PLEASE - fatloss - weights OR cardio???

live4life

I have been going to the gym for two years now 4 days a week, I have lost 3 stone and weigh 9stone 12 pounds, I have been this weight for the last year.

I have upped my gym routine, mixed it up tried new classes done everything - dieted to the last - nothing will get me down to my target weight of 9 stone.

The instructors at the gym I use are ****e and don't take it seriously. So i want to design my own routine but can never figure out if weights or cardio targets fatloss faster, does anyone know?

Martian Martin

I would say Cardio but then someone else will tell you to lift light weights with high reps then someone else will tell you to lift heavy weights with few reps then someone will trash all that and say HIIT is best and then someone else will say Steady State cardio staying in your Fat Burning range will be better.

Then someone will tell you take in more Protein. :pac:

G86

You need both. But what height are you? Are you sure you need to lose another stone? If your gym instructors aren't cutting it then maybe you could look into getting a few sessions with a personal trainer, it doesn't have to be overly expensive, one session would get you a decent program and you can follow it yourself then.

Dazd_N_Confusd

I'm in the 'lift weights and sprinting' camp, but what do I know?

djk1000

Just an opinion here, but you say that you've "dieted to the last" does that mean that you are on a good balanced healthy diet, or does it mean that you deny yourself food for a short period of time to lose weight?

If it's the latter, you're fighting your body and it won't work, diets just dont ever work in the longer term!

Do some weight training, that's going to build some muscle, more muscle more calories burned, even when you're standing still. Do high intensity training on a cross trainer or rowing machine, that will burn lots of calories. Stick to a reasonable, long term normal diet, one that you can honestly stick to permanently.

Finally and most importantly, weight is not a good indicator, if you're toning up in the gym and losing fat along the way, you could be looking fantastic and feeling better without losing much weight. Muscle just takes the fats place. A personal trainer can measure your body fat and you can use reducing that as a target.

You should talk to a personal trainer or do some more research into this, the fact that you have a "target weight" means that you're not as well informed as you need to be. Your only weight target should be to have a healthy BMI. I have to say though, losing 3 stone is a major achievement, so well done, time to move focus from weight though and get a bit more scientific

rubadub

live4life wrote: »

I have lost 3 stone and weigh 9stone 12 pounds, I have been this weight for the last year.

my target weight of 9 stone.

Your title says FAT loss, yet all you talk about is weight. I was 12stone for over a year yet lost a LOT of FAT in that time. Take other measurements to track your actual fat loss, take photos, measurements, get your BF measured with a calipers and ask them to give you the mm readings and note them down.

timetogetfit

Both are important

The reason cardio is important is it burn calories

The reason lifting weights is important is because when your trying to lose fat and when your in a calorie deficet you want your body to take the energy from fat ,if you dont lift weights your body will use muscle as well as fat.Lifting weights gives your body a reason to keep the muscle.

However even more important for weight loss is someones diet, now you say you have dieted hard so can you let us all see your diet

live4life

G86 wrote: »

You need both. But what height are you? Are you sure you need to lose another stone? If your gym instructors aren't cutting it then maybe you could look into getting a few sessions with a personal trainer, it doesn't have to be overly expensive, one session would get you a decent program and you can follow it yourself then.

I'm 5ft6in, I have quite a small frame naturally; when I first joined a gym two years ago my target weight set by an instructor was 9st but Ive since left that gym.. Thanks for your feedback!!!

live4life

timetogetfit wrote: »

Both are important

The reason cardio is important is it burn calories

The reason lifting weights is important is because when your trying to lose fat and when your in a calorie deficet you want your body to take the energy from fat ,if you dont lift weights your body will use muscle as well as fat.Lifting weights gives your body a reason to keep the muscle.

However even more important for weight loss is someones diet, now you say you have dieted hard so can you let us all see your diet

I intake on average 15000 cals a day, I stick to high amounts of protein mostly fish and chicken, i home bake most of my foods, soups breads etc plenty of veg and fruit and 3 liters plus water a day. Limit salt and fat intake don't use table sat, butter etc... So all in all I think my diet is pretty good... Thanks for your feedback much appreciated

Jay Pentatonic

I think it depends on the individual, somethings work for some people & not others. Genes play a part in it, I think
Could be wrong though.

Mellor

rubadub wrote: »

Your title says FAT loss, yet all you talk about is weight. I was 12stone for over a year yet lost a LOT of FAT in that time. Take other measurements to track your actual fat loss, take photos, measurements, get your BF measured with a calipers and ask them to give you the mm readings and note them down.

I have to second this. It's hard not to put too much importance in the figure on the scale. But its not a reasonable gauge at lower body weights. My weight hasn't changed in a few months, but all my jeans don't fit right anymore.

dazed+confused

live4life wrote: »

I'm 5ft6in, I have quite a small frame naturally; when I first joined a gym two years ago my target weight set by an instructor was 9st but Ive since left that gym.. Thanks for your feedback!!!

That target weight might not be right for you though, are you happy with your weight now? If not it may just be because that target was set for you and you haven't reached it. You may also becoming toned and building muscle which will actually increase your weight but muscle is a much healthier type of weight to be carrying.

Dubdude

Hi Live4Life, If the trainers at your gym are s***e I would suggest you try have a look into www.crossfit.ie

Also if your not interested in crossfit I recommend that you do your weights first then your cardio as this will burn fat better.

DARCHA22

live4life wrote: »

I intake on average 15000 cals a day

15000 :eek: that has to be a typo

Dont concentrate on weight, concentrate on fat loss.
When you do weight training you will gain weight in the form of muscle, so trying to get to a certain weight would be kinda difficult, depending on you BF %.

Example, if i just did cardio(running etc) i would add minimal muscle, and burn fat, therefore lose "weight"

If i weight train and cardio, i burn fat, build muscle. I lose fat and some weight but put the weight back on as muscle.

Thats the only way i can describe it, probably not the best desription.

live4life

Thanks guys - all very helpful feedback, hopefully ill be on my way soon enough to obtain that edge im looking for!!! oh 15000 - SERIOUS typo - i meant 1500!!!!!

learntheHardWay

Firstly, diet is far more important than weights or cardio.

It you want to lose fat then you need to do both. In my opinion cardio will speed up the fat loss but in the long term doing more weights will make sure you dont rebound to a fattie 2 months after you stop the regime

sfag31

Of course cardio will lose fat the quickest.
However weights are preferable for improved asthetics which lets face it is probably your priority.
Good diet is essential.