lose weight or tone?

Porcelain · 29-Jun-05, 03:51 PM

im new to this whole forum thing and i really want to get into shape. i wanted to know which i should do first. do cardio and lose the fat or tone up with some cardio. i have a stomach that i cant stand. it feels rock hard which i dont understand why because when im not pushing it out its flaby. LOL i know thats funny but its true and its weird.

id appreciate if everyone gave an opinion. you all seem really nice so far. thanks for your input =D
x3
Jen

sw:225 cw:220 gw:140
6'0 height.
waist 49 i wear size 18 pants. I know crazy right :/

:confused:

**cursor** · 29-Jun-05, 04:38 PM

Some links and helpful tips

Glad you decided to join us here at DiscussFitness.com.

tgw0501 · 30-Jun-05, 06:21 PM

I am not an expert but I generally do both. When I am first starting out, I may do straight cardio for 1-2 weeks and then incorporate weight training. You really need to do both- build the muscle to burn the fat. I was also told do cardio first and then your weights. Again though, no expert here just going on what my trainer told me (they all have different thoughts).

GL! I am new here too and hoping to learn a lot.

**threenorns** · 30-Jun-05, 06:23 PM

do both - alternate cardio and weights day on, day off. one day off per week for rest.

**Lady C** · 01-Jul-05, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tgw0501

I was also told do cardio first and then your weights.

Don't do cardio first. Do weights first. Why? Because you need lots of energy for lifting and cardio burns that energy. It is better to do cardio and weights on different days. Cardio is for fat burning and weight training is for muscle building - different targets, different results.

tgw0501 · 01-Jul-05, 09:18 AM

See- that is why I get so confused. I end up with different information. My trainer has been a body builder for years and he suggested when starting out to do cardio first to get your body into fat burning mode and then do the weights as it will sustain the fat burning. I was taught (years ago) to do reverse like you suggested. But it had been years ago when I did the weights and then cardio. So is he wrong to suggest cardio first and then weights for a newbie? I guess maybe he suggested that b/c sometimes I can't go to the gym 5-6 days a week (2 kids, one of which is still a baby). Therefore, I have to double up sometimes. But now I am not sure if I have been doing it right???

**cursor** · 01-Jul-05, 11:11 AM

Here's a great thread on the subject: Burning Muscle?

**threenorns** · 01-Jul-05, 11:41 AM

here's a tip for ya: men's bodies naturally promote fat-burning because they have a much higher muscle mass than women plus they have higher levels of testosterone, which promotes more muscle growth. women's bodies naturally resist fat-burning because they have lower muscle mass, lower testosterone, and higher estrogen, which promotes fat storage.

it may work fine for him to do cardio first because he's a guy - they just have to think hard and they're burning more calories.

you're a female - therefore, you can't just work harder, you have to work smarter.

keep the cardio separate.

tgw0501 · 02-Jul-05, 09:43 AM

Okay that makes more sense now. Thank you for clarifying for me.

Merrida · 02-Jul-05, 10:26 AM

By "doing cardio first" does your trainer mean: Do a 15 minute cardio warm up? Then yes, do that.

By "cardio first" do you mean: Do 30-45 minutes of cardio? Then nope.

Read Lady C's post, -- ditto to her words. Different energy systems are required for cardio and weights.

**cursor** · 02-Jul-05, 11:52 AM

And not only should the duration of the pre-workout aerobics have an effect, but the intensity (HITT, for example) can be detrimental to your weightlifting session (even though it doesn't last long ... as far as the ticking of the clock goes, that is).

goodgirl · 02-Jul-05, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Porcelain

sw:225 cw:220 gw:140
6'0 height.
waist 49 i wear size 18 pants. I know crazy right :/

:confused:

Your goal weight is 140? That seems awfully small for someone who is 6'0 tall even if you have a really small frame. I'm 5'9 and when I was in high school I weighed 135 -- I looked near anorexic.

pseudonym · 02-Jul-05, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goodgirl

Your goal weight is 140? That seems awfully small for someone who is 6'0 tall even if you have a really small frame.

ouch......... that hurts .... a lot

**threenorns** · 02-Jul-05, 11:31 PM

LOL!!! i'll gladly trade you some weight for some height!

pseudonym · 02-Jul-05, 11:47 PM

it's a deal ... do you have PayPal ??

lol