass. Plus you look better! And weight training may burn less calories in the session, but the post workout burn is higher (for 24-36 hours afterwards!). All good and well to do cardio, but make it high intensity interval type training (such as Tabata).

[Mellows]

Your main focus should be your diet. You can loose weight just by adjusting your diet. Weights shape your body and keep your body tight. If your working hard enough with weights it will burn calories.
I suggest weights 3 days per week and interval training 20mins 2 days per week.
Goodluck!

[strawberrycakes]

Strict clean diet & weights all the way for me.

I have lost 7kg in just under 5 weeks through diet & weight training 3 days a week only.

Over the past month my body shape has changed dramatically from the weight training. I do heavy weights too not high rep low weights like pump for eg but heavy body building style training. IT WORKS.

Years ago I lost 35kg through cardio & in all honesty I may still weigh 20kg more than I did then but my body shape already looks better for eg my arms are smaller & more toned than they have ever been.

Diet essentially is the most important. I am now addictd to calorie counting. I count every morsel of food that enters my lips. If I feel like chocolate I eat a low sugar chocolate & factor it in to my daily calories.

A couple of weeks into my 'diet' I became ill & didn't work out for nearly a fortnight. I watched my diet very closely & still lost 2.5kg during that time with no exercise at all.

Cardio is important for cardiovascular health & yes it will burn calories but weight training ime & imo gets better results faster

This post has been edited by strawberrycakes: 08/11/2012, 10:22 AM

[paula1]

Thanks everyone
I'm just wondering if there's a layer of fat over the muscle how does this change the shape of the body?
I thought this happened once you have lost some of the weight therefore the muscle definition will be visible??? I have about 12kg or so to lose so I'm wondering if the effort I put in with weights will only show once that weight is lost?
Wdyt?