Which person would you say is in better shape?

[magzbabe]

Which person is in better shape in your opinion and why?

A. A man who eats a good diet, does cardio everyday, and aerobic activity, is in good shape but does not do any weight training.

B. A man who eats a good diet, does weight training every day, is much more defined than man A, but never does any cardio activity.


Now one man does cardio only, one man does weights only. But the one who does weights has a lower body fat pertenctage than Man A, but he doesnt do any cardio activities. Who is in better shape?

[arbit]

Prolly the cardio guy.
Take Lance Armstrong.

[JawD]

Depends how you take the word "shape" !

The cardio guy will be in better shape as far as overall health goes IMO but the weights guy will probably look in better shape.

Why?

Cardio:- Boosts immune system, reduces cholestrol (sp?), reduces stress, increases metabolic rate, increases blood flow to the brain, strengthens heart and lungs. None of these can be seen by the ***** eye.

Originally Posted by JawD

Cardio:- Boosts immune system, reduces cholestrol (sp?), reduces stress, increases metabolic rate, increases blood flow to the brain, strengthens heart and lungs.

Weight training will accomplish the same things.

IMO both have made significant strides to improving their health.

[Lady C]

Originally Posted by magzbabe

Now one man does cardio only, one man does weights only. But the one who does weights has a lower body fat pertenctage than Man A, but he doesnt do any cardio activities. Who is in better shape?

Actually, my heart rate gets up and stays up throughout my weight routine. I wouldn't say that his heart is not getting any aerobic activity, just not the 'typical' aerobic activity.

[cursor]

What is the quality of aerobic/cardio activity that Dude A is doing? (Standard "in-the-zone" aerobics that's supposed to target immediate fat-loss won't do much for strenthening your heart, for example.)

How effectively is Lifter B's weight training regimen? (If he/she doesn't include some very taxing intensities and/or the frequency of muscular stress is not balanced, then ...)

What defines being "in better shape?"

I don't really expect answers to any of those questions. They just illustrate that the answer to your question is, "It depends ..."

[Lee J B]

B) The dude who is doing weight training.

[physelite]

Originally Posted by JawD

Depends how you take the word "shape" !

The cardio guy will be in better shape as far as overall health goes IMO but the weights guy will probably look in better shape.

Why?

Cardio:- Boosts immune system, reduces cholestrol (sp?), reduces stress, increases metabolic rate, increases blood flow to the brain, strengthens heart and lungs. None of these can be seen by the ***** eye.

Strength training has been shown to do the same things in addition to increase bone density, strength, and balance even in senior citizens.

[2Scoops]

Originally Posted by physelite

Strength training has been shown to do the same things

But not to the same extent. This question is impossible to answer as people will respond differently and the training can't be quantified. Both should be incorporated into training etc etc.

However, if I had to do only strength training or cardiovascular exercise to stay in shape, CV wins hands down.

[Jude3085]

Wouldn't it be weight training because you can do many reps and gain cardio vascular strength?

[2Scoops]

Local muscular endurance, not cardiovascular endurance.

[Gooseneck]

During weight training, your body can only exert the amount energy that your heart can maintain, thus the aerobic aspect of weights.
I guess a good question would be which is healthier, Aerobic or Anaerobic activity ?? They both stimulate the heart for growth and stamina, but are they the same as far as health concerns go??

HHhhhmmmmmmm,,

[Octagon]

Obviously the best approach is to combine the two. Strength and cardio training each offer health/longevity/quality of life benefits the other lacks.

If I could only have one over the long haul I suppose I'd go with cardio but that certainly wouldn't be ideal. Cardio has some of the stress reduction and mobility/flexibility benefits one sees with resistance training and adds a whole host of general health benefits (lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol, decreased risk of heart attack and stroke, etc).

[physelite]

Originally Posted by 2Scoops

But not to the same extent. This question is impossible to answer as people will respond differently and the training can't be quantified. Both should be incorporated into training etc etc.

However, if I had to do only strength training or cardiovascular exercise to stay in shape, CV wins hands down.

I don't agree that CV training wins hands down. You could if you had to structure a strength training routine that provided a cardiovascular workout in addition to improvements in strength. Also don't forget that strength training does things that CV training doesn't do such as improving balance and most obviously muscular strength, two things people lose as they get older if they don't lift weights.

Strength training is more applicable to helping with optimal function and living on a daily basis. The benefits from strength training make it possible to pick up heavy objects without hurting our back, not suffer injuries from falls, etc.

[2Scoops]

Well, it goes back to my original post - training can't get easily quantified into resistance or CV - there's a lot of overlap. I could just as easily design a CV program which could increase my strength/speed/balance/agility.

There are many types of CV exercise just like there are many types of resistance exercise - and while even the greatest CV program wont build strength as well as a good resistance program, even the best resistance program will provide only minimal CV gains.

However, as I enjoy CV exercise a great deal more and I believe it provides significantly greater health benefits I would pick it ahead of weights if I had to. But that's the beauty of democracy we can do both and reap all the related benefits and not just some